Softness of Different Breeds of Sheep

Sheep are raised specifically for either their meat, milk or wool. Of those sheep bred specifically for their wool, there are many breeds, each of which are preserved and used for the unique qualities of their fleece. Some breeds have thick, rough, wool with short fibers; this type of wool is ideal for long-wearing, hardy applications such as carpets or making felt. Other breeds have long, soft-fibered wool that is ideal for making garments that lie against the skin.

  1. Measuring Softness

    • The invention of high-powered microscopes has allowed the wool industry to specifically define those characteristics which make wool soft or not. Essentially, the thicker the wool fiber, the stiffer and rougher the fiber -- with this measurement being applied in microns. The USDA has assigned specific micron ranges to specific grades and softnesses of fleece.

    Merino

    • Though there are several varieties of merino sheep (including superfine, delaine and booroola), merino variations are generally considered the sheep which produce the softest wool. Merino were originally bred in Spain specifically to yield a soft, high-quality wool, and today it is not impossible to find merino sheep whose lineage can be traced back over 1,200 years.

    Blackface

    • The blackface sheep, the most common of British varieties, can provide either short, fine wool or longer, coarser fleece. Wool from blackface sheep is often used in rug textiles or mattresses, and the differing types of blackface producers are often known by type names, such as a Perth or Lanark.

    Leicester

    • Leicester sheep are known for their especially long, coarse wool, which is often spun into medium or thick sizes of yarn for outer garments, furnishings and rugs. They are raised both for wool and mutton, and for that reason were instrumental to the colonization of New Zealand and Australia.