What is Wool?

The Woolmark Symbol on fabric or The Wool blend mark means an item yarn means that it is made from pure bearing the mark has been made from wool, and that it has met the quality a minimum of 60% new wool, blended and performance standards laid down with other fibres. by the International Wool Secretariat.

Questions 1. Which garment (a) or (b), is made from completely wool? Woolmark 2. What is the other garment made from? How do you know this? Made with 60% wool and blended with other fibres

1. How should each garment be washed? 2. What sort of garment do you think each label belongs to? Cardigan, jumpers and hats 3. Why do you think the shape of the woolmark symbol has been chosen? Because it has great quality 4. What is the difference between the wool mark and the wool blend mark? One of them is purely cotton and the other 60% with other fibres 5. Why is wool a useful fibre in (a) blankets (b) carpets and (c) clothes? What is Wool?

1. Which garment (a) or (b), is made from completely wool? Woolmark?

1. What is the other garment made from? How do you know this? It is made from 60% wool and blended with other fibres

1. How should each garment be washed?

1. What sort of garment do you think each label belongs to? Hats, Scarfs, Jumpers and cardigans

1. Why do you think the shape of the woolmark symbol has been chosen? Because it has great quality and will not shrink

1. What is the difference between the wool mark and the wool blend mark? One of them is purely wool and the other 60% with blended fibres into it

1. Why is wool a useful fibre in (a) blankets (b) carpets and (c) clothes? Because it keeps you warm and comfortable Wool is the fibre from the soft coat There are two processes in which wool of a sheep. Each coat of wool is can be passed through: WORSTED called a fleece and this is sheared and WOOLLEN. from the sheep, using clippers. The Worsted process Woollen Process fleece is cleaned and processed before being turned into yarn, and Blending Blending cloth. Which is used for clothes, Scouring Scouring carpets and blankets. Carbonising

Sheep are found in most countries Carding Carding in the world, but the main producers Ginning of wool are found in the southern Combing hemisphere. In 1995 28% of the production of wool came from Dyeing Dyeing

Australia, with a further 11% from Drawing New Zealand. Australia is the major Spinning Spinning producer of Merino wool, which is mainly used for clothing. New Blending: Mixing different types of wools Zealand as it is a wetter climate together. produces coarser wool and Scouring: Washing to remove grease, dirt and therefore more suited to carpets. other impurities.

Carbonising: Treating vegetable matter (burrs and seeds) with a chemical to remove them.

Carding: Disentangling the fibres with a wire brush roller to produce a fibrous web.

Dyeing: Colours added to the fibres. Dyeing can take place at different stages, in loose wool, the yarn or the fabric Questions: Drawing: Part of the spinning process, reducing 1. Which country produces the the weight of the web/sliver. The fibres are most wool? Why do you think drawn out and twisted. this is? 2. Describe the process on Spinning: The directional twist added to the manufacture of wool through to yarn is done at this process; this can be either yarn. S, Z, single or double ply. Any other effects are 3. What are the differences achieved here. between the worsted process and the woollen process? Questions:

1. Which country produces the most wool? Why do you think this is?

1. Describe the process on manufacture of wool through to yarn.

1. What are the differences between the worsted process and the woollen process? The worsted process has a lot of processes to go through where as the woollen process hasn’t got a lot of processes