• Merino sheep are known for producing exceptionally soft wool.sheep on fresh green meadow image by Christopher Meder from Fotolia.com
  
  The term "merino" was once strictly used to indicate only Spanish merino sheep and the wool harvested from them. With New Zealand and Australia now also producing merino wool, however, the term has broadened somewhat. These days, wool advertised as merino often simply means it was harvested from merino sheep, though sometimes the term is broadened so much as to be used to describe any soft, high quality wool.
  
  

Texture

• A common complaint about wool is its itchiness. The All Fiber Arts website, however, describes merino wool, with its close crimp, as the finest of all wool. Approximately half of the harvest of merino wool will be 20 microns or finer. One micron equals 1000th of a millimeter in diameter. A human hair, for example, is 100 microns in diameter. The fineness of merino wool results in extraordinary softness and flexibility, its delicate fibers bending easily and eliminating the itchy, prickly sensation that can occur with cheaper wool of thicker diameter.
  
  

Flame Resistant

• Merino wool naturally resists flame. Unlike many artificial fibers that can melt and stick to skin when they catch fire, merino wool tends to only smolder or char rather than bursting into flames. Further, even if an extremely intense fire does succeed in catching it alight, merino wool burns slowly and will normally extinguish itself when the fire source is removed.
  
  

Ultraviolet Protection

• With the growing awareness of sun exposure dangers, people who spend a great deal of time outdoors often look for clothing made of a material that can offer ultraviolet (UV) protection. One study, published in the journal "BMC Dermatology," tested the UV protection factor of 236 apparel textiles. The study showed that many fabrics, including cotton and linen, provided very little UV protection. Merino wool, on the other hand, exceeded the European standard for UV protective clothing, providing excellent UV protection.
  
  

Performance Qualities

• Merino wool fabrics offer performance characteristics, making it popular with athletes and people with active lifestyles. A merino wool fiber can be stretched up to 30 percent and sustain no damage, allowing the material to give and move with any activity, yet maintain its shape. Additionally, merino wool is a breathable fiber, meaning it will absorb moisture and perspiration away from the body, keeping you comfortable during exercise.