The journey from the sheep’s back to the shop floor is a long and technically complicated process.

To help remove any confusion and also to assist in the sharing of knowledge, we have grouped together succinct and useful pages to explain every step in the wool pipeline.

Aside from the technical information, these pages also contain:

• Links to key vendors
• Information on how to purchase Merino
• Access to technical support

Greasy wool Encapsulating everything from the factors that separate Australian Merino from competitive fibres through to the physical properties of our wool, this a factual summary of all that you need to know about Australian Merino. Metrology indicators provide a series of technical measurements, by which the quality of Merino can be measured. Click here for more

Specifying quality Choosing wool which is right for the job at hand can be an overwhelming decision. We help guide you through the factors to consider when selecting the Australian Merino wool for the product you wish to create. Click here for more

Scouring and carbonising The first steps in the wool pipeline are some of the most vital in determining the success of each subsequent stage. The two most common initial treatments in the conversion of raw Australian Merino to textile product are scouring and carbonising. Click here for more

Worsted processing The worsted system is used to create fine, smooth yarns whose principal destination will be in the apparel industry for items such as next-to-skin products. The Merino selected for this process is typically of a longer fibre length than those used on the woollen system. Click here for more

Woollen processing Using the shorter fibres, the woollen process produces bulkier yarn that is used in knitting and weaving to create items such as outerwear garments, rugs and blankets. Click here for more

Fabric formation The creation of actual fabrics is almost entirely produced under three formation processes; weaving, knitting and non-woven manufacture. Weaving uses a loom to interlace yarns intersecting at right angles. Knitting creates fabric by intermeshing loops of yarn. Non-woven methods typically convert fibre directly into fabric without needing to create yarn. Click here for more

Wet processes Finishing processes refers to those stages of the wool pipeline, such as colouring, that involve an aqueous (or wet) production technique and are associated with the final steps in fabric creation. These are defined by whether a fabric is knitwear or a woven product. Click here for more

Garment making Now in fabric form, the process of creating garments can begin. Depending on the properties of the fabric created, a tailored sequence of steps is used to create the final product. Click here for more