Wool Yarn FAQ
What actually counts as "wool" in this collection?
It's a mix, not just one fibre. There's plain sheep's wool (Cleckheaton Country), merino (several Heirloom, Patons, and Malabrigo lines), an alpaca blend (Patons Jet), mohair blends (Noro A La Mode, Rowan Kid Classic), a silk-merino blend (Katia Silky Lace), and a few wool-acrylic blends built for easier care and a lower price point.
Merino vs standard wool, what's the real difference here?
Heirloom Merino Magic 8-Ply is finer and softer against the skin, the one to reach for on anything worn close to the body. Cleckheaton Country 8-Ply is standard Australian wool, a bit firmer, and confirmed machine washable, a better fit for projects that'll take everyday handling rather than sit against skin.
Which of these can I actually machine wash?
Only two in this range confirm it on the label: Cleckheaton Country (100% Australian wool, machine washable) and Katia Silky Lace (superwash merino with silk). For everything else in the range, treat it as hand-wash or wool-cycle only unless the ball band says otherwise, most pure and merino wools aren't superwash treated by default.
What are the alpaca and mohair blends actually good for?
Patons Jet (70% wool, 30% alpaca) is a soft, warm blend for blankets, jumpers, and hats. The two mohair blends do different jobs: Noro A La Mode has a thick-and-thin texture built for a rustic, one-of-a-kind look, while Rowan Kid Classic is a smoother Aran-weight yarn suited to cabling and classic jumper shapes.
What's the silk blend suited to?
Katia Silky Lace (80% superwash merino, 20% silk) is built for drape, autumn jumpers, lightweight jackets, and shawls where you want warmth without bulk, and it's machine washable despite being the more delicate-looking option in the range.