Virgin Wool: The Original – natural, durable, irreplaceable
Virgin Wool is the oldest knitting yarn in the world – and still irreplaceable. No synthetic fiber has the same combination of temperature regulation, moisture management, resilience, and natural durability. Virgin Wool comes from shorn sheep (not killed – this distinguishes it from other types of wool) and is thus a renewable, natural resource.
What is Virgin Wool?
“Virgin Wool” refers to wool that has been shorn directly from a living sheep – as opposed to tanned wool, which is obtained from already killed animals. Virgin Wool is the standard term for high-quality wool and is found on many yarn labels as a quality feature. The term says nothing about the sheep breed – Virgin Wool can come from Merino sheep, Rambouillet, Churra, or other breeds and accordingly have different properties.
Why is Virgin Wool so special for Knitting?
Wool can absorb up to 35% of its own weight in moisture without feeling wet – it transports moisture away from the skin and releases it slowly to the environment. This makes wool clothing a natural temperature regulator: warm when it’s cold, not stuffy when it gets warmer.
Wool yarns also have natural resilience: The characteristic scale structure of the wool fiber gives it elasticity. Stitches in wool spring back, knitted pieces retain their shape, and after washing, a wool piece can simply be reshaped and dried flat. This property is almost completely missing in plant fibers like Cotton and Linen.
Finally: Wool is naturally dirt- and odor-resistant. Lanolin – the natural fat in untreated wool – acts antibacterial and odor-inhibiting. Even superwash-treated wool (where Lanolin is mostly removed) is significantly more odor-resistant than synthetic yarns.
Virgin Wool and Certifications: RWS, GOTS and Mulesing-Free
Animal welfare is an important issue with Virgin Wool. The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) certifies sheep farms that uphold animal welfare, soil protection, and fair working conditions. RWS wool is traceable from the farm to the finished yarn. Several of our yarns – including Knitting for Olive Merino and Rosy Green Wool Cheeky Merino Joy – are RWS-certified.
Mulesing-Free is especially relevant for Merino wool: Mulesing is a controversial procedure used in Australia to protect sheep from flystrike. Many European manufacturers work exclusively with mulesing-free wool – this is usually indicated on the label or in the Product Description.
Our Virgin Wool Yarns at BONIFAKTUR
Rauma Finull (185m/50g) – classic Norwegian Virgin Wool, highly twisted, for colorwork and Stranded Colorwork. OEKO-TEX® certified. More in the Rauma Brand Guide.
Sandnes Peer Gynt (265m/100g) – Danish DK yarn made of Virgin Wool for colorwork and everyday projects. OEKO-TEX® certified. More in the Sandnes Garn Brand Guide.
Istex Léttlopi (100m/50g) – the original Lopi yarn from Iceland. 100% Icelandic Virgin Wool, untreated (not superwash), with natural character. For Lopapeysa sweaters and all who appreciate genuine Nordic wool. More in the Istex Lopi Brand Guide.
More about animal welfare, certifications, and the properties of different wool breeds: RWS, GOTS & OEKO-TEX: Certification Guide. Shipping from Munich, free within Germany from €100.
