Wool Facts

• Wool comes from the soft fleece of sheep that are sheared (shaved) once a year.

• One pound of wool can be spun into 20 miles of yarn.

• A perfectly preserved woolen sock was found buried in silt on the banks of a river in England. The sock is estimated to be 1,000 years old.

• Wool can be extended to up to 70% of its natural length. When the tension is released, it returns to its natural length.

• The softest part of the fleece is the part next to the sheep. Outer edges of the fleece are used for rugs and felt.

• Wool was the first fiber to be spun into yarn and woven.

• 73% of the wool produced is used in apparel (clothing and accessories), 15% in home furnishings, and 7% in industrial felts (used for noise reduction).

• Low-grade wool is being developed to clean up hazardous spills. The wool absorbs 10-30 times its weight in oil.

• Wool fibers trap air because they are crinkled. The trapped air makes wool warm without being heavy. Thin wool fabrics are cool because they carry body moisture away from the body and, as the moisture evaporates, it cools the body.

• Wool being used for the first time is called "Virgin Wool".