Helpful sheep's wool chart and suggested books!

So when I get into a hobby I really like to know all about it, not just enough to get myself into trouble. When I first started looking around at all the different types of fiber out there, I was a little lost. 'What's the difference between Merino and Corriedale??'

Well, here is a quick reference chart for you. It covers most of the kinds of wool I've seen around the web. Its organized by softness, or lack thereof, and then by alphabetical order.

To view the full sized image, click on the thumbnail and then you can save it, too...

And in case you are unfamiliar with Microns, it is the "measurement used to express the diameter of a wool fiber. The lower microns are the finer fibers." (Wikipedia article here for a more in depth explanation.)

Wool for Sensitive Skin: Merino vs. Blue Faced Leicester (BFL)

The very soft to soft wools are soft enough for scarves, sweaters or any garment that comes into contact with your skin. It depends on how sensitive your skin is; Merino is pretty popular for those extra sensitive to scratchy wool. Blue Faced Leicester--pronouced LEHSTER  (and also advertised as BFL), which has a micron count of 24-28 (a little less soft than Merino) is another pretty common wool available thats OK for someone with slightly thicker skin.

Suggested Reading Material on Wool Breeds

I've found a few books that have been helpful in deciphering what's what in the fiber world, so I'll share a few of the ones I felt were most educational concerning sheep breeds...

• The Knitter's Book of Wool: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding, Using, and Loving this Most Fabulous Fiber by Clara Parkes.
• In Sheep's Clothing: A Handspinner's Guide to Wool by Nola Fournier and Jane Fournier.
• The Intentional Spinner: A Holistic Approach to Making Yarn by Judith MacKenzie McCuin.
• The Spinner's Companion by Bobby Irwin.

So I hope this is helpful! Try checking these books out at your local yarn store, library, Borders or Barnes and Knoble... whatever works for you!