Wool
13/5/10 Prices update. At the recent British Wool auctions prices increased by up to 30% on some breed types. We anticipate increases later this year as this works through to us. It should not be quite so high as 30% but will probably be a significant rise. We will of course do our best to keep prices as competative as possible without reducing quality. The good news out of this is that British producers will be getting a better return on their wool clip after many years of poor returns. It is significant that all the bales of wool put up for auction were sold, another unusual event. In a similar development merino prices have been showing a steady increase. We are now setting up new purchase contracts for the rest of this year and anticipate that increases will be passed on to us.
We have 125 colours of dyed Merino 21.5 micron. The link to 64's and 70's take you to the same page as we have replaced the 64's range with 70's quality wool, the colours are the same, a better quality at the same price. Excellent for felting and spinning. There is a smaller range of colours in 100s. If you prefer the natural look then select from a wide range of natural coloured wools where the colour is specific to a particular breed including Leicester Blue Face, Jacobs, Cheviot and many more.
Micron / Wool Count Comparison Chart
| Type of Wool |
Old *Blood Grade |
Numerical Count Grade |
Limits for Average Fiber Diameter (microns) |
Variability Limit for Standard Deviation Maximum (microns) |
| Fine |
Fine |
Finer than 80’s |
<17.70 |
3.59 |
| Fine |
Fine |
80's |
17.70-19.14 |
4.09 |
| Fine |
Fine |
70's |
19.15-20.59 |
4.59 |
| Fine |
Fine |
64's |
20.60-22.04 |
5.19 |
| Medium |
1/2 Blood |
62's |
22.05-23.49 |
5.89 |
| Medium |
1/2 Blood |
60's |
23.50-24.94 |
6.49 |
| Medium |
3/8 Blood |
58's |
24.95-26.39 |
7.09 |
| Medium |
3/8 Blood |
56's |
26.40-27.84 |
7.59 |
| Medium |
1/4 Blood |
54's |
27.85-29.29 |
8.19 |
| Medium |
1/4 Blood |
50's |
29.30-30.99 |
8.69 |
| Coarse |
Low 1/4 |
48's |
31.00-32.69 |
9.09 |
| Coarse |
Low 1/4 |
46's |
32.70-34.39 |
9.59 |
| Coarse |
Common |
44's |
34.40-36.19 |
10.09 |
| Very coarse |
Braid |
40's |
36.20-38.09 |
10.69 |
| Very coarse |
Braid |
36's |
38.10-40.20 |
11.19 |
| Very coarse |
Braid |
Coarser than 36's |
>40.20 |
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| *The blood system for most all useful purposes is outdated and has not been recognized by USDA since 1955. |
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