Fiber Guide
Lambswool: the first fleece a sheep grows.
Lambswool is wool from a sheep's first shearing, usually when the lamb is around seven months old. The word tells you the age of the animal, not its breed, so lambswool from one source can feel very different from another.
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What the Word Means
- First shearing only: the fleece a young sheep grows before it has ever been shorn, typically taken at around seven months.
- Short staple: the fleece hasn't had long to grow, so fibers are short, commonly about 2 in (50 mm) or less.
- Natural tips: every fiber still has the tapered tip it grew with. Later shearings cut the fiber, leaving a blunt end.
- Any breed: lambswool can come from fine-wool or medium-wool breeds. The label says nothing about micron unless it states one.
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Why It Feels Soft
Young sheep tend to grow finer fiber than they will as adults, and the tapered, uncut tips are thinner than a blunt cut end. Together those make lambswool feel softer and more supple than wool from older sheep of the same breed.
Because the staple is short, lambswool is usually woolen-spun: carded rather than combed, giving a lofty, slightly fuzzy yarn that traps air well.
How woolen spinning works: Woolen vs. Worsted.
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Lambswool vs. Merino vs. Cashmere
| Lambswool | Merino | Cashmere | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What the name describes | Age of the sheep | A breed of sheep | Undercoat of the cashmere goat |
| Softness | Varies with breed; soft for its type | Graded by micron; fine grades are very soft | Very soft |
| Typical yarn | Woolen-spun, lofty, fuzzy | Often worsted-spun, smooth | Fine, slightly hairy halo |
| Next-to-skin comfort | Depends on the source; some prickle | Fine grades are reliably comfortable | Usually comfortable |
| Pilling | Moderate: short fibers work loose | Lower in tightly spun yarns | Higher |
"Merino lambswool" is both: the first shearing of a merino lamb.
Merino grades are in Merino Micron Standards; cashmere in Cashmere Guide.
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Buying Lambswool Knitwear
- Feel the inside of the collar: that's where prickle shows up first. If you're sensitive, look for a stated micron or a fine-wool source. See Why Wool Itches.
- Look at the knit: a dense, even fabric that springs back when stretched wears better than a loose, airy one.
- Expect some fuzz: woolen-spun lambswool softens and blooms slightly with washing and wear.
- Check the blend: lambswool is often blended with nylon or other fibers; the label must list percentages.
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Care
- Hand wash cool with a wool wash, or use a true wool cycle if the label allows. Lambswool felts like any untreated wool.
- Dry flat, reshaping while damp.
- De-pill with a sweater comb. Pilling slows once the loose short fibers have worked out.
- Store clean and folded, sealed against moths.
Full washing guide: Wool Care & Lanolin.