How to Crochet With Merino Wool
If you can crochet, you can make almost anything out of merino wool. Merino wool is generally very soft, as it is one of the finer wool varieties available. You can find merino wool in a variety of weights, from lace to bulky. Use it to make soft, natural crocheted garments and accessories, but take care to wash it carefully or you could ruin your finished projects.
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Instructions
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Choose your yarn weight and hook. Merino wool comes in any yarn weight, so choose a merino wool yarn based on your project's specifications. You might choose lace weight to make a shawl, worsted weight for a sweater, or bulky weight for a scarf. Use a crochet hook that matches the weight of the yarn you have chosen. For a thinner yarn, use a smaller hook (like a size F or G for lace) and for thicker yarn use a larger hook (like a K or even Q for bulky).
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Crochet your garment. When you work with merino wool, it should be fairly easy going. Merino wool does not split easily, and it isn't fuzzy or hard to use like some other fibers. It will make a nice flat stitch pattern, so the stitches you make can be the highlight of the finished object without the texture of the yarn getting in the way. Because of this, try to choose a pattern with intricate stitches, such as a lacy stitch or a woven stitch. This will be more interesting than a flat, single- or double-crocheted piece.
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Felt your finished crocheted merino wool items. In some cases, you may want your item to shrink and felt after you make it. If this is the case, put your crocheted merino wool object inside a pillow case and tie it closed. Put it in a hot water load in your washing machine and let it run through the cycle. Remove it when finished and see if it has shrunk or felted to your desired size. If so, put it in the dryer or lay flat to dry and it is ready. If your item is still too large after one cycle in the washing machine, put it in a second or third time until it shrinks to your specifications. Now you can easily sew your piece or even cut it and it won't unravel.
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Wash your crocheted items carefully. Merino wool comes in traditional and superwash varieties. Superwash merino wool can be put into the washing machine, but you should always use a gentle cycle and set the machine to wash and rinse in the same temperature of water (warm or cool). Using hot water to wash and cold water to rinse can cause your merino wool items to felt or shrink. If you wash by hand, be sure to wash and rinse in the same temperature water and do not agitate the items too roughly. Use a wool wash with your water to wash the items gently. This will keep your crocheted items looking like new and will prolong their life.
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Dry your finished projects. Place the wet wool crocheted item in a towel, and roll it up and squeeze it to dry. Then lay it out flat, pull it and smash it until it reaches your desired shape and size (this is called blocking), and let it lay flat to dry. Merino wool is excellent for blocking crocheted projects, because when you wet it down it becomes pliable and then when it dries it will hold the shape you created while it was wet.
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