Fleeced wool is soft and fluffy to the touch, but wears really well. It's warmer and more wind-proof than simply knitted wool and more flexible than boiled wool making it ideal for little ones.
Merino wool is a kind of wool fibre that is very fine, soft and springy and is not itchy at all to most skins. The Merino sheep usually thrives in mountainous areas at high altitudes and its wool is naturally brilliant at keeping the body comfortable at a wide range of temperatures.
All certified organic wool comes from sheep which have been farmed organically and with high animal welfare standards. At Cambridge Baby we always make sure that no wool comes from farms which practise mulesing.
Please note that under EU labelling regulations, stating the type of wool is not allowed, only a statement of "100% wool" or "new wool" is allowed. However, this garment is made from 100% organic Merino wool.
Engel's organic Merino wool is certified to GOTS organic standards by IMO. These standards are so high that even oils that lubricate knitting machines have to be analysed. With Engel, you can be assured that their dyes are baby-safe, eco-safe and that all cotton threads and finishes are natural too.
Wool (and thus Merino wool) has many benefits.
Merino wool is the wool of choice for baby and children's clothes, as well as for sportswear, because it's finer than most other wools. It's naturally springy (which makes it softer) and has a tight crimp, allowing it to trap more air, making clothing lighter as well as softer for the same excellent insulation.
Merino wool has also been proven to absorb UV across the whole range of the spectrum, giving excellent lightweight sun protection in the summer too.
Engel's organic Merino wool fleece is a very soft fabric and is easy to damage when washing. Extreme care must be taken if you do decide to wash it. Engel recommends hand washing as follows.
In the event that you do decide to wash your fleece, use a detergent designed for wool which protects and replenishes the wool's natural oils. We recommend one of our liquid wool shampoos in our fabric care section here.
To hand-wash your organic Merino wool, dilute your wool detergent in cool water, max 30C (lukewarm only, should feel coolish), in a bowl. For heavily-soiled areas, use a little gall soap on your woollens first, testing on an inconspicuous area first.
Add your woollens to the bowl, gently stirring and squeezing the detergent through. Rinse using water at the same temperature, otherwise, your wool will be subjected to "shock" and might felt up. So lukewarm/coolish at 30C again.
Things not to do! Don't wring, soak, brush or rub vigorously as the wool fibres may be damaged and your garment felt up a little and shrink. Just squeeze the water through.
To dry, gently squeeze water out and wrap your wool clothes in a towel to remove the excess water. Air-dry naturally avoiding direct heat. So, hanging on a drying rack over the bath is good, or on a clothes horse. Mine often end up over the back of chairs or on the washing line in the shade (I haven't had a problem with the heat of the English being too hot, yet, but direct sunlight is not good for wool).
Re-shape while still damp.
"Love the colour. Very lightweight but warm just what mum wanted. I like it so much that I will be buying one once I can decide on the colour."
This was washed... not needed washing yet
This was worn by... my 90 year old mother
Sizing: Feels true to size
I'd recommend this to a friend.
"I wanted a warm wool fleece to fit under my wax cotton coat and this is just perfect. It’s really warm and soft and I can wear a vest, top and a thin cardigan under the fleece no problem. I had to exchange for a smaller size and the returns process was very simple and straightforward. I haven’t washed the fleece yet but expect I won’t need to for a while. I highly recommend this company for their quality products and great customer service."
This was worn by... Me
"I am extremely pleased with my wool zip fleece. I ordered the size Medium. The small would have fitted, but I may want to wear it over another sweater. I thought it would be like boiled wool, but it is much softer and pliable and really warm and cozy. The collar is very warm and snug if you zip it up. There is a useful inside pocket as well as outside pockets which make excellent hand warmers. The only thing I would have liked is a double ended zip. I would like another one in navy blue at some point. I planned to wear it for gardening, but it is much too nice for that."
This was washed... I will wash it carefully by hand with wool wash.
Sizing: A little generous
"I have worn this wool fleece many times both inside and outside. It is big enough to fit over a long sleeved t-shirt and light sweater. It is warm and cosy, it zips up to my chin. I feel comfortably warm when I am wearing it and like that I don’t get an itchy overheated feeling, which happens with non-breathable fleeces."
This was washed... washed fine
"Have barely taken this off during this cold winter. Cosy indoors sitting around in our chilly old house and warm enough on the move outside in 0-5 degrees with just a thermal layer and medium weight jumper underneath. Had started trying to get my head around technical ratings for wool warmth, noticed a shepherdess's review of this jacket and abandoned all further investigation. Glad I listened to her - the jacket is extraordinarily warm."
This was worn by... A cold-blooded lover of the outdoors
"I love fleece but since Blue Planet 2, have felt concerned about the tiny bits of plastic it releases when washed. No worries about that with this. Used for walking an elderly dog so the extra pockets, some wonderfully deep, was super useful. Bit expensive though so will have to save up if I want another!"
This was worn by... me
Product 19/22
