Wool is a natural fibre produced by sheep all over the world. This module will introduce wool, some of its key features and benefits and the sheep responsible for producing nature’s finest natural fibre. After completing this module you will have a greater appreciation of wool.

This module explores the wool fibre in greater detail and has been designed to give you an introduction to the characteristics and attributes of this premium natural fibre.

You have already learnt in Module 2: Introduction to wool that wool is a complex natural fibre whose many constituent parts create features that lead to significant benefits for consumers of wool. In this module you will explore these features and benefits in more detail and discover why people around the world choose wool.

Wool fibre originates from sheep, but how is the fibre converted into the fabrics we see in fashion and other manufactured products? In this module you will explore both how wool is harvested and the wool industry on a global scale.

Processing raw (greasy) wool into yarn ready for knitting or weaving involves quite a few steps and the journey from farm to fashion can take up to 18 months! The steps it takes to manufacture wool yarn vary depending on the type of fibre being processed and the yarn being produced. Keep reading to learn about the different ways wool is processed into yarn.

Worsted or woollen, there are several different factors that affect the attributes of a yarn and the products made from it. In this module, you will explore each of the factors considered when creating and selecting different yarn types.

Did you know that yarn can be turned into many different knitted structures to be used for anything from shaped knitwear to fabric for underwear? In this module, you will learn all about manufacturing knitted fabric and knits from wool yarn.

Wool fabrics are made by knitting or weaving yarn. In the previous module, you explored how wool is knitted. In this module, you will discover how yarn is woven into fabric.

There are several ways wool can be dyed to achieve the many beautifully-coloured wool products available. In this module, you will explore several types of dyes and dyeing processes, and the factors considered when dyeing wool.

So far, you have explored the wool manufacturing process from greasy wool to wool dyeing. In this module, you will discover the final stage in the wool fabric manufacturing process — finishing.

Wool has been around for thousands of years and over the centuries humans have utilised it in many innovative ways. These innovations add value and make wool products highly desirable, even in today's high-tech world. This module explores the driving forces behind Merino innovations and shows how Merino wool can meet the modern consumer’s needs.

This module, and the following module, introduce some of the challenges manufacturers of wool products face and shows how they manage these challenges to maintain product quality.

This module covers the two biggest causes of consumer returns of garments for poor performance during use — pilling and unexpected dimensional change (shrinkage).

Testing is essential to objectively identify any faults and ensure quality product. These faults can have an impact on subsequent manufacturing stages or on the consumer experience itself. This module takes you through some of the wool-specific testing that occurs and concludes with a final inspection before the garment reaches the retail shelf.

The Woolmark logo is one of the world’s most recognisable textile symbols. It indicates that the product consumers purchase meets the key performance standards associated with quality wool products. This module has been designed to help you find out more about the Woolmark Company, the Woolmark brand and the quality assurance (QA) system that ensures when customers buy a Woolmark-labelled product, they know it’s of the highest standard.