regarding taking care of your merino... if you can find it (try a yarn store or a place that sells spinning fiber), buy a wool wash product called euculan. it restores the lanolin in the garment to a small degree (you won't smell like a sheep) and keeps the fiber supple. Also, clean wool repels critters.. they like dirty, smelly stuff. best way to wash is to put your garment in a room temp basin of water/euculan and let it soak for 15 or 20 minutes. gently squeeze out excess water. you could then put it in a top loader and spin it, or you could wrap it in a towel and step on it. garment should be damp. lay flat to dry.

this treatment will extend the life of your garment...