what do you do if you don't like wool?
I just got a book of Aran sweater patterns and of course most of the patterns call for wool yarn. I can't wear wool, I never could. I don't know what the deal is, but even the softest baby alpaca makes me itch after a while. It seems like all the 'nice' yarn is made of wool or something similar. I just never know what to substitute. I really want to make these sweaters for myself.
Search
About bubbo
About Me:
I'm short, I'm probably shorter than you. Right now my hair is pink and blond but that could change...anytime...
- + Print-friendly
- + Email This Page
- 356 reads
There are some really nice yarns out now that feature different fibers. I've used soy, bamboo, and even corn. Have you tried a blend? Can you tolerate a wool/acrylic blend? If you go to yarmarket.com you can search by fiber and hopefully find something that'll suit you and your pattern!
I use wool blend (less than half wool) sock yarn to make scarves and such for me, but they can't really touch my neck. Wool doesn't bother my hands at all when i crochet with it, it's just my neck, chest, back...everything else!
My other issue is that I'm a total boombalatty and so for a lot of these sweater patterns i need around 2000 yards of worsted weight.
Smileysyarns.com has some cotton acrylic blend for cheap that would make a sweater only about $22 as opposed to some yarn that would put it over $100. I don't want a cheap, chintzy sweater but I don't want super pricey. So I'm thinking this is probably two problems and I'm feeling like a whiner.
at home I have 2/3 of a blueberry pie in the fridge and I just cannot come up with a reason to not go home and eat it.
Hardcore? Hardcore is for babies. I'm HOOKCORE!
KnitPicks has some affordable wool alternatives: http://knitpicks.com/Yarns/Knitting+Yarn.html
You might want to check them out...
Knitted or crocheted Arans? Amy Singer wrote "No Sheep for You" because of her allergies, but I suspect the patterns are all knitted. Crocheters need a similar book. http://www.knitpicks.com/No+Sheep+for+You_BD30899.html
Hey, our hostess is the editor at Interweave Crochet. Maybe she can arrange for a book!
If it's the crocheted aran sweater book that I have (by Jane Sneddon Peever?), I think she offers substitution suggestions and some of the sweaters use a cotton or cotton blend?
More Crocheted Aran Sweaters by Jane Sneddon Peever!
One sweater uses cotton, the rest use wool or wool blends. I'm worried that a cotton/acrylic blend might look cheapy and 100% cotton might be too heavy.
I can't wait to get started on sweaters for me, but I want them to be nice and last for a long time.
Hardcore? Hardcore is for babies. I'm HOOKCORE!
Try out a cotton blend. There are tons out there that are pretty awesome; no plasticky feel at all. They're way lighter than 100% cotton, and have good stretch (more like wool), so they're often a great combination.
Fueling the crochet revolution...
I will...but keep in mind, we can't win the revolution if we are poorly dressed.
Hardcore? Hardcore is for babies. I'm HOOKCORE!
Sounds like you're stuck with a silk-linen blend! (I'm only half kidding.)
I haven't used the cotton yarns she calls for in either of her aran books so I don't know how they look or hold up.
If it were me, and I have unusual tastes in fibers, I'd check to see what Hemp for Knitting has lately--I think she has added some intriguing blends. Her 100% hemp is the best I've ever used so I'd want to try a hemp-merino or hemp-silk or something. I'd also check Louet to see what they're blending with their linen lately. These would last and last!
Then I guess I'd go to a good LYS where I could see and touch some smooth new worsted/aran-weight yarns like euro cotton-microfiber blends. There are some high-quality ones out there and they're not as heavy as cotton. They make cotton seem like a wool.
Watch out for Rowan "Natural Silk Aran". I just used it for a cardi and it sheds little silk nubbies and linen dust everywhere. :-( Maybe it doesn't if it's worked more tightly.
hooray a reason to go yarn shopping!
I think the reason I want the sweater to last is just in case I have kids (or better, grandkids) I can try to give it to them when I am really old. It would be the equivalent of say, my mom trying to give me her handmade orange and green hippie wear! I can pretend to be oblivious to the looks of fear in their eyes, I can guilt them with tales of the labor that went into it, I can do fake old lady tears.
Getting old sounds awesome. You can be a total ass and no one can argue with you because you are holding the cane.
Hardcore? Hardcore is for babies. I'm HOOKCORE!
I know it's extravagant but I would say try silk or a silk blend if you can splurge.
Good luck!
Wool is too generic of a description for fiber from sheep. Unfortunately, most wool products available in the US are a byproduct from sheep produced for meat, and not raised for wool quality. The breed of sheep has an enormous impact on wool characteristics, everything from soft and fine enough for baby wear to course hair for rug weaving. The way wool is processed after shearing also affects its wearablity and softness. Most commercial wool from meat sheep is sent to large processing mills that use harsh detergents to get out the dirt and grease and use an acid to breakdown plant fiber material that is present in the fleece. If you washed your own hair this way, you know it would end up straw-like and awful. Sheep wool is no different. Chemical dyes further damage the wool, adding to its harsh, bristly feel. So if you can get your hands on fleece from an appropriate breed (Finn or Merino are a couple of possibilities) raised by a small-scale, organic producer, washed in a mild, organic soap or shampoo, left in its natural color (or perhaps dyed with natural dyes) combed or carded and handspun, you can have wonderfully soft yarn that can be worn next to the skin with no problems. My sheep have provided me with many pounds/miles of fiber and I can say that my purebred Finn had the softest wool by far. Individual sheep in the same breed can vary as well as areas on an individual sheep (britch wool is always coarser than wool near the head). Please don't give up all wool - it is a wonderful textile material in its natural state. I feel bad that most folks never get the opportunity to experience high quality fiber.
After reading Larisa's post, I'm hesitant to mention Berroco's Comfort yarn, a blend of superfine acrylic & superfine nylon that I've read rave reviews for. It comes in sock, DK, and worsted weight. I want to order some soon for myself after I figure out what pattern to make.
It may not be as soft as the finest wool, but it's much more moth proof.