Re: Allergic to wool

Mar 09, 2007 10 Replies

YarnWright spun a FINE 'yarn':


snipped-for-privacy@nospam.gmail.com spun a FINE 'yarn':
>
> > > > > snipped-for-privacy@nospam.gmail.com spun a FINE 'yarn': > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > Hi, I've been lurking here for a while and thought I'd poke my
> > > > head up to get some suggestions. I'm relatively new to knitting
> > > > and crocheting.
> > >
> > > > My son and I are allergic to wool. I am so allergic that if i
> > > > touch wool, it makes my fingertips feel immediately dry and
> > > > itchy and it makes my nose itchy but if i touch my face with
> > > > the hand that touched the wool a sneezing fit will start. . > > >
> > > > I can work with cotton, hemp, linen, and silk. I'm quite
> > > > sensitive to nylon and acrylic fibers also, although i can touch
> > > > them, I can't work with them for long periods of time.
> > >
> > > > the acrylic fibers seem most like the wool to me, although i
> > > > can't really compare them...
> > >
> > > > So, i notice that most patterns i like are for wool or wool
> > > > blend fibers and that a worsted wool is not the same thickness
> > > > as a worsted cotton. (or is it?) the problem I'm having is
> > > > that i can't seem to change the fiber of patterns.. and most
> > > > cotton patterns I'm seeing are for little children, or summer
> > > > wear. My son is man-sized, and summer here is short! I want
> > > > to make thick cotton cable-knit sweaters!
> > >
> > > > maybe someone could explain if there are some rules to follow
> > > > when changing the type of yarn in a pattern? i know cotton
> > > > isn't as elastic as wool, so it seems (in my limited
> > > > experience) that cotton cuffs have to be reinforced with
> > > > elastic or tighter than indicated for wool.
> > >
> > > > and if anyone knows where to get hemp/linen yarn at good prices
> > > > I'd like to know that, too!
> > >
> > > > Thanks in advance!
> > >
> > > Not saying you're not, but 90 % of people who THINK they're
> > > allergic to wool AREN'T, it's the soap, the dye, etc, but that's
> > > another thread another time.
> > > How about ALPACA?
> > > How about Cashmere?
> > > I see that our Suzee has already responded, so I'll jump back out. > > > Hugs,
> > > and WELCOME, post again!
> > > Noreen
> > >
> > > --
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> > ar> > > nwright.comhttp://noreensknitche.comhttp://noreensknitche.weblogs.> > > us
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> > > Noreen, I'm 100% sure I'm allergic, it comes up on a patch test. I> > will tell you that MOST medical professionals must believe the same> > thing you do because they always ask me about allergies and i always> > tell them wool and they don't write it down, but rather look at me> > as though i didn't understand the question--- which leads to nurses> > in maternity wards trying to insist i treat my breasts with> > LANOLIN..... ugh! Thank God i knew better than to put THAT ..> > THERE! And fyi, many people who have sensitivities to soap are> > actually reacting to lanolin (wool oil) in the product.> >
> > I'm not sure about the other wools like alpaca and Cashmere, i'm
> > afraid of wool so i just stay away. alpaca is from goats, yes?
> > goats and sheep are both in one class of animal (sub-class of
> > ruminant quad.. can't remember atm) so i'm not sure if i can touch
> > that.. and what's cashmere from? is angora from bunnies? I'm not
> > allergic to bunnies! :D (there's an angora sheep for angora,
> > though, isn't there?)
> >
> > Sue, I've checked out elann before, but will keep checking, thanks > > for the info!
> >
> > cheers,
> > L.
> >
> Alpaca is from a Llama related camelid.
> :D
> Noreen

PS... my mother and mother in law BOTH 'thought' they were allergic to wool, yet when I reminded them both that they both walked barefoot on their carpets which were NOT this new nylon crapola, but 100% WOOL wall to wall carpeting, they were stunned. My mother SLEPT on her floors (back problems) and did her excercises on same carpet, too..... :D Noreen

I can't bear to touch wool carpet or tapestry,with bare skin, even with a 10% content or lower. I can walk barefoot on one for a little while without irritation, but i walk barefoot a lot and the skin is leathery there :P

you're all a bunch of wool pushers! lol Lynda

my use of the word "all" was exaggerated, sorry :P

cheers :)

I'm not... I much prefer nice soft acrylic yarn (yes, there's lots) over scratchy wool. I'm not allergic to it either.

sue

LOL! I am reminded of the first time I mentioned here that I just don't like wool - sheesh! I don't like the way it feels, most of the time. I have since worked with some wool, and what I have found is that, for me, wool knits so much better than other yarns I have used, so the enjoyment of knitting can be enhanced by using wool. But then when you're finished, it's still a wool item :)

So I prefer wearing non-wool, I prefer knitting with some wool.

BB

snipped-for-privacy@nospam.gmail.com spun a FINE 'yarn':

LOL! :D Noreen

snipped-for-privacy@nospam.gmail.com spun a FINE 'yarn':

LOL again! :D Noreen

Heh, I know all about "itchy" wool, but believe it or not, there is some nice stuff out there - merino, for one. And no, I'm not trying to "push" it. There's lots of wool stuff I can't/won't wear, but give me a nice merino, and I usually can.

Shelagh

And i cannot wear any man made threads [ i call them man made threats to my body] besides nylon , which i can wear ,,, Now work that out ... Wool linen cotton every thing goes , Acrylics etc is life threatening to me [literary] ,, mirjam

Very well said Mirjam!

Dennis

Mirjam Bruck-Cohen wrote:

Oh yes, merino is quite tolerable, and I don't mind some softer wool for hats. But even the softer wool is too scratchy for scarves or sweaters.

sue

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