How are wool unders supposed to fit?

[WindyCityMom]

Like the title says.

I'm making a bunch of wool unders, trying to make my own versions of Nova's Ruskovilla stuff I need to make things for my kids, who, in the heart of winter, will turn 1 and 3yo.

I'm thinking the thinner merino wool sweaters will become under-clothes woolens, and the thicker ones will become PJs, overalls, and leggings for under dresses (they're thick ).

So how are the under supposed to fit? Snug fitting and tight? Loose? Anyone care to share a photo of their DC so I can get an idea as to how they're supposed to fit? Thanks

[counterGOPI]

Just with a quick glance back in time:

Ruskovilla:
Here's a pic of C when she was under the age of 1 wearing her wool shirt
http://frontierdreams.blogspot.com/2...ay-part-2.html

K in her wool pjs (but with a mermaid costume over them):
http://frontierdreams.blogspot.com/2...ay-part-1.html

K in her wool pjs and C in her wool pants:
http://frontierdreams.blogspot.com/2...y-with-it.html

hmmm not the best pics but that's all I can find right now. I'll keep looking. They live in their long johns in the winter

[counterGOPI]

and oops! The long johns fit pretty snug so they can be worn under things.
The overalls and sleepy sacks are thicker as are the pjs. HTH!

[WindyCityMom]

Thank you, Nicole! Great pictures, your girls are adorable and have grown so much!

Now you have me wanting to make a sleepy sack & overalls!

[lookatreestar]

Originally Posted by counterGOPI

Just with a quick glance back in time:

Ruskovilla:
Here's a pic of C when she was under the age of 1 wearing her wool shirt
http://frontierdreams.blogspot.com/2...ay-part-2.html

K in her wool pjs (but with a mermaid costume over them):
http://frontierdreams.blogspot.com/2...ay-part-1.html

K in her wool pjs and C in her wool pants:
http://frontierdreams.blogspot.com/2...y-with-it.html

hmmm not the best pics but that's all I can find right now. I'll keep looking. They live in their long johns in the winter

wow i love your play set up!!

[rubyhatespets]

Can I ask what is possibly (probably) a very stupid question? Why, in the Waldorf lifestyle, is wool underwear considered necessary? Surely cotton or bamboo thermals would be natural, warm and more comfortable?

I am in the UK and unfamiliar with the whole Waldorf thing so this really isn't a criticism or anything, I am just curious.

[counterGOPI]

Good question and no criticism taken
Wool undergarments are extremely comfortable. I wear them myself, too
It's really all about warmth. Warmth is a huge thing in waldorf. Always having heads covered, etc.
Children need to be kept very warm, especially the core of their body and wool is a lot warmer than cotton or bamboo.
That was kind of in a nutshell, did that help at all?

[WindyCityMom]

Nicole, I was wondering- when was around 1yo, you always had her in a beige-ish pilot cap (in your blog photos ) I was just wondering where it's from and if it's wool or woolsilk.

I'm on the hunt for one All of the ones I've seen have been for bitty babies.

[counterGOPI]

hee,hee C lived in those hats until she was almost 2. They are silk pilot caps by ruskovilla. My friend kept us in supply of those. They have newborn up to 24 months sizes. They really are our favs b/c they kept her head cool in the summer too. HTH!

[TulsiLeaf]

I wonder what everyone would do for those of us living in a warmer climate?

After my daughter was born we just sweated for the rest of the summer. M was born in August and it was the hottest one in years. We had no air conditioning ( just a wall unit) and we spent many days in undies, skin to skin. My daughter still to this day sweats when she sleeps, kicks off covers and runs warm anyways. I was thinking when we have another baby what to do.

[counterGOPI]

I wonder about that too. In Virginia it was HOT in the 100s a lot of the time and it felt like summer all year round. C was born in April (Already summer like weather) and wore wool soakers, sleepy sacks,etc but we had air conditioning. When we were out and about she wore a lot of silk. I can't get over how it stayed so cool. Seriously, in heat waves she would wear her silk pilot caps and her head would be so cool!

[WindyCityMom]

Originally Posted by counterGOPI

hee,hee C lived in those hats until she was almost 2. They are silk pilot caps by ruskovilla. My friend kept us in supply of those. They have newborn up to 24 months sizes. They really are our favs b/c they kept her head cool in the summer too. HTH!

Ohh thank you! I had been wondering that for the longest

[SimpleGrace]

hi lovelies!
just wondering if anyone has a pattern for good wool underpants?
hugs, rebecca

[honeybunmom]

Originally Posted by rubyhatespets

Can I ask what is possibly (probably) a very stupid question? Why, in the Waldorf lifestyle, is wool underwear considered necessary? Surely cotton or bamboo thermals would be natural, warm and more comfortable?

I am in the UK and unfamiliar with the whole Waldorf thing so this really isn't a criticism or anything, I am just curious.

They wouldn't necessarily be more comfortable. Merino wool is very soft and not itchy. Moreover, cotton can be downright dangerous in very cold climates. My daughter's kindy school teacher mentioned this in the parent welcome night last week when advising parents on purchasing wool. When cotton gets wet, it does not wick moisture away from the skin, like wool does. So, if your little one is out playing in the snow, which is wet, that wet and cold is laying directly on his/her skin unless s/he is dressed in a fabric that pulls the moisture away and locks it into the fiber. And our littles don't always have the ability to detect and convey when they are truly cold. For example, one day I was out in the winter with my daughter. She was dressed warmly, but I was in a mink (my mother handed down to me). And I was freezing! I had her dressed warmly, but she couldn't have possibly been as warm as me in my full length mink . . . but, she did not want to come in (remember, our littles live in the moment, and she was having fun!). She was around 2 at the time. I live in Chicago, so, it was pretty darn cold.

[WindyCityMom]

Originally Posted by honeybunmom

She was around 2 at the time. I live in Chicago, so, it was pretty darn cold.

We've been in almost that exact situation (without the mink ) in the exact same city. Thanks for posting that, it has motivated me to get sewing


What do you all think? Should I change the title of this thread to "Winter Woolies Chat?" No. Seriously, lol.

[sofysmommy]

I had this bookmarked but after reading this thread I was wondering about wool/cotton/polyester blend. Is it a bad idea?

[honeybunmom]

Originally Posted by sofysmommy

I had this bookmarked but after reading this thread I was wondering about wool/cotton/polyester blend. Is it a bad idea?

I think the question is best answered by considering the activity of the wearer. If the wearer will not be getting wet from snow, or activity that would produce perspiration (hence moisture next to the skin), then the garment would be ok. After a quick internet search, a good example of different cold weather activities would skiing (very active involving moisture from both without and from the wearer) vs. ice fishing (just sitting there, for the most part, and [hopefully] not getting wet and not sweating from activity). A cotton blend would be ok as a base later for a day of ice fishing or, better yet, attending a Packers or Buffalo Bills game!, but a bad choice for a day of activity. HTH!

ETA: I'd personally be ok with a wool content of say, 80%, and 20% cotton or other fiber (most of the stuff I saw searching "how to dress for cold weather" even said that synthetic materials were prefable to cotton. I assume that is because dressing in wool can be costly).

[rubyhatespets]

Ah. OK. I hadn't heard of the dangers of cotton underwear. I would probably just wear wool over thermals though, with waterproofs in snow etc. Bamboo definitely wicks moisture away though so that would be a good alternative if people weren't keen on wool.

Interesting though. Knitting them would be much cheaper but my knitting would mean holes in ALL the wrong places.

[honeybunmom]

Originally Posted by rubyhatespets

Ah. OK. I hadn't heard of the dangers of cotton underwear. I would probably just wear wool over thermals though, with waterproofs in snow etc. Bamboo definitely wicks moisture away though so that would be a good alternative if people weren't keen on wool.

Interesting though. Knitting them would be much cheaper but my knitting would mean holes in ALL the wrong places.

Cotton over wool would be better since what is relevant is that the layer closest to the skin wicks away rather than just gets wet like a sponge, rather than hoping that the wool will wick the moisture out of the cotton.

[dogretro]

I agree w/ Honey in that everything I have read says wool is the preferred bottom layer b/c of its wicking properties. We have the woolies from Palumba b/c they are half the price of Ruskovilla & they are quite nice. DD1 wore them all last winter & will fit into them for this winter, too. I do wool first, then shirts and pants. You want the insulation layer under the wind-stopper layer. Plus, it keeps your woolies from getting worn out.

Our woolies fit v closely & are thin, exactly like cotton long johns. I, personally, would not buy a synthetic blend b/c I *try* and keep my kids in natural fibers (except for the PUL diaper covers, lol) & I think 100% wool would be warmer.

In the summer, my kids and I barely wear clothes. We are plenty warm then, thank you v much