Scratchy wool soaker

[LittleIslandMom]

Hi ladies, I tossed up between posting here or at Diapering, but I think I might get better answers here...

I bought a wool soaker made of Fisherman's and had to sell it because it was to scratchy for my son in our tropical climate. In the meantime I'd bought other soakers from Cascade 220 and Merino, and they are fabulous for him, no issues putting them on.

I now have another one made of Bartlett's, which I am finding to be again too scratchy - similar in texture to the Fisherman's. I really don't want to part with this, because it's beautiful, but if I can't find a solution I will have to, because it's pointless having a battle to force DS to wear it.

I'm not only trying to understand my options, I'm also trying to understand the wool properties so I can make better wool choices with my future soaker purchases. My questions are:

- Do others find Fisherman's and Bartlett's to have similar properties? i.e. long scratchy fibres that stick out? Or is it my imagination?

- What other wool has similar properties to Cascade and Merino and is not like Fisherman's and Bartlett's?

- I have read from other threads here that these will "soften up" after a few washes and lanolising. But will it "smoothen out" the scratchiness?

I need to know if this will help my new soaker and bring it to a similar - hmm, I guess "texture", for want of a better word - to my other Cascade and Merino soakers, because if I need to return it I can't wash it, and while at that point I could try to TP it, I would obviously rather sell a brand new item than one that's been washed a few times.

Help and advice, please! TIA!

[LuvMy2Kidz]

Yes Bartletts is similar to Fishermans, BUT it will soften more than fisherman's with a few washings and lanolizing. I'd say wash it a few more times and if it's still not soft enough for you, then sell it.

[LittleIslandMom]

Thanks, I might try that.

[Knittin' in the Shade]

Bartlett is deceiving at first, it's kind of *lumpy* and *scratchy* from the spinning because it's so compacted. But wash that baby a few times and it will be a whole new soaker. The bartlett's has a wonderful bloom and does get softer and softer with each wear (without pilling at all like some other soft yarns have a tendency to do.) Wash it with some regular shampoo and it'll be perfect

[LittleIslandMom]

Thank you, Theresa! So I have washed the soaker once this evening and will do so a couple more times before trying it on DS again and see how he feels about it

What do you mean when you say "bloom"?

[Brisen]

I have some Iclelandic wool, Lett-Lopi and Alafoss Lopi are what the labels say. I didn't realize until I brought them home how scratchy they were compared to the Merino I was also buying. I haven't used them for anything yet. Is it likely that these will also soften up?

TIA

[LuvMy2Kidz]

I think icelandic and shetland wool are the scratchiest? Theresa?

[Knittin' in the Shade]

icelandic (lopi) is by far the scratchiest, because it's got the thickest guard hairs (which is also why it's used primarily for outdoor wear like heavy ski sweaters, it's incredibly insulating and waterproof.) IME, it will NOT soften up much when washed.

"Bloom" basically is when the yarn is given a chance to relax from the super tigh spinning it got during processing, and when it relaxes, it kind of fuzzes up ever so slightly, and gets much softer because it's in a more natural (relaxed) state

One trick I've used on scratchy wool that seems to help a lot is to wash it, and then condition it with regular hair conditioner-this will work on icelandic somewhat

[LittleIslandMom]

Ooh, that hair conditioner trick sounds just like what I need to try!