Question about Fisherman's wool

[3_opihi]

So far all I have used to make soakers is merino from handpainted yarn.com, but I'm getting tired of shaving all the little pillys off all the time. I just ordered some Wool Ease yarn in fisherman. This is the same as fisherman's wool, right? I've never used it before.

Also, I've heard its kinda scratchy. What has your experience with it been?

[pinky]

Wool-ease is not the same as the fisherman's yarn...the wool-ease is 50% wool and 50% acrylic.

I am not a big fan of fisherman's myself--I find it to be pretty scratchy. I have been using Cascade 220 with good results and have some Cascade Ecological on the way.

[rubidoux]

Actually, I think wool-ease feels a lot nicer than fisherman's. It should also work relatively well for a soaker, but won't absorb as much as 100% wool. I have a soaker that's a different brand of 50/50 wool/acrylic and it works great, but the one time I tried it overnight, it wasn't quite enough.

If you started w/ hpy.com merino, everything will feel scratchy after that. That stuff is awsome! Pills or no pills, I just want to roll in it.

J.

[3_opihi]

Good thing I asked. I would like to stick with only 100% wool, but it was only $2 and I think I can use it for a sweater I have to make for a friends baby.

What has your experience been with lamb's pride worsted? I was looking at this and the colors seem cute. Otherwise I'm gonna stick with Cascade and hpy. (Which is absolutely heavenly, I might add- the only thing I would let touch a newborn's skin.) But I want some specific colors that they don't have...

[Artisan]

Wool-Ease is actually 80% acrylic, 20% lambswool.

I really like Lamb's Pride -- it's very soft.

[twirlgirl]

I adore lambs pride, but not for soakers. The mohair tends to shed and it stretches easily. This is just MY opinion though.
It is heaven to knit however and worth trying out Relatively inexpensive and a staple in just about any local yarn store

[twirlgirl]

And oops..forgot to offer my opinion on fishermans.
I like it and dont find it scratchy. Of course its not as soft as other wools, but its not coarse and picky either. IMO it tends to soften with washing and lanolizing. YMMV though

[Ember]

So far I've only used Fisherman's 100% wool for my soakers. I personally would like to try something softer but my ds doesn't seem to mind. I do overlanolize plus add hair conditioner to the process. Seems to help.
I will say though that the yarn holds up wonderfully and is a great thickness. Even works great for overnight.

I have a friend that I've made some soakers for and she's purchased other soakers from various sources. Although some of the other soakers she has are softer, she likes mine because of the thickness. She says it's the most reliable.

[dandelions2]

I love fisherman's and I think it feels really soft. Maybe I have "special" fisherman's.