Superwash: plastic coated wool...what's so super?

[LaLa]

Okay, so I think I have a superwash wool blanket and we really don't care for it.
I have noticed many people love superwash wool for diaper soakers.

someone here on the board said it was coated wtih resin, which prevented it from shrinking...ie; superwash.

That seemed very odd to me because why on earth would anyone want to buy a natural, breathable, wool cover and then coat it (even lightly) in plastic?

I researched a bit and found articles like this, which made me concerned
Resin as toxic addition to environment

Is this what we are wrapping around our babies in those carefully knit and crochet items?

Or is it different somehow?!

I know many of you are yarn experts so I would really appreciate any input!
I am just shocked to think that what I intended to be a natural undyed wool product to cuddle my little bella would be resin coated?!
This really is bothering me and I wonder if the mamas buying the wool yarn don't know?!

[pamelamama]

Ahh yes, the drama of superwash wool. Some people really enjoy the easy care aspect, and others are purists and don't go for it. You'll find strong opinions, be careful!!

Theresa just posted someone's blog with an article on superwash, it's in here someplace. Most of the wahms I know dont' deal in superwash wool.

[pamelamama]

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...ight=superwash

or just search for 'superwash' and there's been lots and lots (and lots and lots) of discussion!

[LaLa]

thanks for the link Pamela

I found that the source of the yarn I have is not a superwash, but a yarn that is supposed to be naturally bread to resist shrinking?
I have an email in to the sheep owners to ask them about that.

It sounds crazy to me, but who knows?!

I'm glad I know about the superwash! I will be careful in the future to make sure I am getting what I intended when buying wool items (which would be a nice soft breathable wool that felts )

that is what bella loves. Her favorite comfort item is this little wool blanket that a kind woman made for her. She first bought some wool yarn from teh store and made a blanket. She didn't think it was soft enough for a newborn so she did some searching and found an organic sheep farm. She went to the farm, go some freshly carded and spun yarn (only carded and washed so it still had some debris as it didn't go through anything remotely chemical or harsh in the process).
Then she made me a second blanket with this organic yarn.
I could barely believe the difference between to the two!
The natural one was so soft and little bella slept through the night the first night she had that blankie and she has been ever since.

It is her main comfort and she loves the snuggly fuzzy felted wool. That is what I am trying to find...more yarns like THAT!

Anyone know where I should look?

[sm3247]

Actually, superwash is not all "plastic coated."

I took a workshop this weekend at my LYS and one of the women there is a fiber guru/wool expert. To quote her, "superwash is not the evil empire."

There are three ways of making wool superwash - the result of each is that the scale is removed or covered up so that it won't felt. The most gentle process with the best result is done with a bleach solution - a process that is similar to mercerizing cotton. Some superwash wools are made by physically "grinding down" the fiber so that the scale is removed. The third way is the resin or plastic coating - which makes the "yucky" wool that many knitters don't like. However, this process is usually done to low quality yarns used in commercially made garments and it's less likely to be used in yarn for handknitting. You can tell that the plastic is present by burning it - you'll be left with a plasticy residue. The yarns knitters use are generally much better quality and this is unlikely to be the type of superwash you'll run across in your LYS.

I certainly understand the attractiveness of minimally processed wool, but I believe there is a time and a place for superwash wool (socks, for example). Also, I thought I would share the info I picked up over the weekend.