Would superwash wool work for knitting soakers?

[Beckula]

Knitpicks has some gorgous superwash for cheap. I was wondering if it could be used for knitting soakers or the superwashing process would make them leaky. please let me know if you have experiance with this.

[mchalehm]

Nope, superwash supposedly does not work. I've never tried it but the treatment that makes it washable also makes it not suitable for diapering.

[mommyddeville]

If you use superwash, you lose the beneficial properties of wool. It doesn't absorb like untreated wool. Knitpicks also has fairly inexpensive regular wool, and I'd go for that. Or, if you have a Michael's or Joanns near you, they have 40% off coupons all the time, and you could get a skein of Patons Merino for less than the knitpicks wool.

[Jo&Co]

I have a couple pairs of longies made of superwash, and they work fine. They lanolize nicely and are soft. We use them all the time. I do find that I need to dry them in the dryer (weird thought at first eh?) because whether it's the fact that they are knit in kind of a loose gauge or that it's that type of wool, they get kind of saggy baggy. They have gone through my washer and dryer numerous times and not a hint of felting, which I guess isn't surprising since it *is* superwash. Anyway, my point is, I have no problem using them for diaper covers though, so if you some superwash, go ahead and try it!

[mehndi mama]

I, too, have used superwash, and it really does work OK. The whole "it won't act like wool anymore" thing is a myth - it doesn't act like wool ONLY in the shrinkage/fulling department. You'll want to knit it either double-stranded or with much smaller needles than you would normally, because superwash acts kind of "flabby" and slippy - you'll get lots of spaces between stitches that won't tighten up with washing like regular wool will.
Aside from that, it still absorbs & disperses just fine, and the wool holds off odors just fine - especially if you lanolize it.