New to wool

[Flor]

I really don't know much about wool. After you knit something, do you wash or treat it? I'm not making diaper covers, just scarves, socks and such. Some of my wool is cheap and not very soft.

[iowaorganic]

You don't need to treat it- but when you wash you can add a titch of white vinegar to make it soft. or if intended you can felt the item.

It is really amazing how much some wool softens up. I made a sweater coat out of pf and I loved it. THen I decided it was a titch too big so I machine washed and dried it- it is sooo soft now and slightly felted- amazing difference. I think the best thing to do it experiment.

[love2bmom]

You can also soak rough wool items in hair conditioner for a day or so. It will help to soften it a lot.
I just wash my non diapering wool items in baby shampoo.

[Sillygoose]

I like to use a wool wash like Eucalan or Soak. They are lanolin based cleansers, so they put a little of the natural wool oil back in the fiber. Vinegar is good too, but Woolite (believe it or not) is kind of harsh.