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Tell me about wool soakers

582 Views 3 Replies 3 Participants Last post by  willowsmama
DS is three and I've never used a wool soaker on him. My knitting skills have improved drastically since he was a baby and I'm interested in knitting my own soakers for my baby who is due in October. They're just so cute! Anyhow, a few questions:

1. I use prefolds only. I assume I'll have to fasten these with a snap before I pull on the soaker?

2. Do I simply wash a 100% wool soaker in cold water with Euclean or a similar wool cleaner?

3. How often do wool soakers need to be laundered?

4. Do they really not leak? I'm so used to having some sort of synthetic material blocking the prefold from the outside world that it's hard to believe moisture wouldn't go right through a wool soaker.

5. I've seen patterns for wool longies online. I assume that when you put your baby in longies, they have some sort of diaper cover on in addition to the prefold/longies?

Thanks!
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1. Yes, you have to fasten the prefold before putting the wool soaker on, because the soakers generally are not as snug fitting as a PUL wrap style cover.

2. Usually the instructions say to wash knitted wool in luke-warm water with a wool wash. Be careful not to agitate the wool too much when you're washing it, be gentle, or it will felt. If your wool wash does not contain lanolin, you will also need to lanolize your soakers every couple of washings.

3. If a soaker gets poo on it, it obviously needs to be washed right away. If not, I usually wash my soakers every 1.5-2 weeks. Some wash theirs more often. I think it depends on the size of your rotation and how often you use them.

4. Yep, they really don't leak! Amazing, isn't it? :LOL Wool has great absorption, and the lanolin helps keep it waterproof to a degree.

5. Nope, when wearing wool longies, those are the only diaper cover you need!

HTH!
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Very helpful, thanks!

Does anyone know if Cascade 220 is lanolinized? Is this information usually stated on a yarn's label (I've never seen it before, but I could be overlooking it)?
1. I use prefolds only. I assume I'll have to fasten these with a snap before I pull on the soaker?

Yup you'll use a snappi or pins.

2. Do I simply wash a 100% wool soaker in cold water with Euclean or a similar wool cleaner?
Sounds good.

3. How often do wool soakers need to be laundered?
I wash/lanolize every 2-4 wks.

4. Do they really not leak? I'm so used to having some sort of synthetic material blocking the prefold from the outside world that it's hard to believe moisture wouldn't go right through a wool soaker.

Since using wool we've never had a leak.

5. I've seen patterns for wool longies online. I assume that when you put your baby in longies, they have some sort of diaper cover on in addition to the prefold/longies?

Nope. My kids lived in longies last winter and rarely wore a cover with them. Only if I needed to make the longies last all day. Generally, I knit my kids solid color longies and they wear a shirt that goes with anything.I carry a spare pair with us.

Does anyone know if Cascade 220 is lanolinized?
Cascade 220 doesn't have any lanolin in it. Not a problem since you'll need to lanolize anyway.
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