WOOL YARN

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One of my favorites for baby blankets and clothing is wool*. The most important thing for me when choosing my wool yarn is that it is not itchy. My skin is very sensitive, so I usually go for baby merino, which is truly soft and lovely. I practically don't crochet anything in sheep's wool, despite having them grazing in the field. That is not to say that there aren't delicious yarn qualities from sheep breeds, I just haven't found the perfect one yet.

There is a sea of qualities and different brands within wool yarn. Both the more common brands, which are also the ones I have the most experience with, and the very special hand-spun and local yarn qualities that can only be purchased directly from the person who spun it.

WOOL YARN THAT IS NOT ITCHY

Whether wool itches or not can be a very subjective assessment. Some (like me) are very sensitive to some types of wool, while others do not experience any types of wool as itchy. A good rule of thumb is that merino wool and alpaca do not itch and are good for the very little ones or for someone like me who is a bit sensitive 😉

The yarn is lightly spun wool, which makes it wonderfully airy even though it is thick, and I personally love that combination. The yarn from Mayflower Molly* is also one of the qualities that I don't find itchy. It is a thick wool yarn and I love it for both shawls and hats. In addition to the delicious and soft quality, it works up very quickly and it gives a really beautiful result. Even after washing.

MERINO WOOL

Merino is, as previously written, a wool quality that does not itch and is super lovely for baby blankets, shawls in a light quality, and clothing in general. It holds its shape well and does not pill in the same way as, for example, brushed alpaca does. However, it is not suitable for stuffed animals or comfort blankets as it is not pleasant for the little ones to put in their mouths.

Infinity Hearts Baby Merino can be purchased here*		Hjertegarn Extra Fine Merino can be purchased here*

 

There are really many varieties of merino yarn and some of my favorite brands are these: Hjertegarn Lana Cotton 212*, Drops Baby Merino*, Drops Big Merino*, Drops Merino Extra Fine*, Hjertegarn Extra Fine Merino* and Infinity Hearts Baby Merino*. They have some beautiful colors, are lovely to crochet and knit with, and only become more beautiful and better from being washed (always remember to follow the washing instructions and use a good wool detergent).

ALPACA WOOL

I have a somewhat special relationship with it. Perhaps mostly because I really want to have a small flock of alpacas at home in the field where I can extract my own yarn from them. The animal breed is both beautiful and fascinating, and the yarn has something special both in its pure form and blended with other yarn qualities. I am a fan of Drops Alpaca* and Drops Brushed Alpaca Silk*.

Drops Alpaca can be purchased here*	Drops Brushed Alpaca Silk can be purchased here*

These two types of yarn each have something special to offer. Brushed alpaca provides a special look in clothing, but also has the disadvantage that it sheds quite a bit, so you should be aware of that. Finally, there is the "pure" Drops Alpaca which just has some really beautiful colors, a lovely structure, is warm, and does not itch.

MOHAIR WOOL

The last type of wool I love to use is mohair. It provides a "fluffy and really delicate look. For me, it is a very feminine yarn and it can give the stitches a completely different look than the more "solid" yarn qualities.

Drops Kid-Silk can be purchased here*	Mayflower Super Kid Silk can be purchased here*

WHAT GOOD PROPERTIES DOES WOOL HAVE?