ALLERGIC TO WOOL
QI have contact dermatitis and react badly to pure wool, but I would love to knit in something that looks like real wool, or discover a yarn that I can fall in love with and wear without itching.
Mallory, via Instagram
You’re not alone Mallory, although quite rare, people can sometimes have a reaction of some sorts to real wool, whether that’s a full on rash or just a mild sense of discomfort. Either way, it’s always good to seek out an allergy test so you can be sure what it is you’re reacting to – the wool itself, lanolin or animal dander within wool for example. Have you considered a refined wool, like merino or cashmere? They tend to have a softer feel and are much less itchy than some more rustic wool yarns. Or perhaps consider a wool blend, where much less wool is used as it’s mixed with any number of other fibres. If you want to steer clear of wool altogether, many pure acrylic yarn blends have the look and feel of wool, King Cole have just released a recycled acrylic yarn called Forest Aran which has wonderful soft and tweedy wool-like finish. If natural fibres are your thing, consider alpaca, cotton, linen or bamboo. Alpaca yarns are really warm and do the same job as sheep’s wool in the winter, but they are often softer and gentle on the skin. Cotton, linen and bamboo are categorised as summer yarns and make brilliant draped knits for the warmer months. If you’re after something special silk is a gorgeous luxury alterative to wool. It’s cool in the summer, warm in the winter and naturally hypoallergenic. As knitters we’re lucky, the variety of yarn ingredients has exploded in the past decade as we become more adventurous with our knitting. With all the options on the shelves, there’s bound to be something you fall in love with soon.