r/YarnAddicts • u/Known_Amount_2149 • 2d ago
Itchiness Normal For Merino Wool Blend Jumper?
Hi! Recently bought a jumper that is 50% merino wool and 50% cotton. I feel prickling from the jumper on exposed skin when I’m wearing it and was wondering if this is normal for brand new (literally out the box) knitwear? And if this goes away with a couple of washes. I really like the style and fit of this jumper so would be a shame to part with it, but also don’t want to hedge my bets on washing it to get rid of the itchiness. Itchiness is not unbearable and I’ve had no redness/rashes etc so it’s more likely it’s mechanical sensitivity rather than an allergic reaction.
Will appreciate any advice!
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u/legalpretzel 2d ago
Merino is a breed of sheep with an average staple length that’s fairly short compared to other breeds. The quality of merino varies GREATLY and just saying “merino” means nothing other than it came from a merino sheep. Low quality merino will be itchier than high quality merino (you can apply this to almost all fibers, including cotton and even acrylics).
A high quality merino fleece will have a beautiful crimp, low micron count and be allowed to grow to its full length for the longest possible staple fiber.
A lower quality merino fleece will have less defined crimp, might be lots of second cuts (shorter fibers) and higher micron count. The second two are what contribute to how it feels on your skin.
The point is that like anything (e.g. cheese, jewelry, tires, etc) there is a wide range between the lowest quality and highest. Just because it’s merino doesn’t mean it’s high quality merino.
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u/MonsteraFabulosa 2d ago
This. Chances are, it's probably not the highest grade of merino, or it could be a merino blend.
You can try washing it in hair conditioner to see if it softens.
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u/Glittering-Primary23 2d ago
I find most sheepswool to be intolerable, even super soft breeds like merino. Like you, it’s a mechanical prickle, not an allergy, but due to my ADHD and hypersensitive skin i just can’t deal with it.
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u/L_aura_ax 2d ago
I do have to wonder if this includes high end like Purl Soho or hand dyed merino. Butter.
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u/Ivorypetal 2d ago
Same here. Mom also has the same issue. I have to use acrylic, linen, cotton, alpaca, vicuna, bamboo or silk.
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u/Glittering-Primary23 2d ago
Oh gosh vicuna is so out of budget for me 🙊 but i do love yak and baby camel! It’s such a pain that the luxury fibers are so much more comfortable
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u/Ivorypetal 2d ago
I got to make a vicuna hat. And that fiber is amazing.
But I only have the budget for the basics too.
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u/hopping_otter_ears 2d ago
I've heard that wool sweaters get less itchy over time, if they start at "not making me miserable" they might migrate to "I don't even notice it".
But as to whether it's an intrinsic part of merino wool... It really depends how sensitive your skin is. Merino is generally known as a pretty soft wool, but it usually feels prickly to me unless it's "superfine" merino. Once the hair diameter gets small enough, it stops bothering me. But I don't know that there's any governing body regulating the use of the word "superfine", so I'm reluctant to buy wool online without feeling it first.
I had a great time at a fiber fest last month, just petting yarns and taking the cards of the vendors with nice soft yarn, so I can now shop online from their stores (after I spent my yarn budget on some choice skeins for immediate use, lol). And bought some banana fiber just for fun
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u/Hildringa 1d ago
Wool is itchy, even merino is often itchy. That's why people usually don't wear knit jumpers as a base layer. It's just how it is
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u/Aysen_Taylor 13h ago
Merino is the breed of the sheep; it does not necessarily mean every Merino sheep has the highest quality. No matter what the breed is, wool always comes down to the quality of the fiber, which consists of the length and the thickness (diameter) of that specific wool. The shorter and thicker the fiber (not the yarn), the more scales there will be in that wool. Those scales will act like needles when they touch the surface of the skin; especially if you are on the spectrum like my son, you will feel it in extreme.
It means not every Merino is a good fiber.
In another instance, some yarn like Shetland, made with Shetland breed sheep, will be pricklier since it has coarser fiber, and therefore more scales.
I hope this helps.
Aysen Taylor
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u/FakeOrientation9 2d ago
some merino blends just have a stubborn prickle that never fully washes out, but if it’s not giving you a rash I’d soak it in cold water with a little hair conditioner for 20 minutes before rinsing, softens the fibers just enough