Not all wool itches believe it or not. As the cooler weather brings the warmer sweaters to the top of the pile, the ones that itch stay at the bottom. So why is that? Well there is a lot to learn about this natural fiber and for the sake of boring most of the world, not all wool is created equal. Fine wool is one of the best investments you can make in your wardrobe. As most clothing depreciates, wool is a quality commodity.
Wool comes from 2 different animals, worsted and wollens typically come from sheep, whereas fine cashmere comes from the undercoat of goats. The finer the thread the softer the feel, makes sense doesn’t it? True 100% wool will resist piling, snagging, breaking, and bagging, it has a natural elastic property. Now as a dry cleaner we see a lot of sweaters that have piling and that is simply because it is not 100% wool. The fronts and sleeves of sweaters are where there is more abrasion and if there is an added small percentage of another fabric or it is chemically processed it will create the threads to get roughed up and pill.
So back to why does some itch and some not, simply put, when the threads are finer and softer they don’t have scaly sides and the yarns are smooth which does not catch on your skin, it goes through a much more laborious preparation. The price of these wools reflect their softness, this is where you pay for what you get. There is nothing more beautifully warm and cozy than a fine cashmere sweater.
