Non itchy yarn for children - suggestions?

[wiltingfast]

Can people tell me what yarns they tend to use for children's knits?

I have misguidedly agreed to knit a stripey jumper for my son who wants melange type effect or "speckles" but all that type of wool seems to be quite expensive? I've no interest in buying 70 euros worth of wool for him!

It can't be itchy either which is why I tend to stay away from pure acrylics, but at this point my head is wrecked looking at wool online and I am open to all suggestions!!

Pattern says I'll need about 1200m of wool; it is this pattern if you are interested: - The Montrealer He recommends worsted weight.

Designer's wool suggestions are way too expensive

Thank you for reading!

Acrylic is generally non-itchy, especially when compared to lambswool. It's basically plastic though. The problem is that worsted is an American term, we don't really have the equivalent here. It's sort of between DK and Aran I think. You might get away with Aran but you'd need to knit a swatch (yes I know that's really tedious).

What about cotton? Or a merino/cotton mix?

Melange is quite pricey anyway as the cheaper options are solid colours. Are you in the UK? Try going to B and M or Poundland. They usually have yarn in which can be really nice quality and affordable. I got a cream with multi coloured flecks so melange effect from Poundland the other day. Chunky weight.

Agree with pp you will need to swatch for gauge but that's standard anyway if you want the garment to come up to size.

If you look at the yarn ideas on Ravelry it will come up with cheaper options that other people have used. Drops do very reasonably priced Aran yarns made from wool, I normally buy their wool for kids knits as they grow out of them so quickly it’s not worth spending £££. Drops make some lovely yarns. I’d also look at the Sirdar arrans. They tend towards the synthetic more but are very soft and have nice melange yarns. Reasonably priced too. Remember to get something easily washable too.

www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/drops-merino-extra-fine-all-colours my favourite merino of all time. Non-itchy, affordable, natural fibre, and the thick side of DK so more like worsted weight.
You can wash it in the machine and I even tumbled a cardigan made of it once and it survived

... downside is it doesnt come in melange.
You could hold 2 colours of this www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/drops-baby-merino-navy-blue-13-50g to get a marl effect?

I was coming on to suggest Drops merino extra fine too, any of their colourways with mix after the name might give you the effect you want, they're more heathered than solid.

I was going to suggest Drops too. Merino extra fine
www.garnstudio.com/yarn.php?show=drops-merino-extra-fine&cid=17

Or Lima www.garnstudio.com/yarn.php?show=drops-lima&cid=17

Ah how clever! Had not thought to hold 2 colours! I had just about given up on melange. Will examine that now!

Is acrylic reasonably comfortable to wear then? I just associate synthetics with sweaty scratchiness.