Any magic cures for ‘de itching’ a lambswool jumper?

[BalladOfBarryAndFreda]

Maybe this should be in ‘good housekeeping’.

I usually only buy cashmere or merino because I’m sensitive to the itching but this jumper is perfect in fit and colour for me so I couldn’t resist. Turns out it was an utterly stupid idea because it, being lambswool, itches like mad and so I can’t wear it. Wearing it with a slip or something underneath doesn’t help as the slip doesn’t cover enough skin and wearing something that creates a full barrier would be boiling hot. So I’m here for your top tips for softening jumpers. Hit me…

There’s not much you can do. It’s the scales on the fibres that cause the itching. You could try fabric conditioner which works in the same way as hair conditioner to smooth,

I can’t wear any wool or cashmere. I’ve stopped buying it.

I was afraid that would be the response, @ArseInTheCoOpWindow

fabric conditioner is pretty good, but I am also sensitive to wool and I wouldn't be able to wear it next to my skin

I had to ditch all my lambs wool jumpers. I can wear merino and cashmere. I too searched for the magic solution but there wasn’t one🙁

I only really wear lambswool with a shirt or long sleeve top underneath.

Wash it in hair conditioner, it will soften it. But it might not be enough to help unfortunately, it depends on the breed and unfortunately most clothing manufacturers just put lambswool or wool so you dont know what to avoid

I second hair conditioner

I save my wool jumpers for proper cold winter days and wear a long sleeved thermal top underneath.
I might give the conditioner a try though!

Thank you for the suggestions. I’ll try the fabcon first and then hair con. Fingers crossed.

Find a thin T-shirt to wear under it. Wool makes me hot, irritable and itchy too.

I always bring back a bottle of a eucalyptus wool wash for handwashing from Oz (when I can get there!) which you don't rinse out.

But I am someone who can test a piece of fabric or garment for wool content against my cheek and usually get within 10% accuracy, just by the level of prickliness!

I have long-since given up on anything wool or wool-blend around my neck. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I’m amazed that anyone can wear it tbh. It’s so prickly.

And l couldn’t wear a t shirt underneath. It would irritate any area not covered. Especially wrists, even if l worry a long sleeve t shirt

Long sleeved t shirt or blouse underneath. With the sleeves poking out/long enough to avoid the itchy wrist problem as mentioned above.

I’m a knitter, and my knitter friends swear by Eucalan to make wool clothes soft and less itchy.

That Eucalin says an excellent choice for men!! Why is this?!

No idea - sorry.

They do offer jasmine, lavender, grapefruit and natural scents - I just linked to the first one available.

Have you tried a gentle hand wash in Woolite and some white vinegar in the rinse.
I knit a lot and some yarns are noticeable different after a wash, they really soften up.
I guess it depends whether you are sensitive to the fibres, the lanolin or something else.

Otherwise keep it for cool weather with a silk base layer underneath.

It has been washed multiple times in woolite, sadly it appears to have made zip all difference .

I will take the other suggestions on board though as it really unwearable as is.

Silk is warm though. It’s much warmer than cotton.

I've been known to take an antihistamine to ease itching when wearing a wool jumper only very occasionally though.

I also find wool itchy so I tend not to buy it but I have one jumper which I love that I wear a long sleeved high neck top underneath. Strange that some people can wear wool and some can't. Is it some kind of allergy?

It’s allergy to either lanolin, or the scales on the fibre irritating the skin. If you have sensitive skin, allergies or eczema you will struggle to wear it.

I don't think it's an allergy - I just think I'm a princess manque with ultra delicate sensibilities, like in the Princess and the Pea!

And eucalan sounds much like what I go across the world to get! I think the "for men" recommendation is probably just because eucalyptus is perceived as a masculine smell. I would never be put off by that. I'd rahter smell of eucalyptus than lavender any day. If they did a frangipani one, now, that would be best of all.