I have just finished weaving a scarf in what was described as "super soft lambswool". The finished scarf feels stiff and very scratchy, which may well be due to my beating to firmly. Before I wash the scarf, can anyone recommend a specific treatment or treatments to reduce the scratchiness, other than using a proprietary fabric softener?

Comments

Fri, 05/04/2012 - 13:32

Kade1301

Some people have good results with it. But at first I'd try simply washing it. It's very likely that there's some substances (spinning/carding oils, for example) on the wool and if you are lucky it will get softer once they are washed out.

Beating too firmly can make the fabric stiff, but shouldn't make it scratchy...

Fri, 05/04/2012 - 14:25

Joanne Hall

press and brush the scarf after it is washed and is nearly dry.  And for a rinse after wet finishing, try a couple tablespoons of vinegar. 

Joanne

Thu, 05/10/2012 - 17:17

Mike (not verified)

Thank you for the advice.

Sun, 11/04/2012 - 23:26

janenedriscoll

If it is still scratcy after washing it, I'd suggest rinsing it in your favorite hair conditioner.  I routinely rinse handwovens and knitted wool items in hair conditioner.  I think it tames the unruly little wool fibers just as it does the unruly frizzies in our hair, laying them down and making them feel softer.

Mon, 11/05/2012 - 10:34

ReedGuy

The mill here has what they call Softspun for less scratchiness. It is made with 25 micron wool. I think a wool yarn with low lanolin is scrathy anyway. There are products like Eucalan woolwash that retains the lanolin and adds a natural moth inhibitor to the fabric. I'm not pushing the product, just something to try.