Dumb snobby question

Dr.Loretta

I'm going to make a sweater for a friend's new baby due this fall. Said friend breaks out when handling wool, so I want to avoid it. She also lives in New England, so I don't treally think cotton would be a good choice.

So for the first time in forever, I'm looking at making something in acrylic. Does anyone have a favorite or good-quality acrylic they can recommend?

adhdfashion

Sheep wool right? Is Angora wool a problem too? I would go Bamboo if you can't use Angora. 

hunniapple

Caron simply soft is pretty good - it's very soft and acrylic - I would think you would want acrylic for a baby because you'll want to be able to wash and dry it easily.

Dr.Loretta

I detest angora. It itches me to no end.

Never even thought about bamboo, that's a great idea. Will look into the Caron. Thanks!

BlueLikeJazz

I just placed an order for the new knitpicks acrylic (brava).  From reviews on ravelry, it sounds like it's better than most of the acrylics you can get at Joanns, etc. 

It shipped this morning, if you want to wait a few more days I can let you know what I think when it gets here.

Rock-n-Voll

Ditto Caron's Simply Soft.  I've made quite a few afghans from it and have liked it.  It's certainly softer than most cheap acrylics.

hunniapple

BlueLikeJazz:

I just placed an order for the new knitpicks acrylic (brava).  From reviews on ravelry, it sounds like it's better than most of the acrylics you can get at Joanns, etc. 

It shipped this morning, if you want to wait a few more days I can let you know what I think when it gets here.

I would like to know how it is.  Especially if it is soft!  I have been hesitatnt to order that because some acrylics are terrible (Red Heart for one) but Caron Simply Soft is pretty amazing.  Obviously you can feel that one before you buy it!

1Thess517

Dr.Loretta:

I detest angora. It itches me to no end.

Never even thought about bamboo, that's a great idea. Will look into the Caron. Thanks!

I have knitted with bamboo a couple times and I really like it! (This being said from my very limited knowledge of knitting/yarn in general, so take it with a grain of salt!)

Dr.Loretta

I've knitted bamboo, and baby stuff no less. So it's definitely an option--I love the way it feels. But I'm in no huge rush, so I'll wait a few days for feedback

Thanks again!

CatGal

adhdfashion:

Sheep wool right? Is Angora wool a problem too? I would go Bamboo if you can't use Angora. 

 Bamboo has a tendency to really stretch. I made a tunic for DD a couple of years ago and it stretched like crazy - it looked and felt gorgeous, though (it was Sirdar's Bamboo).

 ETA: Correction - it was Queensland Sugar Rush that I used. THAT's what stretched to no end.  However, it was so nice and soft - I loved knitting with it.   I'll probably frog it and make something else out of it. 

oneslybookworm

I ordered some acrylic yard from Deramores.com.  The brand was Stylecraft Special DK, and it came in a large selection of colors.  I've been pretty pleased with it so far, but I've not tried to wash it or steam block it yet, so I'm not sure how it will do once I do those things.  It received 4 out of 5 stars on Ravelry though, so I hope it holds up.

VMRRN23

I can't answer your questions, but just as a side note, I live in New England and I have only bought/gotten cotton sweaters for DS since he was a newborn (born in Jan). I think with a long sleeve onesie underneath it, a cotton sweater should be fine for the winter for a young baby. When DS was little I wanted breathability in everything he wore so he wouldn't sweat, and just used a fleece blanket to cover him if it was really cold. 

I don't know anything about bamboo, but if DS had gotten a bamboo sweater I might have tried it, but not an acrylic-esp. since DS had eczema when he was little. (Not to sound snobby either:)