a little rant about wool...

Pinky Sheep Print by Caitlin Kuhwald via Little Paper Planes

Stuff acrylic! Wool is wonderful! I find it quite odd and slightly frustrating when people pick up acrylic, comment on how amazingly soft it is.... and then they happily prance over to the shop counter and pull out their credit card (and I used to be one of them, don't tell anyone). But I have been educated my friends, and now I know better...

Here's a little rant about choosing wool over acrylic... gather around boys and girls...

Most of you would know that wool is a natural fiber and acrylic is synthetic (man made). When you are buying your winer wardrobe please consider the following... wool breathes and acrylic doesn't. I don't wish to have sweaty (and therefore smelly) people sitting next to me on the train (it happens more often then you may think). As acrylic doesn't breathe well, you may feel yourself getting hot and bothered even though it's cold outside. That's not to say that wool won't make you sweat. I have been the culprit of inappropriate fashion choices for weather conditions outside (meaning I sometimes wear a wool item just because it looks nice, without considering what mother nature has decided to dish up for the day). But when it's cold, wool comes in handy, as wool is warmer than acrylic.

People sometimes shy away from wool when they read the label and realise it requires a 'cold hand-wash'. But you may not know that wool is generally more stain resistant then acrylic (requires less washing) and will last longer. But don't be lazy, please use a wool detergent (it will be worth it).

Do you have memories of sitting around a camp fire, singing Kumbaya toasting pink and white marshmallows on a small tree branch? Don't try it with acrylic scarves or gloves (highly flammable!). Wool, on the other hand, has been used my fire-fighters for years (so wool is sexy too)!

Do yourself a favor. Buy yourself some wool this winter :)