WoolWeenies Club

[mimitabby]

Trisk,
don't forget to call Ibex's 1-800 number.
I throw my Ibex stuff right in the washing machine with everything else. It does not need to be pampered. i think woolite is fine!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Trisk- I launder my shaks in the machine as well, on cold, gentle cycle, with some Woolite. Then I tumble dry on LOW for the smallest time possible, with a dryer sheet because that's the only way the cat hair comes off my clothes.

If you wash by hand, be sure to NEVER make scrubbing motions to wash it. Just swish it in the water like a tea bag and press gently to remopve water- no wringing. Put fresh water several times to rinse, and never scrub or wring the wool. Then press the excess water out gently (or put in the machine gentle spin cycle for a minute), and lay out to dry.

My advice?- use a lint brush in whatever direction works. I think you should expect all wool to develop some sort of minute fuzzy "patina" surface. It's wool, remember- woven from natural fur fibers. I wouldn't call it pilling though, it's just a softening/fuzzing of the surface. That's as much as I can guess.
I do notice little teeny fuzz balls occasionally accumulate along the flatlock seams of my shaks, but they just pull off easily and there are not that many of them at one time to be a problem.

[Triskeliongirl]

Thanks Lisa.... I think that's all it is, I just wanted someone to tell me its normal and not gonna get worse or turn into real pilling! Most of it did come off with the lint brush. It did need laundering, so I have it soaking in woolite now. I still feel better doing it by hand, but I do handle just like you described.

Also Lisa, do you think if the ribbie feels rough on my skin, its cuz its too small (but it looks nice, snug and close to my skin but its described as form fit which I think that means, its not pulling or anything), or its cuz that paricular weave doesn't agree with my sensitive skin? Maybe I've been spoiled by my Kates, but the Icebreaker stuff also feels very soft to me. I like the ribbie so much, but I am not going to spend another $11 on shipping just to see how the medium fits. I think their shipping rates are outrageous.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Also Lisa, do you think if the ribbie feels rough on my skin, its cuz its too small (but it looks nice, snug and close to my skin but its described as form fit which I think that means, its not pulling or anything), or its cuz that paricular weave doesn't agree with my sensitive skin? Maybe I've been spoiled by my Kates, but the Icebreaker stuff also feels very soft to me. I like the ribbie so much, but I am not going to spend another $11 on shipping just to see how the medium fits. I think their shipping rates are outrageous.

My large ribbie is a bit roomier on me than my medium ribbie (which is pleasantly snug, like yours), but they both feel exactly the same on my skin. The ribbies definitely have more of a texture, because of the tiny ribs. I happen to love the way that feels on my skin- it feels like a nice massage all day, like a baby washcloth. But some people might find it irritating, I can understand that. Ever wear those shoes that have dozens of teeny rubber knobbies on the insole, to massage the bottom of your feet?- that how I feel about some of these wool items. Of course there are limits- a coarse spun Bolivian raw wool sweater would be too much against the skin even for me! I have a feeling that after wearing your current merino items for a month or two, you will begin to enjoy the sensation of wool on your skin more than before. That's what happened to me- I suspect it's kind of addictive, like a new exotic food one is not used to at first. I could be wrong though- you might always hate it!

GLC- nice to see those photos!!

[Triskeliongirl]

Thanks Lisa! I decided to try it on again after taking a shower, and just see how long I could stay comfy in it. At this point I am still wearing it so I decided its a keeper. So, now the tags are cut and we are mulberry ribbie sisters for the evening if you still have yours own. I will think of you now whenever I wear it. I love the color, it goes with both my shaks and my two colors of wool pant. Yeh, it doesn't feel as soft as the other pieces, but its not giving me an allergic reaction either (wool that I am allergic to gives me raised red welts!). I do like it more than the icebreaker, but the pieces are different.

I will probably keep the blue icebreaker zip-T too, but I am waiting for the bean order to make my final decision. While I wish it didn't have the gray stripes, it does look nice under my suit, layers great under my shaks, it would work for cycling or skiing, its really soft and comfy, and it even matches my bike. But I did also order it in other colors that I'll probably send back along with the bottoms. If I end up hating the bean stuff or got the sizes wrong, then maybe, just maybe, I'll keep the red icebreaker zip-T too.

[RTW]

Hi Triskelion,

Yeah, a lot of Icebreaker things have some little touch on them that dresses them down -- the racing stripes on the sleeves of a bunch of items, a contrasting collar or trim, or flatlock stitching on raglan sleeves. Sierra Trading Post doesn't do a good job of describing their Icebreaker items, unfortunately; you have to know which item is being sold, and then go look it up on the website or online. You should try to see if you can find the Upstate (zip-neck or "polo," which really is a turtleneck); although it does have thumbholes and flatlock stitching and raglan sleeves, it does feel a little more dressed up because it's one color and has ribbed panels. I've been told the Glider is also good because it has set-in sleeves, but the contrasting collar has stopped me from getting it. The Stella V-neck would be dressy enough for work, but get it a size down because it's "relaxed." The Tech Lite Tees (140 g/m2) are another item that could be worn in more situations than a typical sports T.

Um, yeah, I'm totally a wool addict (and I know the Icebreaker line FAR too well -- I could probably answer questions on a third to a half of their current items). I got started on Icebreaker because over on a backpacking/hiking forum, people thought that it was softer and cut closer to the body and more consistently than Ibex. But lurking on this forum is making me really tempted by the Shak and the polos as well. Thank goodness I have no more money left to buy more wool with!

[Triskeliongirl]

Hi RTW, and welcome to our forum and thanks for all the great info on the Icebreaker line. I don't even mind the raglan sleees or flatlock stictching, I just wish they didn't put the racing stripes on. I like stuff thats multi-functional, and the racing stripes just put it over too much into the sporty category for me.

Why don't you introduce yourself in the getting to know you thread?

[emily_in_nc]

Wow, you gals are amazing -- this is the most active thread I've seen for awhile!

Anyway, my LL Bean merino top came today -- it's the base layer, long-sleeve, round neck in teal. It is gorgeous! It's very soft, very professionally cut, almost dressy looking, so it would be great with a suit (but I don't wear suits -- my job is very casual). It is rather thin, so I will have to check the see-thru angle when I try it on (I haven't actually made it to that point yet, but it is an XS, so I can't imagine that it won't fit). I often wear the suntan color VS bras, so don't usually have to worry too much about them showing through. The color is even prettier than shown on the Bean website, and it coordinates so nicely with two wool cardigans I have (one is a Patagonia chunky cardigan I bought at the infamous Terry 50% off everything sale!) I plan to wear it tomorrow.

Emily