WoolWeenies Club

[PamNY]

Sort of wool-related but also sewing related:

I bought a merino dress at the thrift store today. It's a thin sweater/thicker-than-shirts knit. The length is kind of dorky for me and the dress could stand to be 3-4 inches shorter. I figured I'd take the chance b/c it was only $5, but does anyone know if it can really be cut and hemmed? I have no problem binding off the bottom with something...but I've never tried a project like this with a sweater material before.

Here's an article about sewing knits from Threads magazine.

I'm not very skilled with sewing knits, but I know that a stabilizer helps if you are going to sew it with a machine.

[Crankin]

Cataboo, I am fine on the bottom. I wear silk-like long underwear with my Ibex windproof front/wool back tights. And Ibex boy shorts underwear. If it's warmer than 30, I leave off the long underwear, or wear my heavier weight tights I use for cycling. But, I think you are right with the bra. I have been thinking about switching to an Ibex bra for awhile. I am also OK with my gloves/liners. I have a selection of mittens this year and I almost always use liners and hand warmers when it's below 25. I'm OK with the socks, too... Smart Wool all the way.
I bought a Gore cycling jacket from someone on TE; it has pit zips, in fact the sleeves come off. I could wear it skiing, although it's very tight and I may have to re-evaluate my mid layers. At this point, I don't really want to spend the $ for a new jacket. Perhaps at the end of the season, I will look for something on sale.

[Grog]

Have any of you guys ever bought the ibex dresses? I really want the hoody one but I'd like a personal review

I did try one on, I can't remember what it was called, but it definitely had a hoody, and definitely did not fall nicely on me, especially the pockets, I had to return it. I wasn't particularly impressed with the feel of it, a bit too thin for my taste. I would have wanted it a bit more structured.

This being said, I am very small on top with solid hips and thighs, so maybe that didn't help.

[Crankin]

I felt much better today, wearing thinner layers. Although, I was so cold when I first got in my car, I had to crank up the heat. I wore the Smart Wool base layer and a thinly lined Athleta quarter zip t-neck. I wore my Gore cycling jacket instead of my Golite. I didn't have to open the pit zips, though. The jacket is thinner than the Golite, but much shorter; some of my mid layers would be hanging out.
I spent some time perusing soft shells, recommended x country jackets on line before I left to ski today. It seemed confusing to me. Some people use soft shells as a mid layer and some use them for the outer layer? Some were on sale now, but I am not sure I want to order on line. For now, I will stick to the wool base layer, no matter how my skin feels and perhaps invest in some lighter weight mid layers. There's a new store in town that sells Ibex and I will probably head over there to buy the bra later in the week, since it will be impossible to find it on sale.

[Cataboo]

Way back when I first bought a softshell, I used to use it layering under a hardshell to ski.


It took me a long time to realize that, it really was okay to use a softshell as an outer layer skiing, I just remember back when I was learning to ski and my not fully waterproof pants would be soaked from me falling in the snow all day.

But now I pretty much ski (cross country or downhill) in softshell pants (my ibex backcountry pants rule) exclusively and on warmer days I ski with a softshell, and on windy days or colder ones, I put a hardshell on.

I still have one medium bio merino wool bra in purple that I listed on here to sell a while back if medium fits you. Ibex does make some nice merino wool/softshell mixture jackets. I know one of mine has pitzips. Okay, 2 of them - one I got new, and another one I got used off ebay that seems to be a really old model that I love.

[Crankin]

OK, one of the jackets I saw on sale was an Ibex combo jacket... the Shak Freestar? Is that what you have? It was a very good price. Now I have go back through my search history to find out where I saw it.
Thanks for the offer of the bra, but I need an x small or small .

[Cataboo]

No, the shak freestar just looks like it's all wool.

Try the vim hybrid maybe, climawool on front, merino wool on the back:
http://www.altrec.com/ibex/womens-vim-hybrid-jacket

(Hey Rebecca, that'd be a good one for you as well)

If you want all climawool, try the "tuck"

http://www.altrec.com/ibex/womens-tuck-jacket



I guess i'm a few models behind on my ibex jackets, i think I've got the neve and... I don't remember what else. But that speaks well of my shopping habits if I don't know the names of the new models!

[DebW]

I wore my Gore cycling jacket instead of my Golite. I didn't have to open the pit zips, though. The jacket is thinner than the Golite, but much shorter; some of my mid layers would be hanging out.
I spent some time perusing soft shells, recommended x country jackets on line before I left to ski today. It seemed confusing to me. Some people use soft shells as a mid layer and some use them for the outer layer?

Cranking, I was going to ask if the Golite jacket was maybe not as breathable as it should be for your level of exertion. A lot of shells these days try to be waterproof or waterpepellent and breathable, but nothing waterproof is very breathable. Sounds like you're looking in that direction anyway. Don't get anything that claims to be waterproof or even waterresistant by adding a coating to the nylon. You might look for a lightweight shell of plain pertex nylon. Marmot used to make the perfect windshirt like this but discontinued it. I can't speak for any of the newer softshells, and I don't sweat alot anyway.

[Crankin]

OK, the Vim hybrid looks more like what I would want. And I can't find the Tuck on sale anywhere. But, I read several reviews that the jacket is not windproof... what's your take on this? Could I wear it as an outer layer in the teens or lower, assuming I had appropriate mid and base layers?
Last year I thought I had forgotten my GoLite jacket when I went to Craftsbury VT. So, I wore one of my Shaks as an outer layer, until I realized my jacket was buried in the bottom of my suitcase. I was warm enough, but it definitely did not help in the wind.
Edit to add:
Deb, my Go Lite jacket is not waterproof at all, just windproof. It definitely is not breathable enough for me. When I "restarted" x country skiing about 6 years ago, my DH ordered it on line for both of us. I really didn't pay too much attention, as frankly I am not a good "researcher" on line for this kind of stuff. He loves doing this kind of research and he barely sweats. What he wears for outdoor activity is much heavier than what I wear. Of course now, I am much more knowledgeable.
Too many choices.

[Cataboo]

Crankin, I've never actually tried it. So I could say what I think it'd be good for, but I'm not sure of which temperature ranges, 'cause some of that's very individual. I've gone hiking in 20 degree weather and ended up stripped down to a sports bra and wool pants pushed up to my knees. (it was very steep).

Here's a few reviews:
http://cyclingspokane.blogspot.com/2...sh-hybrid.html

http://www.trailspace.com/gear/ibex/.../review/19201/

Basically, the more breathable something is, the less windproof it's going to be. Same with waterproof. It's all tradeoffs, and you've gotta figure out what works. Do you carry a backpack with you that you can put more layers in? Add in a windproof vest in very windy conditions, and you'd probably be fine.

[Crankin]

I understand the trade offs. I'm opting for breathability. I don't ski in the rain and rarely when it's snowing hard. I might wear this jacket for snow shoeing/hiking in the cold in addition to skiing, but it definitely won't be for anything else. I have worn my Golite maybe 5 times on winter rides in the past 5 years. I just don't ride very much in January or February.
Cataboo, I wear a Nathan waist pack that's for hiking rather than running, that has a medium size space for stuff. It's not huge. I usually put different gloves or head gear in there, as well as food. I could not put a jacket in there unless it was very foldable and lightweight. I just found it unbearable to ski with a Camelbak and the damn thing froze up when I tried. Bottles work better for me.
I'm leaning toward the Vim Hybrid. Thank you for all of the information.

[Crankin]

I ordered the Vim Hybrid jacket in red from Ski Rack. Man, what a pain... every time I saw the jacket for a cheap price it was the Vim Hybrid fleece jacket, not the regular one. Ibex has the worst price fixing of all brands. Anyway, I got it for 156.00, free shipping, down from 195.00 everywhere else.
I hope it's worth it.

[Cataboo]

Let me know, I'm pretty curious about it. I almost talked myself into buying one, but it's totally not in the budget.

[Biciclista]

just bought a turquoise colored Ibex Zephyr hat from TE (I ordered it yesterday, I received it today!!!
it is LONG enough to really cover my ears!! YAY!!!
the black hat that I bought used here from another TE lady is starting to look old and now I have a pretty new one.. yAY

[Flybye]

I am announcing my intention to join this club