Type of wool for soakers?

[mel79]

Hi there
I've just started knitting my own soakers, and I'm just wondering whether normal 8ply wool is OK to use or will it be too itchy against bubs skin. Bubs isnt born yet so i can't test it out, but i know that i don't like normal wool against my skin, but DF is fine with it....so i just don't know....

If i can't use normal 8 ply then is the only alternative baby 8ply?(cos this seems a bit exy) Is there any percentage of non-wool fibres that will still make good soakers? (ie. will 80% wool still work?, cos this may be softer yeah?)

ETA - I have also been knitting a star in a diff colour into my 1st soaker but it is coming out kind of lumpy - any hints on how i can make it come out flat like the rest of the soaker?

Sorry if that came out a bit confused....
Cheers

[HoopDeeDoo]

Not sure aboout the star issue LOL But any wool that has at least 80% wool is fine. If it's soakers you are knitting not much of it will touch baby's skin, just around the legs, and mabe the waist. But I think wool has changed a bit since we were babies and there are much softer wools available now. Plus the lanolising kind of makes them softer aswell.
But yes you can use softer wools absolutely. Anything 80% (or even 75% I think) and up will be fine. 8 ply is the best but some people have gone as high as 12 ply for a chunkier weight

By the way I'm not a knitting expert - so feel free to tell me I'm wrong expert knitters :p

HTH