[colleenmay]

What feels the softest when it is made up? Alpaca? Mohair? Something else? I want to make either a scarf or cowl for my daughter but I want it to be so soft that she cannot bear to put it down. Any advice? I walked around my LYS yesterday, but feeling the yarn in the skein is not the same as feeling it made up into something and they did not have anything made up in the alpaca OR the mohair. Any suggestions?

 

[virginia42]

I'll be interested to hear reply.

 

[dachsmom]

I am partial to alpaca or pure merino and of course there is always cashmere if you can afford it and she won't lose it. Debbie Bliss alpaca silk is really soft. Just depends on if you want a little fuzzy or smooth.

 

[Redkimba]

I have a blanket made from Alpaca; it's definitely softer than wool.

 

[CaroleD53]

Mohair can be quite itchy to wear next to the skin. I don't think I would like it round my neck although it is very warm.

 

[Martha French]

Alpaca is cloud soft, provided it does not have any guard hairs, and I think commercially spun alpaca would be free from guard hairs. Alpaca will not shed as much as mohair, but it can be hot to wear, much hotter than wool.

 

[citynenanyc]

Last winter I made a scarf-hoodie from some Plymouth chunky baby alpaca and she abosultely didn't like it. I couldn't understand why. I wound up giving it to my mom, cause she's very petite and it fit her, however, now she won't wear it bc it's too itchy. She says it's very "prickly."

Love love love mohair soft and light, but I can't knit with it or have it on... my nose goes bonkers! LOL

Have you considered, yak? I'm knitting up the softest scarf ever with some Yak/Bamboo mix from Bijou yarns. Let me tell you it is heavenly soft! LOVE it!

 

[Augustgran]

alpaca or angora

 

[Dreamweaver]

Alpaca..... or an alpaca/silk blend. Heaven, and not so fuzzy as to tickle the nose....

 

[Martha French]

Last winter I made a scarf-hoodie from some Plymouth chunky baby alpaca and she abosultely didn't like it. I couldn't understand why. I wound up giving it to my mom, cause she's very petite and it fit her, however, now she won't wear it bc it's too itchy. She says it's very "prickly."

I know what is meant by the prickly feeling. I have been given some horrible alpaca fleece that went straight to the compost bin or used as mulch in the garden.

The prickly feeling, or prickle factor is caused by the guard hairs. Alpaca has these guard hairs, but not all alpaca have the same degree. Many breeders have achieved a 100% comfort factor with their fleece, which means the guards hairs are not there. A good seller will skirt the fleece and only use the saddle as this is less likely to have the guard hairs. If they include the legs, they increase the likelihood of introducing the guard hairs.

I am using Misti Alpaca from Peru, and it is angel soft. It is only 2 ply, 7 stitches to the inch on U S no. 2 needles, but they also make 4 ply. But alpaca from other countries may not be free from these guard hairs. I do not want to point the finger at any country in particular, but some of you may well know the country to which I refer.

My friend breeds alpaca, and her fleece is 14 microns and even lower, with 100% comfort factor.

 

[tamarque]

I am not loving mohair. It looks soft but feels 'scratchy.' Alpaca is a dream. Alpaca softens all yarns with which it is blended. Add some silk--oooh, yuuuumy

 

[Marjorie Egan]

Alpaca is much softer. Mohair is beautiful but is probably best not used next to the skin.

 

[RavinRed]

What feels the softest when it is made up? Alpaca? Mohair? Something else? I want to make either a scarf or cowl for my daughter but I want it to be so soft that she cannot bear to put it down. Any advice? I walked around my LYS yesterday, but feeling the yarn in the skein is not the same as feeling it made up into something and they did not have anything made up in the alpaca OR the mohair. Any suggestions?

Alpaca is softer......if you want a lighter material then a bamboo silk is very soft.

 

[denisejh]

colleenmay-All yarns are different. One yarn company's mohair may be wonderfully soft while another's may be "prickley". The same for all yarns. I love alpaca (often referred to as the poor man's cashmere). My favorite brand is Classic Elite Inca Alpaca which is wonderfully soft and comes in gorgeous colors. Another amazing yarn that is SO soft is another Classic Elite yarn called Lush. It is a 50/50 blend of angora and wool. I have knit scarves in both yarns and have knit dog sweaters from both yarns for a friend whose little chihuahua has a skin condition that makes his skin very sensitive to rough textures. He wears all three sweaters with no problems or discomfort. There are many other soft, wonderful yarns on the market. Handling yarn at your LYS is the best way to find out what you like. You can get a good idea what the yarn will feel like just from the skein. If you are going to knit the scarf in a simple pattern (not heavily textured) and not with needles way under the recommended needles to make the recommended gauge, just handling the skein will give you a good idea what the yarn will feel like knit up. Denise

 

[Dcsmith77]

Baby alpaca is the softest, I think. However, I have recently used bamboo and Knitpicks has a yarn called "Comfy" that is wonderfully soft and comfortable and easier to wash. My daughter loves her Comfy sweater.

 

[jobailey]

I am currently working on a sweater with Alpaca and thin cotton knitted together. It is heavenly soft!!! can't wait to get it finished. Of course I just started it!!!

 

[WestLAmum]

I felt some quiviut, which I think is yak hair and it as soft as a cloud. It was not cheap, but so so soft,

 

[joycevv]

It's hard to go wrong with merino wool. Some alpaca is very soft, but some kinds can be a little itchy for me.

 

[tryalot]

Big question is who is going to be washing it?

Superwash Merino is lovely and soft

 

[rainy]

angora is the softest fiber, and probably the most expensive. Also 8 times warmer than wool.