Itchy/Not Itchy?

Who turned the sun off??!  Sooner than desired, the temperature has been turned down and we’ve entered that infuriating three weeks or so when the schools go back, when you dress for the morning and are woefully either over or underdressed by the afternoon.  Tshirts can still be worn but it’s extremely wise to throw a warm layer in your bag just in case.  Working in a cold building I’m not messing about – wool is on again and nothing gives me more pleasure than wearing my beloved black Croft Nolan for the first time this year (with more colours planned).

As you can see I’m ‘high wiring’ it – no shirt or neck protection as I’m 100% comfortable with wool, but not everyone is so lucky and it is one of the things I get asked most often – is wool itchy?  Obviously, that’s one of those ‘how long is a piece of string’ questions and the only way to find out is to try it.  Shop customers have the chance to wander around the shop holding balls to their necks whilst pondering but, for remote customers, that’s not an option.  I would never want someone to invest in something that they’ll be unhappy wearing so a good solution is to choose a ball of something lovely and whizz up a quick cowl to try it out first.  It’s also worth remembering that wool softens dramatically over time so if you’re on the fence, a little irritation at first will probably be short-lived and your lovely garment will become a treasured friend.  If you’re still worried, I’d use it as good excuse to invest in neck protection in the form of denim and twill shirts for the full-on ‘yomping through leaves’ autumn look which could never be a bad thing. 

For warmth, wool is unequalled and the sensory pleasure of knitting it are also major considerations before you commit to project materials.  It comes at a higher price than synthetics but you will be rewarded for your investment and hard work with a garment that will be a warm and special companion for many years to come.

Nolan – Brooklyn Tweed