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Fiber-specifics

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Tue, 2008-03-11 23:47 — YugiDean

What natural fibers (i.e., NOT acrylic) would be washable, would not lint/pill, and is hypo-allergenic? I'm wanting to make a dog bed, but my little girl is SOOOOOO sensitive and is very allergic. She gets along marvellously with my old cat (residing with my best friend now), but in a bit of irony, she is clearly allergic to cats! Additionally, whenever I'm knitting with wool and she gets all snuggled in with me, her face gets red and poofy. :-(

I was thinking of camel yarn, but that pills like insanity (even though the lady at my LYS insists it pills but does not lint), and my girl would be more than happy to chew incessantly on pilling yarn. Basically, I want something soft, washable, non-lint/non-pill, and not wool.

That seems like it doesn't exist in natural fibers. I desperately do NOT want to use acrylic. I have become a fiber snob and HATE knitting with acrylic. The feel is so...bleh.

Also, it needs to be sturdy.

Am I looking at nothing other than cotton?

Comments

Wed, 2008-03-12 14:02 — albert
albert's picture

Actually, if you think about

Actually, if you think about it, there is no such thing as a non-natural fiber.

Wed, 2008-03-12 14:06 — MMario
MMario's picture

I'm not sure I'd call the

I'm not sure I'd call the chemically altered, extruded fibers "natural" ; though that also describes silk - which is natural.

MMario - ambiguity is cultivated, it doesn't happen in a vacuum!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MMarioKKnits/

Wed, 2008-03-12 19:08 — albert
albert's picture

In that all that is in

In that all that is in existence comes from nature, there is nothing that is unnatural. However, there are substances which are altered by Man, but then again, Man comes from nature.

Wed, 2008-03-12 10:21 — PaganCub
PaganCub's picture

hey....what about bamboo?

hey....what about bamboo? when i've knitted with it i never had an issue with pilling....you could also try soy. depending on how it's spun, it may'nt pill

Wed, 2008-03-12 06:51 — MMario
MMario's picture

A couple of thoughts -

A couple of thoughts - possibly the camel but hard - felted ? That should eliminate most or all of the pilling.

Otherwise you are looking at plant fibers; cotton, hemp, linen etc, and definately NOT felted - which probably means you are going to want a tight, tight, knit.

MMario - ambiguity is cultivated, it doesn't happen in a vacuum!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MMarioKKnits/

Wed, 2008-03-12 06:14 — crmartin
crmartin's picture

Does it have to be 100%

Does it have to be 100% natural? If not, try Knitpicks Shine worsted which is 60% cotton and 40% modal (rayon from beech wood). It is machine washable. I am using it for the chemo caps and it is very soft. I love working with it.
They also make CotLin Yarn which is cotton and linen, also machine washable, but is a DK weight. The Shine is also available in DK weight.

Randy

Wed, 2008-03-12 06:10 — StuartWS
StuartWS's picture

How about superwash wool? My

How about superwash wool? My (limited) understanding is that the treatment to make wool washable reduces it's allergic properties.

Here's an idea. Knit up some swtaches/toys for your girl from vairous fibers and see which ones she reacts to least.

Good luck! Keep us updated.

Stauart

Wed, 2008-03-12 05:51 — albert
albert's picture

Try hemp or ramie.

Try hemp or ramie.

Wed, 2008-03-12 04:26 — knitmaniac

Can you find something with

Can you find something with a big linen content?

Wed, 2008-03-12 00:09 — ManMadeKnits
ManMadeKnits's picture

I apologize profusely, but I

I apologize profusely, but I find your predicament hilarious. The image of a little doggy with a poofy allergy face is too adorable. *tears*

Wed, 2008-03-12 09:40 — YugiDean
YugiDean's picture

LOL, I know, right? The

LOL, I know, right? The worst was when we had to get her some medication for a skin problem that was purely puppy-related (it went away for good once she was past puppydom), and she was allergic to the flavoring they put in it to make dogs take it more easily, only she was REALLY allergic. Her face was HUGE. She didn't even look like a Chihuahua anymore. The vet's directions for this? She gave us non-flavored meds and told us to give her CHILDREN'S BENADRYL. LOL I was like, "So...I DO have a child, then." Heh.

Wed, 2008-03-12 12:58 — ManMadeKnits
ManMadeKnits's picture

In all honestly, that's one

In all honestly, that's one high-maintenance pup! Honestly, acrylic might be your best bet ANYWAY, since its HIGHLY washable. Just get some gloves to avoid the plastic-y feel!