Can this hat be saved?

[zvi]

I started making a 50/50 wool alpaca hat.

I started itching a lot.

I think I may be allergic to wool. Is there a way to line an object I've made with wool to make it comfortable for me to wear, or should I just give it to a friend?

Comments

[saavikam77]

You might be able to use fleece to line it with, as that'll keep the wool from poking through. It won't be stretchy like the crochet part of the hat, though, so you'd have to estimate the right dimensions, maybe go with trial and error.

If you still have issues after that, I'd say giving the hat away would probably be a good idea.

[zvi]

Sadly, the friend I wanted to give it to is also allergic to wool, so I think I'm going to frog it. But I'll keep fleece lining in mind if I try to redo the hat in a different, wool-free yarn. Thanks!

[sedge]

It's possible that the fibers themselves are too scratchy, in which case lining should work - you could either make another hat out of something that doesn't itch (it would possibly need to be much finer yarn to avoid bulk, and therefore a different gauge) and then sew it inside, or sew a lining from soft knit fabric.

Sometimes people are sensitive to chemicals used in cleaning, dyeing, or otherwise processing the fiber. A good careful wash might deal with the problem in this case.

[zvi]

No, it's not scratchiness, definitely. It's a lovely bluesky alpaca and it is AMAZEBALLS soft. It is just on the inside of possibility that it's dye, though. I actually crocheted three other balls of same, but in three other colorways, with no problem (although with considerably less exposure of skin to yarn, also [long sleeves, covered legs].)

[sedge]

The dye seems plausible, then. And there are people allergic to alpaca - it would be pretty rotten if you've developed that.

[tephra]

TechKnitter did a couple articles on lining hats that might help. One uses a headband style and the other is a full lining. The one downside I can think of is that between the alpaca and the polar fleece you might end up with an overly warm hat if you don't live where the weather gets really cold. Possibly you could find a fabric with a similar stretch to the fleece that wouldn't hold as much heat if overheating might be a problem, and of course the headband style would be a better option in that case as well.

[zvi]

Thanks for the tip! I think that, for the moment, I'm going to frog it, in favor of making myself some locsocs, but if I decide I want the locsocs to be winter appropriate, I'll try headband lining them. Thanks!