Thursday, July 13, 2006

Are you sensitive to wool or other animal fibers?

[you guys! 165 responses so far! that's brilliant...so i'm going to leave this up for a few more days. i'm also working on the book, post-dental-appointment sore and not much for writing anything of wit. if you haven't yet responded, or know of someone who fits into this non-wool category, please send them here to respond. the questions without asterisks aren't mandatory, btw. big thanks to the LJ peeps who came by!]

I'd love your help. As you may know, I'm writing a book about knitting without wool, and am looking into the allergy/sensitivity aspect of this issue. If you are someone who avoids contact with wool or other animal fibers, and you have a few moments to answer the following questions, I'd be most grateful. I'll be speaking with doctors and other medical experts on the subject and knowing what others experience will help me get the most from those interviews, so I can share it with you in the book!

I found this ginchy online survey tool and it makes answering a snap.



Amy's No Sheep For You survey...click here



Your responses are anonymous -- I have no way of knowing who you are, so do be assured of confidentiality. And thank you so much for your help!

posted by Amy R Singer @ 12:04 PM 15 comments

Comments:
Amy, I just wanted to say how much I am looking forward to both of your new books. I immediately bought Big Girl Knits. I haven't knit anything from it yet because I haven't yet accomplished the first step of getting the really supportive bra.

I am also sensitive to wool (and alpaca, I think) so I am really looking forward to the no sheep book. Now, if you did a "no sheep for the big girl" book I'd be in heaven. ;)
# posted by Blogger Abigail : 1:16 PM, July 13, 2006
 
Yay for the survey! Angora kills me so I'm anxious to hear what medical types say about that.
# posted by Blogger Jen : 1:47 PM, July 13, 2006
 
=o\ I'm not sure if I can answer your questions accurately enough. Ack, the baby is waking up...
# posted by Blogger magicpointeshoe : 3:12 PM, July 13, 2006
 
I'm not that seasoned of a knitter where I pay that much attention to which yarns I'm using. That being said, I have skin sensitivity issues with lanolin and textures, so how long I knit with a given yarn depends on which yarn it is and how long I knit. It's not a hives situation like shaving cream with lanolin will give me, but a raw itchy fingers type deal.

I have no idea if that helps any though.
# posted by Blogger magicpointeshoe : 7:23 PM, July 13, 2006
 
Amy, I'm an avid Knitty reader and user, and I wish I could take your fiber survey but the questions are not set up right for my animal fiber issues. I can knit with animal fibers (although I get a rash across the top of my "throwing" finger) but I can't wear them, even over another shirt. Prickles, itching, a rash, itchy eyes and sniffles develop. Same thing happens when our cats and dog sit on my lap - a real contact thing. Have had these reaction all my life - symptoms have not worsened or abated in any way. I can make things of animal fiber for other people to wear, though!
# posted by Anonymous Mary K. in Rockport : 7:59 PM, July 13, 2006
 
My mother developed an allergy to wool and synthetic fibers a couple of years ago so now all she can wear is cotton. I really look forwards to reading the book and possibly passing it on for her to read as well.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 11:26 PM, July 13, 2006
 
I can't wait for your book! I can knit with just about anything, but I cannot wear wool or any other animal fiber against my skin. This will also be great for those who are morally against using animal fibers as well. Thanks so much!
# posted by Blogger Courtney : 3:46 PM, July 14, 2006
 
Thank you! Thak you! Thank you!
I'm so excited to see a book like this come out. Finally patterns I won't have to substitute yarns for!
I have always had contact allergy with sheep's wool, so I can't work with it at all. But I love looking at it. All of the yarns I have ever lusted over have been sheep's wool yarns, Manos del Uraguay, merino lace weights... There is so much more selection, wool wise. It's been tough being allergic to sheep's wool as a knitter. Although now there are some alpaca alternatives which I am happily taking advantage of.

Sidenote: Until zyrtec came out I couldn't deal with angora either, having a plain, nose-running, eye-swelling allergy to anything having to do with bunnies.

I also want to add - Until you started knitty spin I was pretty sure the world of spinning was barred to me, burning at the touch of sheep's wool. Now I really want to learn! Hand me some alpaca roving and I'm ready to go.
# posted by Anonymous A : 10:32 PM, July 14, 2006
 
I just finished the survey. I forgot to mention that eventhough I can not wear them I can knit with animal fibers without much of a reaction ( my hands get slightly itchy after a while).

Really looking foward to your book!
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 2:46 PM, July 15, 2006
 
oh yes, Amy. Trying to get in contact with Jillian. She will be in Chicago for Stitches, and we are having a knitty-meet up that Saturday, maybe around 6-ish? at loopy (http://www.loopyyarns.com) just wanted to let her know
# posted by Blogger helen : 12:45 PM, July 17, 2006
 
I maybe a little late, but the survey was still up, so I took it - good luck!
# posted by Blogger Yarngirl : 7:07 AM, July 18, 2006
 
Hi I'm learning to comment, neat eh?

Are you coming out to play to nigth?

Lettuce Knit. I'll Bring Gin.


Love Denny.
# posted by Anonymous denny Mcmillan : 11:36 AM, July 19, 2006
 
Check this article out--can you imagine--shellfish poisoning from yarn?! YIKES! So maybe it's just not people allergic to various furry animals that need to be careful!

http://www.adn.com/life/knitting/story/8002822p-7895897c.html
# posted by Blogger Bezzie : 8:11 PM, July 25, 2006
 
I can knit with most fibers, even the ones I'm allergic to, but oddly enough this hurts me. See, I get the yarn, think, oh, this is nice. Only after knitting it up and trying it on does the torture begin. I get an instant, building itchy sensation that can result in a rash if I don't take the garment off immediately.

The result is that I rarely knit clothing for myself. I'm going to try experimenting with wool/cotton or wool/silk blends to see if this helps. I hate that I can't even reliably tell which fibers I'm even allergic to! Is it the alpaca or the "wool" in a blend that hurts me? I can wear some commercial Cashmere sweaters, but not others. I don't think I'm allergic to merino, but will I wake up one day unable to wear a cherished hat made from the stuff?

I'm going slowly insane over this!
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