Thoughts on Bartlett wool for shorts/pants

[Meredith]

I have used Bartlett wool for a couple of projects, and I purchase from a supplier in Maine. I love their colors, but am not real certain how I feel about the wool itself.

What are your opinions?

How would you describe it to customers (for you biz owners)? Coarser (or is that courser)? Not as soft as Fishermans? But then, how many customers know what Fishermans feels like for a reference?

So what are your thoughts?

[pb_and_j]

I like it alright. It's on the scratchy side though. The 2 ply I got from fabriconnection knitted up nice for a soaker I made.

[littleturtlemama]

I'm probably in the minority, but I happen to really like Bartlett yarns. Now, it mgiht very well be becaseu when I lived in maine I could go down to the local general store and get it for a steal, so I used it a TON when we lived there, LOL, so I might be biased. However, I've also used it for soakers for the boys, and it does soften up a ton after use and wash. So, if you were to use it, I'd include a note on the hang tag (or on a receipt or something) that says: "Our yarn is mule-spun which is ideal for soakers because it allows the yarn to retain more lanolin, but along with that benefit comes the side effect that it hasn't reached it's full softness and bloom. Your soaker will soften up considerably with washing and wearing. If you'd like to speed up the process, please hand wash with some gentle shampoo or wool wash prior to use."

I think if you let people know that there's a benefit to using that yarn, and that it will get softer than the feel they initially get out of the package, they'd be okay with it :)

[Meredith]

Thanks, Theresa! I have been informing my customers that they are not as soft as other wool yarns, but that they are workhorses in the soaker department.

your yarn supplier... is it Bartlett? I was putting Jenna's pants on today (knit up from your soaker pattern with the blackberry and the pinky color... what was that?) anyway.... when I was putting them on, I thought they felt about the same way and I LOVE them for pants, especially.

[littleturtlemama]

nope, mine's not bartlett, although I will be starting to carry bartlett yarns in the fall on the site. mine's from a smaller farm in VA that does alll their processing, whereas bartlett is only a mill and their yarn is made from scores and scores of fleece from farms all over the country :) You are right that the hand and feel is similar (although I think mine is softer initially and gets softer over time than the bartletts does) but the similar hand is becuase they are both mule spun, woolen (not worsted) yarns :)

[Meredith]

Gotcha. Yes, yours do turn out to be really soft. I love your yarn!

Hmmm... how is your stock? :brow