Wool cloths. Anybody miss them????

JDseller · Feb 19, 2012

After reading the responses to my earlier post I got to thinking about what cloths I now have that are wool. ZERO!!! I remember having a wool winter coat in the sixth grade. It would rub my neck raw when I wore it. I left it hang all over town and no one would ever steal it. LOL I HATED that coat. It was warm but it was scratchy. I ended up wearing it for several years. I did get a new school coat in the seventh grade but Mom modified the old wool coat to wear as a work one. That old coat sure did hold up but it was just terrible to wear.

I don't miss wool socks either. They always would always slide down around your ankles inside of your boots.

My Grand Mother always wore a wool sweater. She wore a sweater just about ten months each year. She was used to house that did not have central heating so you did not keep the house as warm. She did like it warm though. I can remember sweating in the kitchen and she would have a full dress( floor length year round) and sweater on working. Makes me miss seeing her around the house/farm.

So I guess I am helping kill the wool market. The younger ones of us just switched to different materials that where warm but not scratchy. Also easier to care for too.

Mike (WA) · Feb 19, 2012

Dad had a red plaid wool jacket (I think he called it a mackinaw)- used it for going to town when I was little, but then became a barn coat. It wore like iron. Had a smooth lining and collar lining, I think. He also had a heavy wool billed cap with fold-down earflaps.

I had some Pendleton knock-off heavy wool shirts that my Mom made for me every Christmas for several years. I used them as light jackets, over my shirt. Gave them to my sons, and they still wear them. Wool was great if the part that touched your skin was lined with something. My mother would have had the collar of that coat of yours fixed in about 5 minutes, JD! LOL

WyoDave · Feb 19, 2012

I take it you don't ski? If you did, you'd know that there are no better socks than merino wool socks. They just blend it with other fibers to keep the elasticity. Also wool base layers are very good. Wool keeps you warm, and moves moisture away from the ski. It's good stuff.
David

Charlie M · Feb 19, 2012

In Boy Scouts we push wool clothing a lot as it keeps you warm even it gets wet. Wool clothing is cheaper than the modern synthetics designed to do the same thing.

RayP(MI) · Feb 19, 2012

You, sir, were the victim of a poor grade of wool. As the poster below mentions merino wool is superb, along with some other wool breeds -Shetlands to mention one. Wool comes in many grades, the diameter of the stranads is very important. Merino, Icelandic, and Shetlands have very fine strands. They are not scratchy, itchy, or likely to cause allergy, and are highly sought after by knowledgable hand crafters. I have several wool prodicts and treasure them for their warmth, wearability. Have one sweater that was grown, harvested and knitted right here on this farm.
Also have a sheepskin coat which is absolutely the warmest thing I have for wear in extreme cold and windy conditions. Far beats every thing else I have including a down coat.

henry0 · Feb 19, 2012

I still look for wool when I buy clothes. All of my dress pants, suits, and blazers are wool. Wear them year round. Socks, noway. underwear pure cotton and of course only all leather shoes.

Kow Farmer · Feb 19, 2012

I still have wool socks. But I only wear them when it is -0 when I am moving snow outside or cleaning barn when it is -0. They are the warmest things for my feet. I do wear another pair of socks underneath otherwise they would itch like crazy too. This is the only wool clothes I have.
Kow Farmer

JayinNY · Feb 19, 2012

I have and old red plaid woolrich I got from my grandpa, It was his hunting coat. I only were it once in awhile. If I wore it out in public people would think I was some wierd guy. Lol last I knew they still make them.

Rich Iowa · Feb 19, 2012

They still make them, at least Woolrich does. I bought a wool coat from them a couple years ago. It's dark brown plaid with a lining on the inside and the collar. They call it washable wool, has enough synthetic material mixed in to keep its shape and size when machine washed. I've gotten a few odd looks when I wear it around town, but It's comfortable and warm so I don't mind. Only thing I have an issue with is it's not windproof. I may be the only 27 year old that likes wool... old man in a young body.

john in Utah · Feb 19, 2012

There are some real misconceptions here about modern wool garments. Wool socks from SmartWool (TM) simply can't be beat for warmth, comfort, and durability. Undergarments (thermals) from SmartWool or Patagonia (TM) (yea, it's an expensive yuppy outfit) beat the heck out of Underarmor or Cabelas' thermals. And, no, they don't itch. You will pay big bucks for them, but they're worth it if you want to stay warm and/or if you have sensitive skin. And, no, I have no commercial or other connection to these businesses.

sixtyninegmc · Feb 19, 2012

Count me as one more young guy who likes wool. Even the old scratchy stuff works good so long as it is not your first layer, and I don`t have a problem with the socks riding down because I put the socks on, then my long underwear over the socks, holds them up just fine. I even take old military wool blankets with me when I`m out camping, they are tough, and if the tent leaks you still won`t freeze.

I have found that the more days in a row you spend out in the mountains, the more quality gear matters. You can make it a night or two with cheap gear, but if you are spending two weeks out, wool is your best friend.

Vito · Feb 19, 2012

Allergic to the stuff.Glad they don't use it that much anymore.

Vito

elmersooner · Feb 19, 2012

I have some really good wool clothes for elk hunting--it stays warm even when wet. have a wool blanket in every vehicle I own for emergency use-they are a little itchy though. I have yet to find a synthetic that is as warm as wool. use it in layers and it can't be beat-only my opinion though.

Nebraska Cowman · Feb 19, 2012

I still wear one I bought new in about 1972. That was before they made it a law you had to wear blaze orange. Oh, and I have my grandfathers wool long winter coat he bought at a discount during the depression. When I wear it I always get comments on my "beautiful" coat.

big fred · Feb 19, 2012

Don't miss 'em at all. Only wool clothes I have are my suits, and I haven't had a suit on since my youngest daughter was married 6 years ago.

Ken Macfarlane · Feb 19, 2012

My sister has shetland sheep that she shears for spinning. It makes a really nice soft wool. Have some hats and mitts and a floor mat made from them. Not itchy.

She also has meat sheep, the wool is not quite right for knitting but I think she felts it.

Mal(Pa) · Feb 19, 2012

I'm on the side of wool. I made a living for 35 years in a woolen mill here in central Pa. Retired now but used to repair weaving machines there. Did y'all know that wool fabric won't get a hole in it from spilled battery acid?
Holds up well but it all depends on size of yarn and how tight the weave is and the type of weave along with other things. Mal

Mal(Pa) · Feb 19, 2012

Yes Rich,Woolrich is still making wool garments although the economy has taken a toll on them.That is where I am retired from. The garments usually have 70% wool and 30% nylon for strength. Mal

scott mcintosh · Feb 19, 2012

I am wearing wool socks right now that is all I wear when it gets cold for my feet I wish I still had my old wool coat I wore Some thirty years ago.

Billy Shafer · Feb 19, 2012

I thought wool was the only cloths there was to wear until I was about ten. Hated the stuff.Skin was always red and itching.

Brad Buchanan · Feb 19, 2012

Still have a few Wooly-Pully sweaters left over from my uniform days. Can't beat them for warmth.

Brad

Paul from MI · Feb 19, 2012

I still remember the wool shirts one of my aunts made for my brother and me. They itched like crazy, but we had to wear them every time she came to visit. I was pretty happy when I finally outgrew mine, Mom gave it to my younger brother and he had to wear it for a couple more years!

Fullthrottle · Feb 19, 2012

Had one of them wool coats just like that. Seemed like it would saw your neck off if you wore it long enough. (Of course it was given to me by someone else who couldn't wear it and I'm sure it was poor quality wool.) Anyhow Grandma lined it with an old cotton dress she didn't wear anymore. Poked the arms through and sewed 'em at the cuffs, same with collar and tails. Was probably the warmest coat I ever had. Could wear it to feed, the hay wouldn't poke through the cotton lining. Wore like iron for sure. Was well worn when I got it, probably wore it 5 years myself. Finally got ragged and discarded but I still remember the dress (lining) had tulips on it.

Riverslim · Feb 20, 2012

wool breathes, polyester doesn't.

JRSutton · Feb 20, 2012

Well I'm doing my part to keep Woolrich in business - I have a standing order with my family for christmas/birthday gifts, they don't have to ask what I want - they they can always get me a new wool shirt/coat whatever.

I love wool. Agree it's itchy if you wear it directly against your skin, but in winter I usually layer up anyways.

I do a lot of ice fishing, and I've worn every material under the sun, I really don't think you can beat wool for comfort.

It breathes well, it dries quickly, it just simply "feels right" when you wear it.

I've never complained about cold feet once I started wearing GOOD wool socks. (they can't be too thin and loosely knit)

The ONE complaint I have about wool is that it doesn't do much to block wind.

You usually need some top layer to block wind.

Bret4207 · Feb 20, 2012

Wow! Must be where I live, but around here a red checked Woolrich coat is a sign of good breeding and affluence. I wear mine as a warm "go to town" coat or to church.

The best of the best back int he day was Pendelton. A man that owned a Pendelton shirt was known to be wearing the best you could get. Those things wore like iron, were warm and good looking. They didn't itch either, that was the cheap stuff.

I still wear wool, lots of surplus military stuff, old Woolrich, Bean and Johnson wool when I can find it. Good stuff!

Wool cloths. Anybody miss them????

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