Many thanks to the readers who sent condolences by e-mail. The recent death in the family was of an elderly relative who had been demented for many years. Death itself, of course is sad, but perhaps even sadder was the dementia--a horrible disease. My heart goes out to anyone who is suffering this condition, and also to the relatives providing care. Knitting can help, at least a little.If the patient once knew how to knit, the fingers may retain the skill even when the mind is going, at least in the milder, earlier stages. Knitting also helps the caregivers--takes your mind off the situation. Thank you all for your good wishes and your patience with this hiatus, and now, back to our regularly scheduled blog...
Have you a woolen hat* which is itching your (or someone else's) forehead? You could line the hat with polar fleece headband style or fully lined style. But before you go to the trouble to line your creation, today's post will show an easy solution you might want to try first. <---Yup! Hair conditioner. Here's how:
1. If the hat needs to be washed, wash it gently in tepid (room temperature) water, then rinse, in the same temperature water, until all the soap suds are gone. If the hat does not need to be washed, then simply soak the hat in tepid water until it is completely wet.
2. Gently press all the water out. Make up a new basin of water of the same temperature, and into that basin, dissolve a tablespoon or two of hair conditioner.
3. Swish the wet hat through the solution, then let it sit for about 5-10 minutes. Again gently press out the water. Do not rinse out the conditioner.
4. BE CAREFUL not to agitate the hat or felting will result. Swish, swish, swish--that's all you need to do.
5. Roll the item in a heavy towel, step on the towel/hat jelly-roll to press out all the water,unroll, then lay the hat on another, dry, towel. Pat into shape and let dry.
Some hair conditioner leaves a sticky trace, some does not--if it leaves your hair feeling sticky, it'll probably leave your hat feeling sticky, so use a different kind. Conditioner that leaves your hair soft and smooth will do the same for your woolens. Also, the kind of hair conditioner to use for this trick is the ordinary supermarket kind for "normal hair." Specialty hair conditioners (volumizers, curl releasers, chemical damage-repair conditioners and the like) may have odd interactions with wool. If in doubt, try your conditioner on a swatch, first.
If you try this trick and it does not sufficiently "de-itchify" your hat for you, then click the links at the top of the column for information about lining knitting with polar fleece.
* Of course, this trick works for all woolen garments, not just hats. Scarves and mufflers--in contact with delicate neck skin--generally benefit from conditioner's softening properties, also.
--TECHknitter
(You have been reading TECHknitting on: softening itchy wool with hair conditioner.)