There’s More Than One Way to Get a Wool Sweater
By Glinda
A neighbor of mine called me the other day.
“I have some things for your son, if you would like. It’s a long story, but I’ve got some sweaters that I think will fit him.”
She was making excuses to the wrong person, because there is nothing I like better than a long story. It has to be well-told, but long stories are so much more satisfying than short ones.
Anyhoo, it turns out that somehow she briefly lost her mind for a period of time, long enough for her to put her husband’s new merino wool sweaters into the washing machine. Her husband is a pretty big guy, and suddenly his sweaters fit a five year old.
Gulp.
I had to laugh, and she laughed with me. It was pained laugh, but a laugh nonetheless.
So now my son is the proud owner of two designer wool sweaters, valued at almost two hundred buckaroos apiece.
Who says we’re not fancy over here at Casa Glinda?
Now, if I could only try to avoid the fight I know is coming because as great as they look, they are scratchy. I can hear the cries of protest already.
November 7th, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Sounds totally like something I do! I’m the queen of shrinking laundry.
November 7th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
That is hysterical.
Can he wear a t-shirt underneath, to minimize the scratchies?
November 7th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
Felted sweaters can be super scratchy. One thing I would suggest trying is lanolizing the sweater. Get some wool wash with lanolin in it or you can go to Target and get solid lanolin for about 7 bucks a tube. If you want detailed instructions email me. The lanolin leaves the sweater nice and soft and will make his skin soft too.
November 7th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
You can usually get lanolin at old-fashioned drugstores, too.
The secret of wearing the darn things (which are indeed Heck on Earth to endure normally) is to go Preppy and layer. Put a long-sleeved, collared shirt under the sweater. Your kid will be roasting, but he’ll be otherwise comfortable and he’ll look fabulous! Il fait suffrir pour etre beau.
November 7th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
A little hair conditioner in a warm water soak will soften up most sweaters as well.
November 8th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
I bow at the feet of all the people who are so knowledgeable about lanolin and wool. Many thanks!
And rain, that was going to be my solution! Suck it up kid, you look superfantastic!
November 9th, 2007 at 1:49 am
Never mind, Glinda. Take comfort, as you hash it out with your little man, that your fight probably can’t hold a candle to the one that was played out when the husband found out his extremely expensive sweaters are now smaller than his arm-span! …Then again, if they are scratchy he may not have minded so much!