WRIST RASH, say that 10 times.....


 All I have to do is drive down the street to show you how EVERY street looks right now in my area...
This is our reward for living in a climate with deciduous trees
All I have to do is drive down the street to show you that gas is up over 4.00 a gallon again today. 

When gas goes over 4 dollars a gallon I do this: 
I buy acrylic yarn.  It doesn't itch when worn, it is machine wash and dry and it is hard to justify a 46 dollar malibrigo shawl when a 8 dollar shawl is less irritating. 

Seriously folks..  I have had this small rash on my right wrist for MONTHS.  It doesn't get any more graphic than that, so read on you queasy lay folk....

I went to my doctor about it; I consulted my smart allergy nurse friend Linda, and I used creams and pills to get it to go away. 
Then, Last month, it got exponentially better......

I have been covering up this area at work and gloving over it too, all the while being assured it is not contagious.  

So it suddenly got much better.  Then I went into a lovely yarn shop.  I started touching all the skiens of yarn.  I bought some malabrigo.....
and on my way out the door the itching wrist rash reared its ugly head......

and it clicked...
It is a wool allergy rash.  This is where a bit of yarn lays against my skin when I knit....
(I had been knitting with acrylic and that is when the rash improved. )  

I'm that sensitive to wool.  It is true.  I've told you this before....
Alpaca just might kill me.  It gives me an excuse to buy acrylic yarn, because well
because
as a knitter I feel like I need an excuse. 
If you need an excuse and you arent' allergic to wool, you can go the price of gas route....

or you could just buy a lottery ticket while your paying for gas, and hope to win.

My Friend, Linda..the allergy nurse
says a little bit of exposure to the wool on my wrist will not lead me to desensitization.....I was hoping it might...
so my wool bubble burst yet again.   

There are worse conditions......
what if I was allergic to acrylic?  








   


Comments

Mereknits said…
Cotton, there is your answer. It doesn't work for every project, but it is a nice yarn to work with. Or maybe a cotton/acrylic blend? Poor alpaca, I have room for you in my stash!
Hugs,
Meredith
Nicole said…
Allergic to wool? Say it isn't so!

Also, I am jealous of your fall colors. So pretty.
Celia said…
I like to knit with cotton. I wonder if you could use bamboo? That's a little more pricey though.
Oh No!!!!, I agree cotton, I have heard alpaca is suppose to be better for those with wool alergy, No? bummer.
Love the photos!
Think linen, bamboo, I have bought something that is called banana silk and was heavenly to knit with (although I'm not sure what it actually was)*grin*
and don't forget silk blends!
Vicki
fancystitching said…
Wowser! That would be the equivalent of me developing a batting alergy! So sorry, but now you don't need an EXCUSE, because this is real. Buy acrylic guilt-free!
Nancy said…
Bamboo, cotton, linen, flax, buffalo, silk, yak - all possibilities. Can you wear wool on your feet or do they break out, too?

Love you new header photo!
Katherine said…
We need bumper stickers that say, "Go Acrylic." Even I have been knitting with it lately and I am a wool lover! Nothing is softer and washes better that good old Simply Soft, and I've never heard of anyone being allergic to it. Heal that wrist Kathy!!
Gracie Saylor said…
I tried saying it 10 times :) ...no could do. Seriously, though, I am sorry for your affliction, but am glad there are other fibers for you to enjoy. xx from Gracie
Anonymous said…
What a bummer. Well...maybe not. I'm not a heavy duty knitter. I like acrylic, mostly because I can abuse it with lazy laundry habits. I'm glad you got it figured out.
Unknown said…
Love the picture of your cat checking out the pumpkin. Beautiful autumn tree-lined street. And although I am sorry that you are having an unpleasant reaction to wool, I have to say you told the story well; I got quite a chuckle out of the possible excuses to buy acrylic rather than the more expensive wools. Using the price of gas as an excuse is...well, priceless.
Lynn said…
NO!!!! Ugh so sorry to hear abt the wool allergy. I cant knit with alpaca but merino wool is ok for me. Thankfully there are plenty of nice acrylics out there.

And I guess I shouldnt complain abt gas here, it's $3.69 BUT it went up $.15 in a couple of hours!
SissySees said…
No wool for you!! Yikes. I'm glad you've defined the allergen and have lots of other options.
gMarie said…
Oh I think as knitters we become snobs. I think if you like the acrylic and there is no pain in using it - then use it. Sorry about the Mal - I hope they let you return it. g
Lynneb said…
OH NO! Well the good news is, acrylic yarn keeps getting better, right?
We are near an establishment called the West Ridge Restaurant ....say that three times fast!

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