I used to get the sense that a crochet outfit will be itchy

When you mention wearing crochet, the first thing most people will tell you is that it’s too itchy. I used to think and say the same thing myself, until I realized that it isn’t the crochet that’s the problem. There are just a lot of other factors at play.

I crocheted a sweater once out of a scratchy, inexpensive acrylic. That was a long time ago when I wanted to learn the skill. My friend is actually good at crochet and in the picture is her results. It's not world class but it's good work.

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But with the one I did, it was a nice enough looking sweater, but every time I wore it, it wasn’t that it felt like sandpaper, just that there was this constant tiny pinching going on. I couldn’t wait to get it off. I realized it was the fault of the yarn that I had chosen.

That scratchy wool, some of those acrylics, these yarns are hard to the skin. I also think that the type of stitch you use can make a difference. A tight stitch with a very bulky yarn is going to feel rigid and basket like. But a more open stitch with a softer fiber is going to be different.

And then of course, there are the soft fibers to consider. Cotton, for example or bamboo, these have a soft, cooling feel to them. They are not at all aggressive. I even think that the texture of the fabric that you’re creating needs to be considered. A heavily textured fabric can be rough after awhile. Something smoother is going to feel nicer for you.

I think that lining is important as well. If you line a crocheted bag with a bit of cotton or line the inside of a top at the shoulders, that can make a huge difference. It gives you just a bit of a buffer zone. I didn’t line a bag that I made and it would catch on my clothing, that mistake was enough for me to want to throw the bag away, but a friend of mine liked the design so I gave it to her as a gift.

But you'll see how it can make a huge difference if you choose correctly. If you’re looking to make something to wear on a daily basis, especially if you have sensitive skin, you’re going to want to choose something comfortable. You can make something beautiful that you’ll actually enjoy wearing. It seems so obvious, but I think that when we focus on the way something looks, we forget about the way that it will feel. And that’s just as important, to me it's more important.