funky babies review

Have you ever had the pleasure of wearing lambswool? No? Well, have you ever been hugged by someone wearing lambswool? It may sound like a strange question, but the truth is that you really cannot appreciate the sheer luxury and softness of this fabulous natural fibre unless you've been "up close and personal" with it.

Wool has always enjoyed a well-deserved reputation for being resilient, warm, chic and practical. But while standard sheep's wool has many merits, at the same time it does have a reputation for being rather "scratchy". In contrast, the gentle touch of lambswool on your skin almost defies description - just imagine wearing a fabric that feels as light as dandelion seeds and as soft as eiderdown, and you'll be half-way there.

So what is it that makes lambswool different, and why is it so much softer and more tactile than normal wool? As with so many things in this life, it all comes down to timing. As its name suggests, lambswool comes from younger sheep than standard wool originates from. It is taken from a lamb's first shearing, which usually occurs when the animal is around six months old.

This virgin wool possesses several qualities that make it suitable for the top end of the textile industry. For a start, it is particularly soft and elastic.

This means that, unlike many man-made fabrics which have a tendency to cling to the wearer, lambswool has a special soft stretchiness, so it doesn't cling awkwardly but rather moves with the body. Moreover, owing to its shorter fibres, lambswool takes and holds dye well, making it more colourfast.

Another factor in favour of lambswool is its resilience. Testing has revealed that it outlasts other natural materials, even cotton - indeed while some cotton garments started to deteriorate after just 60 washes, similar lambswool clothing was able to withstand up to 700 washes before exhibiting signs of damage.

Talking of washing, it should be pointed out that lambswool does require a little bit of special care and attention when it comes to cleaning. Manufacturers of lambswool clothing often recommend dry cleaning, but if you are careful and use the correct detergent and technique, hand washing is a viable (and less expensive) alternative.

If all this sounds like a bit of a hassle, you can rest assured that the pleasure of wearing wonderfully soft lambswool more than compensates for any slight inconvenience caused by having to roll up your shirtsleeves occasionally in the interests of your favourite jumper's hygienic welfare.

The final, and perhaps most significant, advantage offered by lambswool as a material - not only for clothes but also for boot linings and even bedding - is the fact that it is breathable. This means that the body temperature of the person wearing lambswool clothing (or sleeping in lambswool bedding) is kept well regulated, making this material a popular choice for use in babies' cribs.

It also means that lambswool can be worn all year round - not just in winter, as you might think. For whilst it will keep you snug and cosy when the icy winds doth blow, this multipurpose natural fabric will also keep moisture away from your body during warmer spells, ensuring that you remain cool at all times.

By choosing to wear lambswool clothing, you really can have the best of both worlds.

Lambswool clothing has the dual benefit of keeping you warm or cool depending on the ambient temperature.