Sewing a wool shirt and getting dressed for 30 degree and below weather!

Hello everyone! I'm Beth and welcome to my channel where I show Our Simple Life.

So I thought with this snow we just got and the cold weather I'd take you guys along and show how we get ready for playing in the snow or a day up at the mountain. If there is anyone like me who wondered why I'd always be cold after being outside for longer than an hour, maybe this information will be helpful!

This is just our personal preference and experience! This is not the only way to keep warm and dry but it has worked so incredibly well for us, better than we ever thought, I just wanted to share!

The idea of using multiple layers grew in my mind when I would watch historical clothing being made. I watched medieval and Victorian but medieval is my favorite. What I noticed most was how they really packed the layers on. I started wondering if that might be better as far as warmth and the ability to stay dry. Along with that I also thought about how there were no rain jackets back then and how did people stay dry?

One of the ways was wearing wool! The more I learned about wool the more I fell in love with it. It's simply amazing stuff. Now I'm not talking about the itchy wool sweaters most people associate with when they hear about wool. There is a wool called Merino wool and it comes from Merino sheep. It has the finest fibers and it's not itchy at all! It's soft and feels very similar to a t-shirt.

In the medieval and Victorian eras people typically wore a linen chemise next to the skin, also know as a shift but basically a nightgown or underdress. Then if it were really cold many layers of wool with a thick, boiled wool outer layer or jacket would be worn.

Why wool you may ask?

Wool is naturally water repellent! At a microscopic level the fibers actually look like fish scales which naturally shed water. Then the oil that sheep produce is called Lanolin. It's very thick and gives wool even more water repelling properties as oil and water do not mix.

Wool also when wet will still keep you warm! It is also super breathable.

Merino wool is typically woven in such a way that it is machine washable!

Fun fact on wool is it's odor resistant! You can wear the same shirts/pants/socks/hats/underwear for a few days! Yes even underwear! As long as you hang it up to air dry for the night and it doesn't smell in the morning you are good to go! If it starts smelling then you know it's time to wash it.

Because of the lanolin and keratin in wool it is self cleaning for a little while. But if the lanolin has been stripped out the self cleaning aspect is greatly reduced. So if you buy a Merino wool shirt and you find it's stinky after one wear it may be you need to add some lanolin to it.

It's very easy and *spoiler alert* I'll have a video out on it at a later date!

https://www.cambridgebaby.co.uk/blog/?p=1509
"Wool is naturally antibacterial. This is due to its lanolin (wool fat) content - as wool becomes moist, some of the lanolin converts to lanolin-soap, which helps keep the fabric hygienically clean! Combining this with it's self-cleaning properties, you can begin to understand why wool underwear doesn't get smelly. It smells fresh for ages."

Isn't that amazing???

They have a lot more information on their website if you would like to know more about wool.

If you or anyone you know deals with stinky feet switch to wool socks! Thin Merino wool for summer and thick wool for winter.

Because of wool's natural self cleaning I actually use wool as diaper covers over my cloth diapers for our toddler Jonathan. I only wash them once they still smell after fully dry.

A myth is that wool is very hard to take care of and you either need to only dry clean it or only hand wash it. Nope to either! Most Merino wool is machine washable as long as the temperature is low.

Back to the layers and the reason for layering is layers are better insulating as air gets trapped between them and that helps keep you warmer. It's also easier to move around if you have a few thinner layers. Also if you get too hot you simply remove a layer.

Another thing I've read a lot about is do not wear cotton because if cotton becomes wet, either from sweat or external forces, it pulls the heat away from your body making you much colder and much more likely to experience hypothermia even at temperatures above freezing!

https://www.trailhiking.com.au/cotton-kills/

Now I'm bias to wool as under layers but it is more expensive so a good alternative is all polyester. It's cheaper but unfortunately isn't as breathable so you tend to sweat more while wearing it and it gets smelly real fast!

For outer layers we personally are using 100% Nylon right now, not polyester. But we have found nylon isn't very durable. Real bummer but both Sari and Ben ripped their Nylon jackets while playing outside after this video was made.

I've heard Goretex is a great option but don't have any personal experience with it.

I have a thought of finding wool jackets at Goodwill for the kids and altering them to fit and adding extra lanolin for the water repelling properties since they now both need new jackets.

All the Merino wool sweaters I put on were from Goodwill, not my base layer, not my black shirt. That was from Amazon and I'll link all the clothes we buy down below.

I will say the amount of layers I wore, 4 wool shirts, 2 wool leggings, then snow pants and rain jacket over the top, was way too hot for 30 degree weather. As long as I didn't move much outside I didn't sweat.

I have never been in 10 down to 0 degree weather in these layers but I have been in 20-30 degree weather in these layers on a hike and became way too hot!

It was the best feeling when we all went on a hike up at the mountain in 20-30 degree weather wearing our new layers for the first time and we all got too hot! That had never happened before and it made me so happy!

Now I do dress our toddler, Jonathan, in more layers as you saw, as he will not be doing any strenuous hiking or walking. He will mostly be hanging out in the carrier.

I also will mention the reason I show my mittens, and the reason we go with mittens instead of gloves for the kids, is they keep my hands and fingers much warmer than my snow gloves!

I hope this information is helpful because I so wish I would have known this years back when we would get so cold and wet in the winter!

Additional Information:
https://silverbobbin.com/is-wool-waterproof/

The clothing we buy, I will say I almost have never bought these items at full price, I watch for sales:

Men's base layer Merino Wool https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N990WLE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Women's base layer Merino Wool https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N0LADWZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Beanies Merino Wool https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B014RVDB9O/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Socks thin Merino Wool summer https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B084ZF4WHS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Socks thick 75% Merino wool winter https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B085PSNRS9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Shirt Women's Merino Wool https://smile.amazon.com/MERIWOOL-Womens-Merino-Midweight-Thermal/dp/B01NADMA31/ref=sr_1_6?crid=3KDVZX56IB7KF&keywords=meriwool+womens+baselayer&qid=1641533886&sprefix=meriwool+w%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-6

Shirt Men's Merino Wool https://smile.amazon.com/MERIWOOL-Merino-Wool-Mens-Large/dp/B01N1IVW7N?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1

Have not personally bought these next items but heard great reviews about them and plan to buy in future.

Balaclava Merino Wool https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000R7F3MQ/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_2?smid=A3L0OXM7HUNG5P&psc=1

Neck Gaiter Merino Wool https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B014RV06FG/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A3L0OXM7HUNG5P&psc=1

Boxer Briefs Merino Wool https://smile.amazon.com/MERIWOOL-Merino-Boxer-Brief-Underwear/dp/B075RHKXVV/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2NR75KLOSBPV7&keywords=meriwool+men+boxer+briefs&qid=1641534054&sprefix=meriwool+men+boxer+brief%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzUjFDNUwwSDMwVTFRJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMDA1MTcxRDkzNDhRQlAwSUtLJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTEwMjI5MzYxUkVBV0dRSFBDSVRYJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Fingerless Gloves https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IZX0Y0/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=simplelivi0f2-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B000IZX0Y0&linkId=c770c31966ed04ae82360072021ee924&th=1

Snow mittens to wear over the wool fingerless gloves https://smile.amazon.com/Tough-Outdoors-Winter-Mittens-Leashes/dp/B073XM7GRD/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3TQ9TVK1J6QPS&keywords=musher+mittens&qid=1641535733&sprefix=musher+mitten%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyUk9RRlY4ODYyQzNDJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzI1MTgyM1FBU1AyVVRFNUM0QyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwOTUzODcyMjBORU5YS1ZHMEcwTCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Another great thing wool is it's temperature regulating and that is the best thing for preemie babies as they cannot regulate their own body temperature. Here are two companies makes preemie merino wool clothing.

https://danishwool.com/collections/preemie/premature

https://green-rose.eu/en/merino-wool/premature-baby-clothes

Our Jackets and Snow pants:

Men's rain jacket https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DQYWIHA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Boys Rain Jacket https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LEWWN80/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Girls Rain Jacket https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N0EAPKH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Women Rain Jacket https://smile.amazon.com/Columbia-Womens-Arcadia-Jacket-Nocturnal/dp/B07R4XPWYP?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1

Boys Snow Pants https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B018UWHRVY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Girls Snow Pants
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0815L8KNW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Men Snow Pants https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L5JFMF1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Music from https://stock.adobe.com/audio/
Christmas Wonders