John Polk wrote:Merino wool is softer than most, plus it is a longer fiber.
The long fiber means fewer 'ends' sticking out of the fabric = less itchy.
I pretty much use Merino exclusively for that reason in my spinning, weaving and knitting - it's a very soft and lofty wool that's useful in a lot of ways for clothing purposes. I second all of the posts on using wool - it's great for layering, still retains some warmth when wet, and is a natural renewable fiber. We're moving out to the Cascadia region (Puget Lowlands) this summer, and I'm planning on making a lot of homemade wool clothing for use during the winters there.
