I think hollow core fibers like cashmere and qiviut are best if you want warmth but not bulk. They trap air in the fiber and keep everything warm and snuggly. Silk for reasons mentioned previously. Next down on the list expense wise would be alpaca and llama, but they don't have a ton of body. If you were doing a cowl close to the skin/under jackets or sweaters and then a wool scarf on top that might work.
ETA: I totally forgot about angora! Bunny fibers, especially felted = warm! And soft. Would be great around neck/face/tender skin if you're not allergic.
If I were doing mittens, I'd probably do a felted alpaca liner with wool on the other second layer. Like the Fiddlehead Mittens. You get the benefits of the softer fiber on your hands but the sturdiness of wool on the outside. Alternatively, thrummed mittens are apparently full of awesome as well, and amusing to boot. Those also work on the principle of trapping air close to your skin for warmth. They're more bulky, but I've seen threads on ravelry regarding thrummed Newfoundland mittens and the consensus was that they really did the trick.
YMMV, but I wish you all kinds of warmth in the months ahead!
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Date: 2011-08-26 01:15 am (UTC)ETA: I totally forgot about angora! Bunny fibers, especially felted = warm! And soft. Would be great around neck/face/tender skin if you're not allergic.
If I were doing mittens, I'd probably do a felted alpaca liner with wool on the other second layer. Like the Fiddlehead Mittens. You get the benefits of the softer fiber on your hands but the sturdiness of wool on the outside. Alternatively, thrummed mittens are apparently full of awesome as well, and amusing to boot. Those also work on the principle of trapping air close to your skin for warmth. They're more bulky, but I've seen threads on ravelry regarding thrummed Newfoundland mittens and the consensus was that they really did the trick.
YMMV, but I wish you all kinds of warmth in the months ahead!