craftgrrl | shawl + armwarmers for 92-yr-old aunt ~ yarn recommendations? (Reply)

My dilemma is that all of my yarn is thrifted or recycled, and not nearly nice enough to be worn next to her very delicate skin. I've never ever bought yarn before, so I've no idea what to look for as far as fiber content, etc. Wool is toasty warm, but I'm concerned about the scratch factor. Cotton is soft, but not very warm. I have no idea about silk or other "luxury" fibers, but I anticipate involved care instructions - easy laundering & care is an absolute must (machine wash is preferable).

I plan on using a psuedo-lace pattern, but it holds up fairly well on its own so blocking ability isn't terribly important. I'm fine with buying quality yarn, but since I foresee needing about 3 decent-size skeins for this project, I don't want to be spending a fortune.

Ideally, it would be a thicker yarn, at least a DK weight, to provide some padding for her arms and also for extra softness + warmth - but I also don't want the final product to be too warm. She's only living with air conditioning and Virginia winters, not polar conditions. Pretty colors are preferable - I think she'd love the palette of the beautiful Noro yarns, but again with my concerns about hand and care.

I'd like to avoid acrylic yarns, because... well, I'm a wee bit of a fiber snob. I don't like how they feel during knitting or as a finished fabric, and I think my aunt is worth something a bit nicer than a budget ball of squeaky acrylic. There's got to be a yarn out there that's easy to launder AND worthy of fondling. Right? Guys? ;P

Any recommendations for brands, e-stores or fiber content are very appreciated. ^_^