I'd like to bring this back to waterproof yarn, if I may.

There is no such thing as waterproof yarn. Although wool can absorb up to
30% of it's weight without feeling wet, any wool will absorb water, given
enough water and time. 

I did a bit of googling on ideas to find ideas to make wool garments water
resistant and lanolin seems to be the big one. You could either spin in the
grease, or one page recommended washing the garment in something called
Eucalan Wool Wash, which will re-add lanolin. If you're concerned about the
cleanliness that some posters have mentioned about spinning in the grease,
this might be an idea.

Also, a tighter weave will add to the garment's water resistance. Think
sails in the Viking Age... made with wool, and woven. 

I'm not a knitter, but my quess is that generally speaking, weaving can be
made tighter then knitting.

Fulling and felting the garment will also add to the resistance.

I'd also lean towards one of the breeds that is older and still retains a
double-coated fleece like Icelandic or Shetland. The double coats can be
separated and spun separately, or spun together make a very hardy yarn
retaining the downy undercoating's water resistance and the outer layer's
hardiness. Icelandic fleece spun this way is Lopi.

Icelandic fleece also felts really really really easily. If you blink at it
wrong, it can felt. Let's just call that personal experience. :)

Hope this helps.

Karen

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