Prickly labels!

Annie, maybe M and S are the worst but I think Cotton Traders give them a good run for their money:the labels appear to be ribbon, heat-sealed to prevent fraying which gives a knife-like edge.
Like others, I'm delighted to hear it's not just me that suffers, thanks for your sisterly support (now on sale without a label!)

This thread reminded me of my youngest brother who had to wear wool shorts all year round as part of his school uniform. He used to call them 'jaggy trousers'. Still checks trousers out even now to make sure they're not itchy and lives in Rohans most of the time.

It was an M&S bra that I referred to earlier.

I'm glad it isn't just me who suffers from label-itch - I thought I was getting oversensitive in my old age! It's very annoying.

My DH always thought it was just me being fussy when I complained about labels being uncomfortable. Years later I have spent many hours cutting them out for our son who has sensory problems, due to Asperger's syndrome. Then I have to sew some embroidery thread to show the back for him. It's strange that labels on most baby clothes are soft and don't irritate, but labels for us grown ups can be rough. Also has anyone noticed that now some clothes have two or three huge labels with half a dozen different languages on them? Even more to cut out. Plastic tags too, I have pulled out quickly before washing and ended up with a hole.

I have an M&S credit card and use the money it gives me for bras and knickers. I never knew about the mastectomy bras. Thank you NanKate.

(Cotton Traders labels are the ones which annoy me most. Even with my stitch cutter I have problems cutting them out)

Great tip NanKate, thank you.

Glad to see this thought it was just me.
I think M&S are the worse.

Thanks for the tip NanKate. I'll have a look next time I'm in M & S.

I may have the answer to some of our itchy problems. I now buy from M and S their bras for post surgery mastectomies. They are lovely soft cotton and have nothing that rubs.

They do not have VAT on them so are cheaper. I have on a number of occasions told the assistant that I am not eligible for the reduction but each time they have reduced the price.

I have a lovely aubergine coloured one on at present but can't actually find it on the website, maybe it is just in the store. Some of them have matching knickers. I have to cut the labels out of those too!

Thanks for the warning of the sharpness Pogs.

Turning the bra inside out gets the labels away from your skin. Stops the seams digging in, too. Why do they make them smooth on the outside but full of ridges inside? They must assume that we prefer the smooth line for our outer clothes and are happy for our flesh to suffer.

With you all about the labels va magnifying glass and sharp scissors for me. The daft hanging loops get cut off and make good Barbie hair ribbons. Much more useful.

Nice to hear I am not the only one and that NanKate stuffs paper under the back fastenings of her bra to stop the itch too. Its not easy is it twisting arms round the back and under the bra? A new yoga move perhaps.

Yes the lace trimming is a big no no for me because it brings up my eczema. Didn't know it irritated other folk. Finding anything in pure cotton these days is getting harder.

And some lace trimming is apparently made of wire! Perhaps we should start a campaign about labels?

I'm allergic to any fabric that isn't cotton so these labels are a real nuisance.
I'm also allergic to nickel so I can't wear much in the way of jewellery.

Nankate

They are so cheap to buy you can't go wrong.

They are blooming sharp mind, make sure it's the stitching you cut and not your finger.

I shall purchase one of those stitch unpickers, this will save me strategically placing pieces of loo paper against my skin to stop the irritation.

I always find the back of my bra irritating and have loo paper stuffed up there too.

I've lost count of the number of M&S garments I've had to cut the labels out of! It used to be just the tops but lately I've found the waistband ones in trousers are as uncomfortable.

Same problem here. Even the labels that aren't very thick or stiff seem to prick me. I've developed a very sensitive patch on my neck, and I'm willing to bet it's all these horrible labels that have caused it.

Simple .

Buy a 'stitch unpicker' they cost about 50 p,

They are about 4" long with a very sharp hooked cutter on the end. No holes.

Marmight, I always cut off those daft hanging ribbons too.

I've used an unpicking gadget to remove labels, ever since I made a little hole in a rather nice top - fortunately under the collar.

I can't stand those long loops which hold them on to the hanger. They always wiggle their way out. I have ruined a top by snipping them out in a hurry - without specs like MrGrannyknot

They're a nightmare! Is there an e-petition to ban them?