I've decided to make the comfort shawl for my mom and want to make it in wool so it's nice and warm... but it also needs to be machine washable and very soft. Does anyone have experience with the superwash wools? Can you recommend something? I've included the pattern link in case you want to see what they used.

Based on what little I've seen on the internet, I'll probably knit it just a little looser than they do in the pattern -- see, for example, http://vamantaknits.blogspot.com/2007/07/actually-finished-project.html#links and http://vamantaknits.blogspot.com/2007/07/full-view-of-comfort-shawl.html#links to get an idea of why.

Someday I'll be experienced enough to be able to answer more questions here than I ask :) but meanwhile, thanks, as always, for all your help!

Here is a link that might be useful: comfort shawl