Knitwear Care Guide
Care Labels
Just like when you buy clothing, yarn will usually come with care instructions on the label. This helps you know the specific care that type of yarn recommends. If your yarn doesn’t have a label or you are using secondhand fibres here are some general rules.
Wool: Hand-wash, cool water
Alpaca: Hand-wash, cool water
Mohair: Hand-wash, cool water
Cotton: Machine or hand-wash. Gentle cycle in cool water
How to Wash
How you wash your knitwear is a very important part of keeping your garments looking fresh. Since your knitwear is handmade and likely made from natural fibres it is quite delicate compared to store bought clothing.
While I would always recommend hand washing your knitwear it is very possible to use a machine. You may find the term "superwash” written on your yarn label. This means the yarn has been specially treated so that it is able to go in the machine without shrinking or felting.
Plant fibres such as cotton or bamboo tend to also be more durable when it comes to washing.
Storing
There are a few things to avoid when storing your hand knits.
First of all, do NOT hang your sweaters. This will put weight onto the shoulders and top of the sweater and stretch it out over time. Instead fold your sweaters into drawers.
Second, make sure to store them in a dark, cool and dry location. If you are worried about moths use cedar blocks or store knits in plastic bags or containers. If your knitwear is out of season make sure to safely store them away from moisture.
Upkeep
Hand made knitwear is automatically much more delicate than machine made/store bought knitwear. This is because it is hand crafted and usually made with natural fibres instead of polyester & other synthetic ones. This means that your knitwear will most likely need a bit of upkeep to stay looking fresh. Common signs of wear include pilling, stretching, snags & holes. Luckily these can all be fixed!
Pilling: Pilling is what happens when you wear knitwear and the fibres rub against each other causing little balls & fluff to form. To remove these I recommend a sweater comb as it is a gentle way to refresh the fabric. You can also get electric fabric shavers which work well.
Stretching: As you wear your garments you may notice some areas stretching out like the collar or body. To fix this you will need to wash your piece again and block it back into its original shape. For the collar you can also knit in an elastic thread which will help prevent stretching.
Snags: Snags are super annoying and common for knits, but they are easy to fix! You will need a bobby pin. Thread the bobby pin through the snagged loop and insert it into the garment. Pull in through to the wrong side. This hides the snag on the inside. You can also sew it down for extra security.
Blocking
After you finish knitting your piece you’ll want to block it before wearing it. This evens out the stitches and helps give your knit a better shape.
Use a sink/bucket and fill it with cool water. There are many soaps available however they are not necessary. Soak your knitting in the water for a few minutes. Take it out and wrap it in a cotton towel. Remember to squeeze not twist when removing excess water.
Once you have gotten as much water as you can out, it's time to lay it flat and pin it down. Refer back to your knitting pattern for measurements. As you are blocking it, stretch it to follow those measurements. Be careful not to over stretch ribbing sections. Pin everything into place. Leave to try completely.
Drying
How you dry your knitwear is so important. Using the wrong drying techniques is where disasters can happen.
Machine: I recommend that you NEVER use a machine to dry hand knits. The heat and tumble is just too strong for delicate fabrics.
Air drying: Air drying is the way to go with knitwear. Although it takes longer it ensures that your knitwear stays safe. In the summer you can dry your knits outside in the sun which will speed up the process. In the winter you’ll want to lay your knits flat in a warm room. Be patient when air drying as it may take a few days depending on the weight of the fabric.