How to: Take Care of Your Knitwear

by Leah Parker July 14, 2020

Have you ever wondered how to wash your knit or crochet items but are scared of wrecking it? Your beautiful sweater might be sitting in your closet never worn because you are afraid to ever get it dirty. No matter if you received your item as a gift, purchased it or even made it yourself you will want it to last for many years!

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Check the label

First step will always be to check the label! The fibre content will determine how you should care for your garment. Most yarn labels should have care instructions on them. If you purchased a knitwear item, make sure you ask the maker or check the labels for the fibre content and care instructions!

Woolwash

Using a gentle soap to wash your knitwear will help it last longer and feel softer. Soak Wash or Eucalan Woolwash are good options and both come in a variety of scents. You can find Soak Wash here and Eucalan Woolwash here.

Before washing with any yarn, make sure to test on a small spot first.

Washing By Hand

When in doubt your best bet will always be to hand wash, shape and lay flat to dry!

To wash your item by hand follow these steps:

Prep your item for the wash! Turn it inside out and remove any faux fur pom poms.
Fill a sink or bucket with lukewarm water. Mix in your wool wash or gentle detergent.
Place your item in the water and let it soak for about 10 to 15 minutes.
Carefully rinse the item until the water is clear.
Press with a dry towel or gently squeeze out as much water as possible.
Place the garment on a dry towel or blocking matt and gently ease back into its original shape.
Let it air dry.

Note that regular wool must always be washed by hand in cold water, or it will shrink.

Machine Washing

Some crochet or knit items may be machine washable. For instance I have made many crocheted blankets out of acrylic yarn and I always feel comfortable putting them in the washing machine. Always check the label to see if the item is machine washable.

Washing your item in the washing machine comes with the risk of snags. A mesh laundry bag will help prevent your delicate items from getting snagged by anything else in the washer.

To wash your item in the washing machine follow these steps:

Prep your item for the wash! Turn it inside out and remove any faux fur pom poms.
Use a gentle detergent for your items.
Set the washing machine to a delicate, low temperature cycle.
Place your item in a laundry bag and into the washer.
Begin cycle.
After the cycle is complete, place the garment on a dry towel or blocking matt and gently ease back into its original shape.
Let it air dry.

Dry Cleaning

If the label on your garment says dry-clean only, take your items to a reputable dry cleaner.

Storing your Sweaters

Make sure you fold your knit sweaters or garments and lay it flat in a drawer of shelf. If the sweater is kept on a hanger for a long time it might start to stretch out of shape.

I hope you were able to find some helpful tips on how to take care of your knitted items!

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Stay Warm,

Leah