Caring for your knitting
Caring for Knits
Washing
Instructions
It is important to check washing instructions found in
your knitted garments and on your skeins of yarn.
Labels that say “Dry Clean
Only” should not be washed.
However, labels that say “Dry Clean” can be
carefully hand laundered.
Do not machine wash a garment unless directed on the
label as the agitation may cause it to shrink or change shape.
Always hand
wash knits with buttons or other embellishments.
Machine washable items should be turned inside out and
placed
in a mesh laundry bag or pillow case. This will reduce the amount of
pilling that occurs from the fabric rubbing against itself. Use cool water on
gentle cycle. Most dirt will be removed in a two minute cycle.
Use soaps that
are easier on fabrics and formulated for gentle cycle or hand washing.
Some
detergents such as “Eucalan” or “Soak” do not require rinsing.
Some baby
shampoos can be an alternative.
Do not use standard detergents or products
containing chlorine bleach which are intended for removing tough and greasy
dirt.
When hand washing, do not over soak.
Soaking too long can
cause colors to bleed or fade or can alter the size.
It can also loosen the
glue holding embellishments. Rinse with cool water by gently pushing the water
through the garment until the water is clear.
Soften harsh fabric wool by adding a capful of hair
conditioner to the rinse water. Do not use fabric softeners.
Spots and Stains and Smells
Remove marks and odors promptly. Perspiration can cause
discoloration if not laundered within 48 hours. For getting food or alcohol out
of wool, the American Sheep Industry Association recommends placing a towel
under the stan and gently rubbing it with carbonated water .
Begin in the
center of the spot and work toward the outside.
Immerse red wine spots in cold
water.
Rub lipstick stains with white bread.
A perfume or cigarette scent on a
fabric can be eliminated by hanging it outdoors, out of the sun, for a few
hours.
Good Housekeeping suggests the fabric be washed according to label
instructions and rinsed in a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and
water.
Drying Instructions
Garments labeled
“Easy Care” can be tumbled dried with
caution, but bulky knits should always be dried flat to avoid stretching. Before
washing a wool
or cotton sweater, measure and trace the shape on a clear sheet
of paper.
After washing, squeeze out excess water, but do not wring.
Roll your
garment in a towel to absorb moisture. Lay garment on a mesh screen or place on
a dry towel.
Dry flat away from heat and sunshine.
Lay sweaters on the clean
traced paper and gently reshape it to fit the outline.
Pat into the desired
shape.
To
speed up the drying process, occasionally turn the garment over
while drying being careful to reshape.
After drying, remove any wrinkles with a
hand held steamer of steam iron held two inches away from fabric.
Storage
Never hang knitted garments, because they can easily sag,
be pulled out of shape and left with unsightly
humps and bumps.
Most
garments
are best stored flat or gently folded.
Never stuff them into crowded
drawers.
To prevent wrinkling, it is good to fold with a sheet of tissue paper
inside. If pressed for space, garments can be folded lengthwise and hung on a
wooden or reinforced hangers.
Place a sheet of tissue paper between the bar and
the garment to prevent creases.
Information compiled by Jackie Taylor
from the following sources.
