Yarn Care
GENERAL CARE TIPS
- Wash garments using plenty of water, and if possible, separately to avoid friction.
- Never let the garment soak.
- Wash dark colors separately. Dark colors often contain excess dye, so ensure the garment is rinsed until the water is clear to prevent dye from affecting other colors.
- Use detergents specifically made for washing wool and other fine fibers, or a pH-neutral, dye-free detergent.
- Always reshape the garment and lay it flat to dry.
- Never dry the garment in direct sunlight.
- Do not dry clothes that are heavily dripping wet.
- Avoid drying garments on moisture-absorbing surfaces, such as terry towels, as this can cause discoloration or loss of natural elasticity.
- Note that garments knitted with special techniques, like garter stitch and dropped stitches in heavy yarns, can stretch during use or washing.
Common yarn fibers
Alpaca, untreated wool, mohair and silk:
Firstly, consider airing the garment instead of washing it. If you still need to wash it, follow these guidelines:
- Avoid using the washing machine unless the yarn is superwash treated, as even the wool program can cause garments to lose shape or shrink. Silk-containing fabrics might also lose color.
- Hand wash at 30ºC using wool detergent without enzymes and optical brighteners.
- Move the garment gently back and forth, avoiding rubbing or squeezing.
- Rinse the garment until the water is completely clear, maintaining a consistent water temperature to prevent shrinkage.
- Spin garments lightly in a pillowcase or roll them in a towel and press out the moisture.
- Never use a dryer for wool; it will cause the garment to shrink.
- Unevenness in the garment will even out after washing or light steam ironing.
- Avoid putting pressure on the garment, whether wet or dry. Do not steam or iron garments with knitting structures like cables. Never use an iron or press on silk.
- When steaming, preferably use a steam iron or a regular iron with a damp cloth placed between the iron and the garment. Important: Never iron the garment directly!
Superwash treated wool:
- Machine wash superwash treated wool using the wool or gentle cycle program.
- Don’t use fabric softener.
- Don’t leave the garment in the washing machine for a long period of time.
- To dry the garment, shape it and lay it flat; do not hang.
Merino wool:
Superwash treated yarns, which means they should be washed in the machine, using a gentle cycle program. That being said, there are a few more tips that are extremely relevant when it comes to caring for these yarns:
- Follow the washing instructions provided on the yarn label and in the shade card for the yarn.
- Wash merino wool in a 40 degrees / gentle cycle program.
- Wash separately, using lots of water.
- Use a small amount of wool detergent (without enzymes and optical brighteners).
- NEVER use fabric softener (the wool fibers become too soft and can slide apart).
- NEVER leave to soak!
- NEVER leave garments wet in the washing machine for a long period of time!
- NEVER hang to dry, instead dry the garments shaped on a flat surface.
Cotton, linen and mixed qualities:
- Always machine wash at 40ºC or 60ºC depending on the instructions on the label. If they are washed at a wrong/lower temperature, colours may run. If this happens, wash again at the right temperature, i.e. according to the label. It is very important to adhere to the right temperature.
- Don’t use too much fabric conditioner.
- Use washing programs with plenty of rinsing time.
- Cotton has the tendency to shrink in the wash, so make sure you measure the garment before washing, in order to shape it correctly after the wash.
- Don’t tumble dry.
Yarn combinations
A general guideline for washing yarn combinations is to follow the washing instructions for the most delicate of the yarns you are working with.
For more specific instructions, keep reading.
- First, consider always airing your garment as opposed to washing it.
- If you anyway decide to wash it, do it by hand in 30ºC water.
- For measure, remember that 30ºC is colder than your body’s temperature. Aim to have the same temperature in the water when you wash and when you rinse the garment.
- Use wool detergent (without enzymes and dye free).
- Never use fabric softener, especially not with superwash treated yarn.
- Move the garment gently back and forth, in a bath with plenty of water.
- Don’t let the garment soak.
- Do not rub or squeeze the garment in the bath. The garment becomes very heavy from absorbing water, so the fibers/stitches will separate from each other, making the fibers lose elasticity and the garment lose its shape/grow.
- Rinse the garment until the rinse water is completely clear. That will assure you rinsed not just the detergent but also any excess dye.
- Do a light centrifugation of the garment (about 800rpm) or press carefully the water out of the garment with a dry towel. The garment shouldn’t be twisted or rolled.
- If you centrifuge the garment, you should choose a program that DOES NOT take in water at the start. The difference of temperature in the water can make the garment shrink.
- Lay (do not hang) to dry the garment, ideally on a warm bathroom floor or on top of a drying rack in a room with good air circulation.
Many newer washing machines have good wool/hand washing programs. You can try them but you do it at your own risk. If you decide to do so, it’s recommended that you wash a small knitted swatch first to test the result without risking your garment.
In general, whatever combination it is you wash, you will always reduce the chances of ruining your project by: washing it alone, not letting it soak, avoiding the use of softener and letting it dry flat (not hanging).
Always keep the yarn labels – they are your warranty! In order for us to deal with any complaints in an orderly manner, we need the labels as well as the knitted garment.
Content: 75% Pure Wool, 25% Polyamide
Yarn Weight: 4-Ply / Fingering
Weight/Length: 50g(1.8oz) - 205m (224y)
Recommended needle size: 3mm | 11 UK | 2.5 US
Knitting tension: 24 sts x 32 rows
This yarn is "Superwash"
Made in Europe
Machine wash on gentle cycle 40°C / Dry Flat / Do not use softener
Content: 100% Superfine Merino
Yarn Weight: DK / Worsted / 8 Ply
Weight/Length: 50g(1.8oz) - 105m (115y)
Recommended needle size: 4mm | 8 UK | 6 US
Knitting tension: 21 sts x 28 rows
This yarn is "Superwash"
Made in Europe
Machine wash on gentle cycle 40°C / Dry Flat / Do not use softener
Content: 100% Superfine Merino
Yarn Weight: Sport / 5 Ply
Weight/Length: 50g(1.8oz) - 175m (191y)
Recommended needle size: 3mm | 11 UK | 2.5 US
Knitting tension: 24 sts x 32 rows
This yarn is "Superwash"
Made in Europe
Machine wash on gentle cycle 40°C / Dry Flat / Do not use softener
Content: 75% Mohair, 25% Silk
Yarn Group: Lace / 2 Ply
Weight/length: 25g(0.9oz) - 210m (230y)
Recommended needle size: 3.5mm | 9-10 UK | 4 US
Knitting tension: 23 sts x 30 rows
Made in Europe
Hand Wash, max 30°C / Dry Flat