Caring for your Garments
YARN CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Before you clean any knitted or crocheted item, take a look at the care instructions. You´ll find the symbols both on the ball band or hangtag of the yarn and on this website with the specifications for each yarn.
General Information
- Knitted or crocheted garments which are made from a yarn labelled machine washable can be washed by machine, using the delicate setting. All other garments must be washed by hand or dry cleaned.
- Before washing, make sure the garment is turned inside out. This protects the outer side of the garment from too much abrasion.
- Always select the correct water temperature.
- It’s best to use a mild detergent that has been formulated for the fibre content of your yarn. A specialty wool wash is best for animal fibres, and a mild detergent works well for cotton and linen. Do not use fabric softener or a detergent containing bleach, essential oils or other additives because they can damage the yarn and lead to felting and loss of colour.
Machine Washing
It is also important that you wash at the temperature stated for the yarn and with like colours. Some yarns, such as cotton yarns, may bleed colour when washed at too low a temperature. Wool, on the other hand, might shrink when it is washed at a high temperature. Use a delicate or wool cycle.
Hand Washing
Make sure the detergent is entirely dissolved before you lay the garment in the water and make sure the water is the correct temperature. Do not rub or use too much pressure because this can weaken fibres and could lead to felting if your garment is made from wool. Gently press the suds through the garment to remove any dirt. Rinse until the water runs clear.
A knitted or crocheted garment should never be wrung out. Gently remove as much water as possible and lay the wet garment on a Terry cloth towel, carefully pull it into shape, and leave it lying flat until it is dry. Alternatively, the garment can be carefully rolled in a towel to press out as much of the moisture as possible. Never hang a wet garment on a clothes hanger to dry. Garments should always be dried flat on a towel or drying rack.
Removing Spots
Spots on wool garments should be carefully washed out, preferably with cold water, and a specialty detergent. Alternatively, you can add a small amount of potato starch and a few drops of vinegar to the water.
Pilling
Pilling occurs when a garment is rubbed. Pills tend to appear on areas such as the inner sleeves which experience more rubbing. Special pilling removers are available.
Ironing
Knitted or crocheted garments should be turned inside out and then only lightly steamed. Do not touch the garment with an iron. Alternatively, hanging a wool garment outdoors overnight or in the bathroom while showering allows the humidity to release any wrinkles.
Storage
Do not hang your knits—the weight of the garment can pull them out of shape. Instead, fold with as few creases as possible and store flat.
Universal care symbols
Below are the symbols you are likely to see and a brief explanation of each.
- Machine Wash, Cold
- Machine Wash, Cold, Gentle
- Machine Wash, Warm
- Machine Wash, Warm, Gentle
- Do Not Wash
- Hand Wash, Normal
- Hand Wash, Cold
- Hand Wash, Warm
- Do Not Bleach
- Do Not Tumble Dry
- Tumble Dry, Gentle, Low Heat
- Dry Flat in Shade
- Do Not Iron
- Iron Low Heat
- Iron Medium Heat
- Do Not Dry Clean
- Dry Clean, in Certain Solvents, Consult Cleaner
- Dry Clean, Any Solvent