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Care instructions for your handknits
Apr
Care instructions for your handknits
Being aware of the care instructions for your handknits is very essential.
As soon as you finish your handknit, please make sure that you are aware of the washing and care instructions.
It is very important to know how to take care f them so they look nice and hold up for a long time.
Please notice some important things you should do.
Read the label
Read the yarn labels of the skeins. They give you useful information about quality, yardage, color number, lot, gauge details and washing instructions.
If you throw them away, there is always a way to find all the above information by seeking this on the web.
The most common instruction given is “hand wash in cool water”.
Sometimes a care icon is on the label.
The most common icons are listed below : 
Wash with care
Wash your handknits properly.
Very few knit items should be dry cleaned and more knits than you think can be washed in the washing machine on the gentle cycle.
A very good idea is to wash the swatch you have made following the gauge instructions in order to make a test.
Subject your swatch to the washing method you plan to follow and see how the little knit item reacts.
Measure your swatch before and after washing to check the shrinkage.
This is a very important thing to do, to wash your swatch and wait for it to dry before you proceed with knitting your garment.
Yarns that are made specifically for children’s clothing usually are washing machine safe. However, you should always use the gentle cycle.
Use a mesh laundry bag. This bag can keep your projects from becoming too agitated or catching on to something else in the washer.
Superwash wools have been treated so they won’t felt, which means they’re safe for the washing machine. If your yarn is 100% wool, or mohair, alpaca, or cashmere, it is better to avoid the washing machine, unless the label says to do so.
Some people like to dry clean everything and that’s fine, but not necessarily better because dry-cleaning chemicals can damage some knits.
Follow the care instructions for your handknits on the label
A safe method is to wash your knits by hand. Always turn knits inside out when washing and avoid excessive use of fabric softeners that can encourage fibers to pill. If you decide to hand wash your knits follow these steps:
- Fill the sink with cool water and add some mild soap. A mild detergent that is appropriate for hand washing is the best. And if you really want to do it right, find one that’s made especially for your yarn.
- Let it soak for 10 minutes.
- Then gently squeeze out the water before rolling up the knit in a thick towel to blot as dry as possible.
- Don’t change temperatures as you wash and rinse.
- Place the garment on a towel and roll it up like sushi.
- Do not put the washed knit items in the dryer
- Your knits shouldn’t stay wet longer than they need to, so get as much water out of your knits as you can by wrapping them in dry towels.
- After removing excess water, pat your knits gently into shape and allow them to dry completely.
- Let them lay completely flat to dry away from sun and heat.
Clean your knits
If you notice a stain on your knit it is better to clean that area as soon as possible because stains are more difficult to be removed later. Try not to rub your knits because rubbing causes pilling.
Because of their delicate nature, hand-knits benefit from less washing, and ideally, they are cleaned only once or twice a season.
You can freshen your knits in between cleanings with a clothing refresh spray. Always clean them at the end of the season following the above instructions.
Storage tips
Do not hang your knits on hangers, not even the coats and cardigans. Keep them gently folded flat in drawers or on a shelf instead and make sure they are absolutely clean and totally dry.
Vacuum Storage Bags are a great way to store clothing, but some clothing should not be kept in them. Items that are naturally fluffy like knitwear or have natural fibers like wool need to breathe so avoid storing them in vacuum bags. The fibers require air to stay in their natural shape.
Tuck pieces of cloves or sachets of lavender in with your knits — they’ll smell nice and will deter moths. So your beautiful handmade knits will last longer and look amazingly new!!
You can also find tips in our blog post.
View more ideas in my Pinterest account
