Caring for Handknits
Learn the best practices for caring for handknitted items
1/12/20262 min read
You spend so many countless hours working on your handknit projects, but it’s important to remember how to care for them so they last a long time.
Read the Yarn Label
The yarn label not only tells you the fiber content, but it often has care instructions as well. It will tell you whether or not the yarn is machine washable, what temperature of water it can tolerate, and whether or not it can be ironed and dry cleaned. As a general rule of thumb, most protein fibers cannot be machine-washed unless they are treated with superwash. If you no longer have the yarn label and don’t know what the fiber content is, it is best to err on the side of caution and treat it like non-superwash wool.
Washing Handknits
Most of the time, when I wash my handknitted items, I hand-wash them using a mild wool wash in cold water. I soak the garment for about 15-20 minutes. Usually, soaking is all it needs; agitation can lead to felting, so that should be avoided. The nice thing about using a wool wash is that you do not have to rinse. Once it’s done soaking, I gently squeeze the excess water out of it. Never wring a handknitted item! A towel can help get the excess water out by rolling it up with the knitted item inside and pressing down or even stepping on it. Another way of getting water out is to use the spin cycle on your washer or put it through a salad spinner. If the yarn you used is machine washable, it is best to still use cold water and run it through the gentle cycle. A garment bag can help keep it nice as well.
Drying Handknits
Many fibers will stretch when they’re wet, so you usually want to lay your items flat to dry. Hanging them can stretch them out too much, to the point where blocking again won’t fix the problem. For many garments, you should take the time to shape and pin them in place while they dry. This can be especially important with open, lacy stitch patterns. Once you’ve done that one time, you may or may not need to do it again next time. Most of the time, knitters will pin their projects to foam blocking mats, but pinning to an ironing board or towels on a flat surface can work too.
Storing Handknits
Even when they’re dry, some fibers will stretch too much if you hang them. Storing handknits folded in a drawer is generally better. Make sure the drawer is clean before storing anything in it. Plastic bins should be avoided as they trap moisture, leading to mold or mildew, and can release chemicals that can weaken or yellow the fiber over time. Another thing to consider is how to prevent moth damage. Cedar and lavender are natural moth deterrents; however, both can lose their scent over time. If you use cedar blocks, sand them a bit every six months or so to keep the scent fresh. If you have lavender sachets, rub them a little every now and then to release more of their scent.
Caring for handknits is so important to make them last a long time. I hope this helped you understand how to care for your projects once they’re finished. If you’re making gifts, including a tag explaining how to take care of them is recommended. I have some cute ones for sale to print out here. Happy stitching!
