There's nothing worse than ruining a special hand knit shawl, sweater, or hat in the wash. I have had the experience of pulling out a sweater four times smaller than the size it went in. That's a feeling I don't want anyone to experience. It may sound like a lot of work to hand wash but it's really a small effort to preserve a treasured handmade piece.
Owning a hand knit or crocheted item is extremely special. Whether it's a piece you have made yourself or received as a gift, handmade items are to be treasured. Many hours and careful skill have gone into each piece, so to honor the work that's been done you'll want to make sure you are taking proper care of our handmade items. Ensure a beloved handmade piece can provide warmth and comfort for years to come by following these care tips.
Daily Care
Keeping a piece looking new requires that it is cared for daily during peak wearing season. Avoid hanging your knits on a hanger and opt to fold them gently instead. This prevents the weight of your sweater or scarf from pulling the stitches out of shape. It also prevents the shoulders of a sweater from getting misshapen by the edges of a hanger. Gently folding your sweater, shawl, or scarf and placing it in a lightweight cotton or linen bag will also keep it from collecting dust in between wears. Hand knits can develop wrinkles so be sure not to crumple or bunch your items. A quick steam or spritz with water can help straighten out any wrinkles that do develop.
Avoid wearing jewelry that snags. Bracelets and rings with loose prongs are the usual culprits that can snag a stitch on your item. If this happens, do not pull it further. In an emergency, you can push the long loop of the snagged stich to the back of the fabric until you are able to give it your attention. Lay your item flat and try to gently stretch the surrounding stitches to even out the loops. Stretch horizontally, vertically, and diagonally to allow the surrounding stitches to pull the snag back into place. Once the stitch is back in place as much as possible, I recommended that you soak the piece in water with mild detergent and then lay flat to dry. This helps to relax all the stiches and you can reform the piece.
Food spills do happen and are best dealt with as soon as possible. Blot excess liquid from your fabric as best as you can and do not rub. Spot rinse with cool water and in cases where you aren't home, you can apply a little hand soap on the area with your fingers gently working the suds into the spill. Rinse well then blot dry being sure not to rub or wring. A good soak in wool wash is best to completely remove the spill before any staining occurs.
Depending on the type of spill and fiber content of your piece you may be able to add a little Dawn dish soap for grease spots, baking soda for acidic spills, vinegar for coffee or tea, or another mild cleaning agent.
Seasonal Care
After a busy season of wearing your hand knits, you'll want to give them some care before storing them. To extend the life of your items, soak in cool water with a mild detergent made espsecially delicate items like Soak, Eucalan Wool Wash, or Woolite. Gently squeeze excess water from your piece being careful not to wring or distort the stitches. Roll up your item in a towel and press gently on it to get extra water out. Unroll and lay flat to dry on a surface that won't be disturbed. If the piece needs to be blocked to certain dimensions or it has lace motifs that need to be shaped you can use straight pins or blocking wires to keep it in place. Let dry completely and store gently folded for the off-season. Using a cloth drawstring bag for storage will help to keep dust away and placing a lavender or cedar sachet on top will keep moths and insects away while giving a lovely scent. I personally ship all my hand knit items in a cloth bag to use for storage along with a sample of wool detergent.
Special Care
Over time the piece may develop small knots of fiber that occur with friction and normal wear. These are known as "pills" and you can remove them to keep your piece looking fresh. There are a few products you can use for de-pilling your fabric like a pumice stone, fabric gleener, lint remover/fabric shaver. You'll want to use a soft hand and hold your fabric taut. Work in small sections and avoid going over the same area too many times. This can thin your fabric out by removing too much fiber.
I hope these tips are helpful to you and encourage you to invest in a hand knit item that will last. With the right care, you will enjoy the warmth and beauty of your handmade pieces for years. ~ Ester Puente
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