Hand-Washing Hand Knits
Most hand-knit garments should be hand-washed, regardless of whether the yarn is technically machine-washable. The few extra minutes prevent felting, pilling, and stretching that cut the lifespan of a hand-knit by years.
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Method
Fill a sink or basin with lukewarm water (never hot — hot water felts wool). Add a teaspoon of wool wash. Submerge the garment and gently squeeze the water through the fibres. Do not agitate, rub, or wring.
Soaking
Let the garment soak for 15–30 minutes. Drain the water gently by lifting the garment out and supporting its weight (a wet sweater can stretch dramatically if held by the shoulders or hung).
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Squeezing out water
Lay the wet garment on a clean towel. Roll the towel up tightly with the garment inside. Press to absorb excess water. Unroll. The garment should be damp, not dripping.
Drying
Lay flat on a fresh dry towel or a mesh drying rack. Reshape to original dimensions. Let dry completely (12–48 hours). Never hang a wet hand-knit — gravity stretches the garment out of shape permanently.
Abbreviation reference
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| WS | wrong side |
Tips
- Use lukewarm water and a wool-safe detergent.
- Never wring, rub, or agitate — these cause felting.
- Always dry flat — hanging wet hand-knits stretches them out of shape.
In depth
Hand-washing protects hand-knits from the agitation that machine washing inflicts on wool fibres. Even superwash wool, which is technically machine-washable, lives longer if hand-washed. The extra time is the price of a sweater that stays beautiful for ten years instead of three.