Knitwear Care and Storage
KNITWEAR CARE
Please read all care labels on the garment before washing. If the garment recommends washing by hand then you should follow the instructions below so that your garment will look beautiful for years to come.
1.
Fill a sink or bucket with tepid water (or cold water for contrast stripes). Mix in a mild or wool care detergent.
Do not use any products that contain bleach.
2.
Turn the garment inside out and submerge in the water. Gently squeeze the suds through the garment. Do not be tempted to pull the garment in and out of the water as this will stretch the knit and may damage to the fibres. Do not rub. Continue squeezing the garment for about 2 minutes. Do not worry if some of the dye releases into the water; this is normal for dark colours, particularly in the first wash.
3.
Drain the basin and squeeze the suds from the garment. Refill the basin with cool water and rinse the until the water is clear of suds.
4.
After rinsing, squeeze the garment to remove most of the water. Do not wring or twist the garment. There are two ways to effectively remove the excess water, You can either: Put the garment into a net bag or pillow case, set your washing machine on a Gentle Spin Cycle and place in the machine for a spin. OR Lay the garment flat out on top of a towel, then roll the towel up and squeeze the water out.
5.
Dry the garment flat, ease it into shape and lay on a towel on top of a drying rack. Do not hang.
Dry in the shade away from direct sunlight. This is really important as the sun can fade the garment and also turn whites yellow.
Never put knitwear in a tumble dryer as it will shrink the garment.
6.
Iron the garment according to the instructions on the care label. The beauty of knitwear is that it usually only needs a light iron depending on the knit structure and the yarn. Some styles don’t need ironing at all, especially if you have dried the garment nice and flat. As a general guide, it is best to set your iron on a cool temperature and iron the garment inside out to avoid any shiny marks.
STORAGE AND PILLING
STORE IN THE BREATHABLE, SYNTHETIC BAG. THIS WILL HELP PROTECT YOUR GARMENT FROM MOTHS AND SILVERFISH.
These insects both attack natural fibres, especially Merino wool and Cashmere. Lavender and cedar wood are noxious to these pests so storing your garments with these scents will help protect your knitwear further.
Kill off moths and silverfish by placing your garments in an airtight plastic bag in the freezer for 72 hours.
Seasonally sort through your wardrobe and drawers, remove all your garments and vacuum up debris. This will decrease the risk of any damage.
You can remove the little balls by hand or with a de-pilling device that can be purchased from a wool or haberdashery shop. Washing often settles the fibres and pilling is less likely after your first wash.