Care guide
Keep it soft, keep its shape
Hand-knits reward a little care. None of it takes long, and it is the difference between a piece that lasts years and one that does not.
The basics
The short version, broken into four parts.
Washing
- Hand wash in cool water, always.
- Use a gentle, wool-safe detergent.
- Turn the piece inside out first.
- Press water out, never wring it.
Drying
- Lay flat on a clean, dry towel.
- Roll the towel up to pull out extra water.
- Keep it out of direct sun and off the radiator.
- Reshape it gently while it is still damp.
Blocking
- Pin the damp piece out to its finished size.
- Use rust-proof pins on a flat, breathable mat.
- Let it dry fully before you take the pins out.
- Reblock every so often if the shape starts to drift.
Storage
- Fold it. Hanging stretches the shoulders out.
- Store somewhere dry, dark, and cool.
- Tuck in a cedar block or a lavender sachet.
- Give it a day off between wears to spring back.
Care by material
Different fibres want different handling. Here is what each one needs.
| Material | Wash | Dry | Iron or steam | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merino | Hand wash, cool water | Lay flat | Do not iron | Breathes well and shrugs off odour on its own. |
| Alpaca | Hand wash, cool water | Lay flat | Low steam only, held away from the fibre | Very warm for its weight. Sheds less than wool. |
| Cotton | Machine wash, cool, gentle cycle | Lay flat, do not hang | Warm iron if it needs one | Softens with every wash but holds its shape less than wool. |
| Acrylic blend | Machine wash, cool, gentle cycle | Lay flat | Do not iron | Easy-care and colourfast, though it breathes less than natural fibres. |
Common mistakes
Easy to avoid once you know they are there.
- Wringing water out instead of pressing it out.
- Hanging a wet piece up to dry. It stretches under its own weight.
- Washing in hot water. It can felt merino and alpaca for good.
- Reaching for the everyday detergent instead of a wool-safe one.
- Skipping the reblock after a wash, so lace and open stitches lose their shape.
Something felted or shrank on you? Get in touch and we will help you put it right.