Caring for Your Knits

As fall approaches, we get asked all the time how to best care for knitwear. Caring for your knits is an important step in ensuring their longevity in your wardrobe. 

Refresh Your Knits

If your knits need a refresh between wears lay them flat outside in the shade, or drape over a chair overnight. For in season storage, keep them folded with lavender sachets or cedar blocks - both of which help to repel moths.

Address Pilling

This occurs when the shorter fibres slowly work their way to the top, usually due to friction and are commonly seen in high impact areas such as the under arm. To remove them, use a sweater comb or sweater stone for finer knits and a fabric shaver for heavier knits. Make sure the fabric shaver hovers over the surface of the knit, it can cut a hole if you’re not careful.

Handwashing

First assess whether washing is absolutely necessary. Wash as infrequently as possible, some will say once a year, seasonally, or once a month. The longer you put it off, the longer your knits will last.

Pop a knit or two, of similar colour, in the sink or tub with a shallow amount of cold water, just enough to fully submerge. Use a rinse free soap, such as Soak or Eucalan. Give your knit(s) a gentle shake in the soapy water & leave for 20 minutes (or adjust accordingly to the directions on the soap bottle).

Lay out a few clean towels, drape the garment, roll up the towel tightly and massage out the water. Repeat a few times to get out as much water as possible. DO NOT wring your knit! This will weaken the fibres and warp the knit.

Once most of the water has been absorbed by the towels, lay flat on a drying rack - make sure to reshape your garment. Lay a few extra towels underneath the drying rack to protect the floor. Wool is hydrophilic - it absorbs water up to 1/3 of its weight and will continue to drip. Do not hang to dry, the weight of the water will work with gravity and distort your knit. After about 12 hours check on your knit and flip it if it's not entirely dry.

If necessary, iron on low with a press cloth (or a damp tea towel) with a very light pressure.

Dry Cleaning

Is it easier to just dry clean? Maybe. But dry cleaning chemicals are incredibly caustic and will break down your knits over time shortening their lifespan.

Storing - Long Term

Washing your wools before you tuck them away for the season is incredibly important. This guarantees that no lingering dirt, makeup, perfume, or skin oils are left behind, these can become increasingly difficult to remove after many months. A freshly laundered knit is also less likely to attract moths. When storing your knits for long term fold them into a plastic bin or a cotton garment bag. If you live in a humid environment, consider something aerated for your long term storage.