Knits, especially hand-knit ones, are highly personal and let’s be real, a little precious. Good news: you can re-wash them safely. All it takes is remembering what the fibre is, not agitating too much and drying properly as well. To find out more about using a Knitting Kit, visit a site like woolcouturecompany.com/collections/knitting-kits
Don’t guess – Read the label
Different fibres behave differently:
Some garments can be machine-washed using a gentle cycle. Superwash wool: preshrunk when wet but benefits from gentler cycles.
Non-superwash wool: will probably suffer if subjected to heat, friction or agitation.
Acrylic: Often easy-care synthetic, which can be intentionally heat-distorted.
Cotton/linen: Stretch when wet and may take longer to dry.
Spot Clean First (When Possible)
There is no need to wash thoroughly for small marks.
Gently dab, do not rub, but dab with cool water and a very small amount of wool wash or mild soap.
Blot until the stain has lifted.
Do not rub fabrics together.
Hand-wash the low-risk way
For uncut knits, this is probably the safest way to go.
Fill the basin with cool to tepid water.
Squeeze a bit of wool wash (or a gentle baby shampoo) so you can get used to getting it nice and sudsy.
Place the item in so that it is fully submerged and push down on it to soak throughout.
Leave it for 10–20 minutes.
If you rinse, drain the water and refill with some clean water.
Important: don’t “scrub” it. Imagine you are doing a rinse, not a scrub.
Never wring, never knead, as this might cause twists in stitches and encourage felting.
Now lift up the knit piece and press the water out gently.
Place it out on a towel, roll it up like a burrito and simply stand or walk over the rolled-up towel to wring out all of the water content.
Dry flat and reshape, but beware that wet knitting that hangs will stretch quickly.
Place it flat on a dry towel or blocking mat.
Work it like dough (flatten it: press in edges, massage seams and pat to the size).
Flip it over after about 3 hours of drying.
Common mistakes to avoid
Hot water or sudden changes of temperature – Wash cycle spins with high speed.
Fabric softener (coats fibres and reduces breathability)
Dry naturally (unless yarn label specifies that it can be tumble dried)
By washing it gently, your hand-knits will continue to look nice for years and feel even better every time you pull them on.