We continue with how to care for hand knitted and crocheted items. I have only had one sweater that I knitted destroyed in a washing machine many years ago. Since I have no wish to relive the experience again and hope that you too do not go through this, lets discuss how to wash and iron hand knitted and crocheted items.
When is it safe to machine wash an item?
When it specifically says on the yarn label that the yarn is machine washable. As a general rule, the sturdier wool fibres are machine washable, as are cotton fibres.
Front loading washing machines are equipped with many washing cycles. Select the one that is on the yarn label or gentle wash at 30 degrees celcius. Top loading machines usually have simpler cycles, and may not have wool cycle or temperature control, as these are designed for warm climates. Set the machine to gentle cycle.
Not all dyes are color fast. Wash colours separately setting the washing machine to for a small load.
A mesh bag is something you must have! Using one will prevent each piece from being entangled with other items and prevents them from being stretched in the washing machine. Mesh bags come in different sizes. Choose the appropriate one or you can place more than one item in the mesh bag if necessary.
What detergent to use for handwashing
- Lux flakes
- Woolite
- Ecover delicate wash
All these will work well with delicate knit and silk items and are designed specifically for hand washing. They lather less and are designed to gentle.
How to hand wash items
Follow the instructions for the detergent. Immerse hand knitted items into the soapy water. Agitate it and the water gently. Wring and repeat a few times. Rinse with clean water 3 times. Try to wring it so that most of water out, so that it will dry faster, but without causing it to become out of shape. I find that sticking it in the washing machine with a mesh bag for a quick spin does the job really nicely.
Do not soak items.
How to lay them out to dry
It is best to lay items flat and away from direct sunlight. Place a towel on the table. Place the item on top of the towel, making sure that the item is laid out flat in the right shape. Doing this will negate the need for ironing. Leave it to dry naturally.
How to press your item
Once the item is dry, it is time to press the item. Though it is not necessary unless the item is out of shape. Set the iron to the wool setting. Then place a piece of clean cotton material over the it and only iron over it.
