October 12, 2020

10 simple steps for caring for your knitwear

Wool boasts numerous qualities - its breathability, biodegradability and its resilience. And caring for it doesn't need to be high maintenance.

While we have a more detailed breakdown on how to look after your knitwear on our product care page here, here are 10 simple steps to follow when looking after a luxury jumper, made from 100% natural untreated superfine Merino wool. It's not too complicated, we promise.

Step 1. Don't wash too much

A good thing to remember is that any product that is made from 100% wool is naturally dirt, breathable and odour resistant. It's one of the great things about wool. This means that you don’t need to wash it too much. A good airing will usually be enough.

Step 2. Always wash by hand

Soft wool jumpers like our ones are untreated. This means that no chemical washes have been applied to the garments to turn them into a 'machine washable' product.

Our jumpers should be hand washed in water that’s no more than 30°C. We recommend this above dry cleaning as the latter uses more chemicals but also over time can weaken the natural fibres of the wool.

Step 3. Only use small amounts of detergent

We recommend only using a very small amount of mild detergent. Wash your jumper gently for a maximum of 10 minutes - no harsh abrasive scrubbing. Too much friction will damage the wool and using too much detergent can cause the wool to felt.

Step 4. Do not soak

Wool is wonderful, but it does not like to be left in water for too long. Never leave your knits to soak and do not wring or twist – this stretches them out of shape. 10 minutes gentle washing is all your knit needs.

Step 5. Dry flat

Because the wool that we use is untreated, we recommend drying your item flat. You can gently reshape whilst damp, but do not pull too much. Laying it flat across a drying rack so air can get on top and below the garment is the best.

Step 6. Do not spin

Washing machines are great inventions, but even the wool spin cycle can be too much for an untreated luxury wool yarn. It can be too harsh on the finer fibres and it's because of this that we always recommend not spinning.

We know waiting for wool to dry can take a while, but it's worth the wait.

Step 7. Managing pilling

Pilling (or bobbling) is an entirely natural process and to be expected when the wool we use is so soft and delicate. To remove them, lie your garment flat, hold it taut and using a de-pilling comb, brush in one direction to gently remove pills.

It’s often a good idea to de-pill your jumper just before you wash it.

Step 8. How to store

When it comes to storing your knits, moths like dirt and body oil. Wash your jumper before storing it for long periods and place it in one of our organic cotton bags. The bag allows it to breathe.

Ensure the bag is sealed and your drawers or wardrobe are fully closed.

Step 9. Always fold

We always recommend you fold your knitwear as this prevents stretching. If you do wish to hang your jumper or cardigan, fold and pop them into one of our cotton bags and loop the handles over a hanger.