Now that we’ve washed and stored our winter wool sweaters and superwash socks, and our summer garments are back in rotation, you may find these need to be washed a little more regularly than winter wear. Thankfully, plant fibres are fairly easy to care for and don’t require a lot of effort to maintain.
Always refer to the manufacturer’s ball band before beginning but as a general rule, cotton, linen and bamboo can be machine washed. We recommend using a garment bag, the delicate cycle, and cool to warm water. It’s always best to use a soap made for hand knits as these washes are generally safer for your works of art.
If your project uses multiple colours or is made of an organic or hand dyed yarn, we recommend knitting a swatch using all of the colours to test for colour fastness. Should the colours bleed or run, you can then add 1/2 of a cup of salt, or use a commercial colour catcher, which can be found in the grocery store laundry section, to keep your finished project looking its best.
This may come as a surprise, but plant fibres love the dryer! On the air or cool setting, of course. When wet, plant fibres are heavy and can stretch easily. The dryer helps bounce fibres back into shape and soften the fabric. If you would rather lay flat to dry, simply shape the garment by hand and lay in a well-ventilated area.
You put a lot of time and effort into crafting your precious handmade garments so it’s always worth it to take the time to properly care for them to ensure you can enjoy them for years to come.