Whether it’s a hand knit or a gorgeous statement jumper you’ve bought, treating your old clothes with care means you can wear them for a lot longer.
In particular, speciality fibres like cashmere, silk and alpaca feel wonderful against the skin, so reusing the materials in other knitting makes is the perfect way to craft essential knitwear you’ll want to last a lifetime. We’ll cover what to bear in mind when caring for your knitwear and deciding what to do with clothes that can’t be donated.
Treating your knitting when you wash, store and wear
Treating your knits the right way when you wash, store and wear them will make your clothes look better for longer. You can keep them smooth and bobble-free, and still enjoy that super-soft feeling that makes them so sensual to wear.
Follow our suggestions and you’ll be wearing your favourite knits for many years to come. Coupled with Seasalt Cornwall's new autumn collection, The Minack Chronicles, there’s never been a better time to learn how to care for your knitwear.
Washing carefully to extend the life of your clothing
If you’ve knitted something yourself, check the ball band of the yarn for care instructions. Different fibres will need their own treatment. Luxury fibres like cashmere, alpaca and silks require particular care and gentle washing. It’s easy to throw away the ball band when you start a new project, so make sure to keep that information to hand!
How to find missing yarn care information
If you have lost the ball band from your hand knit, but remember the yarn name, check Ravelry for care information. If you can’t find it, err on the side of caution and wash by hand. If you’ve got your original knitting swatch you can test your planned washing routine on the swatch rather than risking the whole garment. Another good reason to brush up on knitting tension squares!
It’s much easier to keep track of the best way to care for knitwear if you’ve purchased a quality knit, such as those included in Seasalt's 2022 autumn/winter collection, The Minack Chronicles. Every garment has its own care instructions label, telling you the fibres used and the best way to wash and dry your clothing.
Don’t ruin your knitwear!
Washing knitwear the wrong way can ruin it. The combination of water, heat and agitation can make the scales on natural fibres bunch up and knot together – a process known as felting.
Felting is irreversible. The knitted fabrics shrink and get denser. It’s actually a technique in itself, which can be useful for specific felting projects. But it’s disastrous if it happens by accident in the wash.
Wash your natural fibre clothes less often
Knitwear made of natural fibres is more breathable than synthetic knits. Greater breathability reduces the amount of sweat your skin produces. As a result, natural knits generally don’t get as smelly nearly so quickly, meaning you can afford to wash them less. Hang them out to air between wears to help keep them fresh.
Check you’re using the right machine wash cycle
If your yarn care information says the knit can be machine washed, make sure you use the hand wash cycle on your machine. Never wash your knitwear with heavy items like towels and denim, as the weight can bash your delicate knits during the cycle and cause felting.
Should you use a specialist wool wash?
If a garment needs to be washed by hand, it’s considered delicate. You can gently clean delicate fibres with a specialist wool wash. Products like Soak are designed to avoid rinsing out of woollens. Skipping multiple rinses makes handwashing up to six times quicker.
