You’ve spent hours - maybe weeks - making something beautiful. The last thing you want is to ruin it in the wash. The good news is that caring for handknitted and crocheted woollens is much simpler than most people think, once you know what you’re doing.
Step one: always check the yarn label
Before you do anything, find the label from the yarn your garment was made with. The care symbols will tell you whether it’s machine washable, hand wash only, or dry clean only. If you’ve lost the label, err on the side of hand washing - it’s always the gentler option.
How to hand wash a woollen garment
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Fill a basin with cool to lukewarm water. Avoid hot water - it causes wool to felt and shrink.
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Add a small amount of wool wash or gentle liquid soap.
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Submerge your garment and gently squeeze the water through. Do not rub, wring, or agitate - this causes felting.
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Let it soak for 10–15 minutes.
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Gently squeeze out the water (do not wring) and rinse in water of the same temperature.
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To remove excess water, lay the garment on a dry towel, roll it up, and gently press. Do not twist.
How to machine wash superwash yarns
Many merino and wool yarns are treated to be machine washable. Look for ‘superwash’ on the label, or the machine wash symbol. If machine washable:
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Use a wool or delicate cycle with cool or lukewarm water.
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Use a gentle detergent or specialist wool wash.
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Avoid high spin speeds. Never tumble dry unless the label specifically says you can.
What is blocking, and why does it matter?
Blocking is the process of wetting your finished piece and pinning or shaping it to its correct dimensions while it dries. It’s one of the most transformative steps in making - a lumpy, uneven piece fresh off the needles becomes beautifully flat and professional-looking after blocking.
Blocking is particularly important for lace, garments, colourwork, and socks. Here’s how to do it:
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Wash your piece as described above.
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Lay the damp piece on a blocking mat or clean towel on a flat surface.
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Ease and pin the piece to the correct measurements using rust-proof pins. Clover bamboo blocking pins are ideal.
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Leave to dry completely before unpinning - allow 24–48 hours.
For socks and mittens, sock blockers and mitten blockers are a wonderful investment. Simply slip the damp item onto the blocker and leave to dry in perfect shape. We stock both at the Woolshed.
How to dry handknits
Always dry handknitted garments flat. Never hang them - the weight of the wet yarn will stretch the piece irreparably. Lay them on a clean towel or blocking mat away from direct sunlight and heat.
How to store woollen garments
Moth prevention
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Store clean garments only - moths are attracted to body oils and food residues.
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Use natural moth deterrents: cedar, lavender, sandalwood, or botanical sachets. We stock a lovely range of Thurlby aromatic clothing protectors - they smell beautiful and actually work.
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Avoid plastic bags for long-term storage - wool needs to breathe. Use cotton bags or pillowcases instead.
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Check stored items periodically. Catching a moth problem early makes all the difference.
Dealing with pilling
Pilling is a natural result of friction on wool garments - it’s not a sign of poor quality, just a loved piece. A fabric shaver removes pills quickly and easily, restoring your garment to its like-new appearance. We stock the Evercare Fabric Shaver and the Triumph Rechargeable Lint Remover. The Birch Wool Comb is also a great option.
Still not sure? Ask us
If you’re unsure about caring for a specific yarn or garment, pop into the Woolshed in Manuka or email us at shop@woolshed.com.au. We’re always happy to help.