Washing knitwear - no more pilling, holes & matting
Caring for knitwear properly can be quite tricky. Woollen jumpers, for example, are not very forgiving and are prone to shrinking. To keep your knitwear looking fresher for longer, we have put together a few simple tips and tricks on how to care for your knitted jumpers and cardigans.
How to store your jumpers
If you want to give a knitted jumper a new home or breathe new life into your old garments, it's best to store them correctly. Its best to store knitwear and woollen jumpers flat. In addition, make sure to fold them loosely and neatly to help the fibres keep their shape. It is also important to protect your knitwear from direct sunlight.
Tip: To protect your favourite woollen jumpers from moths during the summer months, you can use herb bags or moth traps.
Send your knitwear on a summer break
To make room for your t-shirts and tops in spring, your will need to put your woollen jumpers and cardigans into storage. To ensure that nothing happens to them during the long storage period, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Even in the summer, your knitted jumpers should be stored flat and in the dark. Vacuum bags are one way of saving space when storing jumpers as you can suck the air out with a pump or a hoover. Your winter clothes can also be safely stored in draws under a bed during the summer. You can also protect your jumpers and cardigans by wrapping them in tissue or newspaper. This protects them from dirt and moths.
Dos & Don’ts for washing and drying jumpers
Knitwear can be quite high maintenance when it comes to washing and drying. Many knitted items are made of wool, which makes cleaning more difficult. To ensure that your favourite clothes do not shrink or become misshapen read the following article on how to wash them correctly.
There are a few dos and don'ts that you should keep in mind when washing and drying your jumpers:
Do's:
Read our care guide– as you'll find all the information you need to wash woollen jumpers and knitwear.
Turn jumpers and cardigans inside out before washing to prevent pilling.
Use a special wool detergent and a gentle cycle.
Pull the knitted garment into shape immediately after washing.
Dry lying down.
Don'ts:
Do not wash knitwear too often – instead leave it out overnight to air.
Don't leave knitted garments in the washing machine for too long.
Don’t wring out woollen jumpers after washing them.
Do not hang knitwear to dry.
Do not put woollen jumpers & cardigans in the sun or close to a heater.
To dry knitwear quickly and gently, roll it up in a large towel and press it gently. This will allow the towel to absorb excess water without putting too much strain on the fibres.
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Did you know...
If a jumper is made from various materials, you should care and wash it according to the most sensitive fibres. For example, if your jumper is made of wool and cotton, as wool is more sensitive the jumper should be washed at a maximum temperature of 30°C.
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Pilling - how to remove and avoid annoying knots
Pilling is simply part of knitwear. Whether it's a high-quality knitted pullover made of cashmere or a cosy cardigan made of wool - the small knots and fluff appear on all natural materials. Pilling always occurs at the point where the fabric is exposed to strong friction. This causes small fibres to detach from the fabric and mat together to form small knots and fluff. The areas under the arms and at the hips are particularly susceptible to pilling. The small knots look unsightly, and they can also lead to small holes.
The good news is that you can easily remove the pilling from your jumper and prevent damage to the fabric. To do this, use either a fabric razor or a special pilling comb. A simple disposable razor can also help you remove the lint from your jumper. Carefully shave away the pesky lumps and create a nice smooth surface.
Tip: If you have bought a new woollen jumper, cardigan or knitted dress you can prevent pilling by using a lint roller.
Don't settle for itchy jumpers
If you've had to wash your favourite jumper more than once it may lose its fluffiness. However, there are two easy ways to make your woollen jumper soft and comfortable again:
Tip number 1: Cashmere and wool jumpers can be shock frozen after washing. Place the damp jumper in a freezer bag and put it in the freezer. After a couple of hours, dry it using a towel as described above. The freezing temperatures will cause the fibres on the jumper to lock back into place and it will be comfortable to wear again.
Tip number 2: Dissolve a teaspoon of wool wax or lanolin with a teaspoon of washing-up liquid in a bowl of hot water. When the water has cooled down to below 30°C, soak the itchy jumper overnight. Dry it with a towel the next morning and the wool wax will make the fibres supple and soft again.
Emergency tips on how to repair your jumper
It is easy to pull a thread or get a moth hole in your favourite jumper. This is no reason to say goodbye if you follow our tips on how to rethread pulled threads on your jumper and how to mend holes.
Help, I pulled a thread on my jumper!
If you catch a thread, it's annoying at first, but thankfully it is not tragic. If the thread is still intact, you can gently pull the fabric up and down around the pulled thread. If you have only pulled the thread out a little bit, you can easily put it back into place.
If pulling the fabric does not fix the issue, turn the jumper inside out and pull the overhanging loop through to the inside. With the help of a needle, you can trace the path of the thread. Follow the thread with the needle and loosen each stitch along the way until the thread has popped itself back into place again. You will need a little bit of patience for this, but the loose thread will disappear, and your woollen jumper will look almost brand new again.
I have a hole in my jumper! How can I mend it?
If you get a hole in your jumper, it is not the end of the world. Just simply follow the step-by-step instructions below to quickly repair it.
1. Use a thread that matches the colour of the garment.
2. Thread the thread into a needle and double it up.
3. Turn the jumper inside out and place the hole over a darning egg or mushroom. If you do not have one, then you can use an empty water bottle.
4. Sew around the hole once. You can use the stitches that are already in the jumper. Continue to pass the thread around the hole alternating from top to bottom.
5. When you have sewn all the way around, sew across to the other side of the hole and back again until the hole is closed. The thread should be threaded like a serpentine to close the hole.
6. Now use the stitches to sew from the bottom to the top and then again from the top to the bottom. Now the hole should be fully repaired.
What should I do when I have torn a thread?
First, you can try to knot the thread at both ends. This can be a bit tricky, but it is the best way to repair your woollen jumper. If this does not work, you can glue the ends on the inside with super glue or nail polish. However, this is only a quick fix and you will need to repeat the process each time after washing your jumper. If you would like to fix then follow the step-by-step instructions on how to patch holes.
Conclusion
Knitwear may be demanding to care for, but it is cosy and warm in the winter. By following our tips and tricks, you will be able to enjoy your knitwear for longer and enjoy the beautiful feeling on your skin!
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Image sources:
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