How to care for your hand-knits
Care for your merino wool with consideration, and extend its life.
Hand-knits are lively and forgiving in structure, which is why they call for a little extra thought in your care and washing routines. The good news is that the best care for wool knitwear is actually to do as little as possible. Here is our best advice on exactly that.
Fresh air, dry frost and infrequent washing
Air your knitwear outdoors
Merino wool has properties from nature that mean it needs less care than you might think. When moisture is drawn away from the skin and bound in the structure of the wool fibre, the bacteria that make your clothes smell sour find it harder to get in. Many people therefore find that it does not smell the way synthetic clothing tends to. Often it is enough to let it hang overnight to remove unwanted odours from sweat or ordinary use.
Let the frost do the work
On extra cold days with frost or snow, you can lay or hang your knitwear outside for a couple of hours. The dry, cold air is effective at freshening up woollen clothes without exposing them to water. Bring the knitwear in before it becomes damp. Frost also works against moths – so if you suspect moths, you can place your knitwear outside or in the freezer for 24 hours.
Wash your hand-knits gently
When it is time to wash your woollen clothes, it should be done with care. Hand-knits are more forgiving in structure than what you buy ready-made, and therefore have a greater tendency to lose their shape, felt or shrink. That is why it is important to watch the temperature, handle the knitwear gently and always use wool wash.
You will find all the details about washing in our care guide. If you are washing your hand-knits for the first time, you can read the article “How to wash and block your hand-knits”.
