Knitwear Care

I love natural fibres and I have a feeling that's what makes my knits so soft and cosy to wear. But keeping them soft and beautiful requires effort. Please follow these simple steps and you'll keep yours looking (and feeling) lovely for years to come.

Pilling:

Contrary to popular belief, pilling is quite normal and doesn't mean your jumper is poor quality. In most cases, those tiny bobbles of fluff are caused by friction, but regular washing can help to keep them at bay. Before you put your jumper in the wash, I recommend using a pilling comb to de-pill your knitwear of those bobbles. Following the length of the garment, draw the comb gently but firmly over the affected area. Once they are removed, wash as instructed on the care label. Follow this ritual regularly and you should find your knitwear is bobble-free for life.

​

Shedding:

Pets do it, but jumpers... really? Yes. Certain natural fibres such as mohair, alpaca and cashmere have a tendency to shed the first few times you wear them. To prevent excess shedding, use a lint brush or roller to frequently remove any stray hair from your garment.

 

General washing instructions:

• Firstly, I encourage you to wash knitwear less and air more. By airing your knitwear, you can give it a chance to breathe and relax and keep it lovely and fresh. Wool is clever, it's naturally breathable, resistant to odour and dirt. By washing less you will not only save time, but you'll save water too. Every little bit can make a big difference to looking after our lovely planet

• Always follow the care label for washing instructions

• Remember to always use a delicate laundry liquid and never bleach, as this will break down the fibres.

• Treat stains with liquid detergent. Never rub, as this will encourage pilling

• Re-shape the garment whilst damp, taking special care, as wet knitwear fibres can stretch out of shape

• Dry flat, away from sunlight or direct heat sources

• Never tumble dry knitwear

• Once dry, press lightly on the reverse side with a cool iron
   

MACHINE WASH:

• Following the general washing instructions

• Ensure you select the correct setting on your machine as stated on the care label. Always follow the correct temperature so garment keeps its shape and appearance

• Wash inside out. This helps prevent friction against other garments in the washing machine and reduce pilling.

• Remove from the washing machine immediately after the washing cycle has ended
   

HAND WASH:

• Following the general washing instructions

• Wash in cool water with a delicate laundry liquid. Never soak wool as this may cause your knitwear to shrink

• Gently squish the water through the fabric. Don't rub, wring or stretch the garment

• Rinse thoroughly in clean cool water using the same squishing action until the water is clear

• Gently squeeze out excess water (alternatively, use the shortest, most delicate spin in the washing machine), taking care not to stretch your garment
   

DRY CLEANING:

I know it's a pain, so I will try not to use 'dry cleaning only' care instructions in my garments unless it's absolutely necessary. But occasionally some garments just can't be cleaned any other way. This may be due to the size of the garment or the type of knit structure.

​Dry cleaning is the best way to deal with stains that washing cannot remove.
​

STORING KNITWEAR:

The best way to store your knitwear is to fold and keep it flat, as this will help to keep it's shape. Always store clean garments in cool, dry places. Moths aren't so much attracted to the fibre, but to stains, perspiration or body oils on a garment.

• ALTERNATIVES TO MOTHBALLS

  Cedar wood balls are a good, modern, natural alternative to traditional mothballs. They've got a nice scent, and are effective at repelling moths, mildew and mustiness. We recommend replacing cedar balls every 6-12 weeks.