Tips on care
Instructions for care
To ensure you can enjoy your hand-knitted items for years to come, it's essential to follow the care instructions on the yarn label. Below you'll find the most important tips on how to care for your knitwear.
Storage
Hand- (as well as machine) knitted items should always be stored flat. Do not hang them on clothes hangers, otherwise they may lose their shape and develop permanent creases, especially around the shoulders and neckline.
They should also be protected from direct sunlight, otherwise the colors may fade. To this day, there is still no way to dye wool so that it becomes completely lightfast.
Washing
First of all, be very careful! Always make sure your knitted garment is turned inside out, otherwise there might be too much friction, whether you wash it by hand or in the machine.
Use a liquid detergent – either a mild one or a special wool detergent. Harsh detergents, particularly those formulated for regular clothing, can strip away the natural oils in fibres like wool and cashmere, leading to dryness, stiffness, and even shrinkage over time. If a washing powder is used, there's still a possibility that residues may remain in the fabric. Do not use fabric softener for the same reason.
The "Easy Care" icon on yarn labels doesn't automatically mean that the yarn is machine washable. It simply indicates that it is easy to care for, requires no special precautions during washing, and dries quickly.
If you're unsure (or the label doesn't state otherwise), wash by hand!
Follow these tips:
Don't rub or press the item too much. Never brush, twist or wring your knitwear. Use cold or slightly tempered water and rinse several times with clean water. To remove excess water, place the item between two dry towels, roll them up into a "fabric burrito" and gently press out the remaining moisture (remember – don't wring!). If necessary, repeat the process using a fresh set of dry towels.
It's even better to select a wool programme, because the drum doesn't rotate a full 360°; instead, the items are gently rocked back and forth.
Regardless of which cycle you choose, always fill the machine to no more than two-thirds of its capacity.
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Wash at or below 30°C |
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Delicate wash, reduce load by one third |
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Special wool programme, reduce load by two thirds |
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Hand wash |
| The numbers inside the wash tub indicate the maximum washing temperature and should not be exceeded. A line underneath the symbol indicates that a delicate wash cycle should be used. | |
Drying
Knitted items must never be wrung out. After removing excess moisture as described above, place your item on a dry towel, gently pull or shape it if necessary, and leave it to air dry. Avoid direct sunlight, as colors may fade.
Most yarns are not suitable for tumble drying. However, if tumble drying is expressly permitted on the yarn label, always select the lowest temperature and the gentlest programme.
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Dry flat |
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Tumble dry on low heat (max. 60 °C) |
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Tumble dry on normal heat |
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Do not tumble dry |
| The dots inside the symbol indicate the drying temperature. | |
Chlorination
Chlorination is less common in Europe than in some other parts of the world, but detergents containing bleaching agents are available. However, such detergents should only be used if this is expressly permitted on the yarn label.
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Chlorination permitted |
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Do not chlorinate. Do not use detergents containing bleaching agents |
Dry Cleaning
Some yarns cannot be washed at all and must be dry-cleaned.
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Standard dry cleaning |
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Special dry cleaning for delicate textiles |
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Do not dry clean |
| The letters inside the symbol indicate which solvents may be used. A line underneath the symbol indicates that reduced mechanical action, moisture and temperature should be used during the dry-cleaning process. | |
Ironing
Thanks to its natural elasticity, wool is highly resistant to creases and wrinkles. Simply hang the item outdoors overnight or leave it in the bathroom while taking a hot shower. The humidity will help the creases disappear almost like magic.
If you do need to iron your knitwear, always use the lowest temperature setting – and only if ironing is explicitly permitted.
Even better, steam your garment instead. Do not let the iron come into direct contact with the fabric!
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Approx. 110°C |
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Approx. 150°C |
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Approx. 220°C |
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Do not iron |
One final tip
If you're unsure how to treat a specific stain (e.g. grease, ink, blood or make-up), ask a reputable dry cleaner for advice before taking any action.
Keep the original label from each ball of yarn and make a note of what you made with it. That way, you can always look up the correct care instructions for your favourite hand-knitted item.