how to wash hand knitting

We'll talk you through the process and use photographs to show you the best way to make this task effortless.

Does your work actually need washing prior to finishing can best be answered by its appearance. Does it look fresh or grubby?

If you've made your item in a few days, stored it in your knitting bag, and not allowed your ball of wool to roll around the floor – then your knitting will be sufficiently clean to finish off without hand washing.

Just move straight on to blocking your knitting.

However, wash hand knitting if it looks less than fresh.

washing handknitting

There are three keys elements to successfully wash hand knitting that has not yet been finished off :

• 1. temperature very warm but not too hot for your hands.
  

• 2. wool wash good quality, specifically for woollens.
• 3. handling the wet piece the key is to be gentle. Support the wet piece, don't allow it to stretch.

Step 1 - decide where to wash your knitting

Decide where you will wash your item. When I have a small item – scarf, bag, tote – to wash I use a laundry tub or bathroom hand basin. But when I have several pieces to wash at one time such as a jumper or cardigan, I find it easier to lay them out in a bath.

Decide where you will dry your item. After hand washing knitting your piece needs to dry flat, in a warm place – but not in direct sunlight. I used to lay work on an old, but clean fly-screen, up off the ground on a couple of bricks. But I now find it more convenient to lay pieces on a pool lounge on the verandah, more breeze and faster drying.

This is one of the keys to success, you want speedy but safe drying. Obviously if you have a choice don't wash your knitting on a cold wet day. It will take far longer to dry. If it's natural wool it will tend to be smelly, even synthetic yarn won't have that lovely fresh, just washed smell.

Step 2 - gather your equipment

Gather your materials and equipment -

• piece or pieces to wash
  

• wool wash or wool mix as described above
  

• 1 or 2 old towels. Clean. Use old towels your are certain no longer bleed their colour when wet.
  

After you have your items on hand prepare your water to hand hot temperature. By that I mean it feels hot but you could comfortably leave your hands in the water for 5 minutes or so.

Add your wool wash – according to the amounts stated on the label, stir the water to mix thoroughly. DO NOT add the wool mix first under a running tap. You'll have bubbles everywhere making the job a lot harder for yourself.

Next – lay your item or items in the water and dunk them so they are covered. Don't rub, squeeze or do anything else at this stage. Just let them lie there covered in water.

Depending on the type of yarn you used you may need to push them down and hold them for a while until the water soaks through.

Go and enjoy a cold drink or a cup of tea. Your knitting needs to soak for 10 minutes or so. This lets the dirt loosen without you stressing the fibres.

Step 4 - rinsing

When you return put your hand in the water - judge and remember the temperature.

Gather your piece up in your hand, supporting its weight and remove the tub, basin or bath plug.

Once the water has drained away press your hand-full of knitting against the side of the basin to remove most of the excess water still contained in your piece. Do not wring - you'll stretch it out of shape.

Lay your piece aside and re-fill your basin with fresh water – as close to the same temperature as the water you just removed.

Keeping the temperature for washing and rinsing as even as possible means less shock to your knitting and less likelihood or shrinking or matting. This is particularly important if your yarn is a natural fibre.

To rinse - simply place your knitting back into the clean water, push down on it several times - then remove it from the basin and squeeze out excess moisture as previously.

Step 5 - removing moisture.

To speed up the drying process remove as much moisture as possible without stressing or stretching your piece – remember to always support its weight.

Lay one of your towels flat on a clean floor or table. Lay your piece or pieces on the towel leaving about 30 cms ( 12 inches) of the towel either end free.

Roll the edges of the towel over your knitting to make a sausage.

Stand on one end and twist. This will remove almost all the moisture from your washed hand knitting.

Step 6 - Drying ready to block The final step is to dry your knitting ready to block and finish off.

Carry your washed hand knitting still contained within the sausage to your drying location. Remove your knitting and lay the piece flat. If necessary gently pull your knitting back into shape ? do not stretch.

Let dry. If you don't have air flow under your item, turn it at least once during the drying period, this allows both sides of the stitches to dry more evenly, and will of course be quicker. Once dried you are now ready to block your hand knitting.

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