Washing and Blocking Wool and Other Animal Fibers

Need some help washing your wool garment? Or maybe you have something made of other natural animal fibers, like alpaca, llama, cashmere, etc ?  Here are a few of my top suggestions and a few links to help you learn more about the process.

What kind of detergent to use? My preferred wool wash is a brand called Soak. A few drops into a basin are all that's needed. It doesn't require any rinsing and it comes in pleasant scents, including scentless. Other popular wool washes are Eucalan and Kookaburra and can be found online or at your local yarn store. 

In a pinch, you can also use baby shampoo.  Just be sure to rinse your knit carefully.  Run the water into the basin and then put your handknit into the water.  Water should never be poured over or water ran from the spigot straight onto your hand wash only knits.

Here's a link to a post I did about washing wool.  This is more specifically geared towards washing wool diaper covers, but it details the specifics of how to be delicate with your knits and how I roll out them to dry in a towel. Please use COLD water for your most delicate handknits.  

Tin Can Knits has a great simple guide to washing and blocking as well.  

Here's a quick video if you are more of a visual learner. 

(She's missing the part where you roll the item in a towel before laying out to block. I also don't roll my knitwear around in the water. A simple push down into the water is enough.)

A few last tips on washing.

   * Handknits don't require washing with every wear.  I often wear a handknit for the entire season before washing.  After wearing allow your handknit to air out a bit before putting it away.  

  * A bottle of wool wash will last for a long time, so don't let the sticker shock scare you from buying a bottle.

A few last tips on blocking.

    * Always use rust proof pins to block. Quilters T pins or daisy top pins are great so you can see them.

    * It takes a bit of time and space to block your knits, but its worth it.

    * Lace will look like a mess after its washed. So blocking is required. 

    * You can block on any surface that allows the space to spread out your knit. Many people lay a towel on a spare bed and block there. Rubber interlocking mats are inexpesive, easy to use and store. The cheapest ones are the ABC mats found in the children's section.  An ironing board is a great surface for a small item.  Just remember that it may take some time to dry your item.

   

Hope these tips help to de-mystify hand washing and blocking wool handknits.  While there is some time and effort required, it's a very simple process and a worthy investment in the life of your handknit.  

~Melody

I'll be writing about how to store your knits next!