Care of Knits

In answer to question that have arisen, I personally do use Woolite. When I was a teenager, we used Ivory or Lux Flakes, and I still would if they were available.

As far as replacing oil is concerned, that applies only to sheep’s wool. Llama, alpaca, and goats (cashmere, mohair) don’t produce lanolin.

Care of Wool Sweaters from:

Fair Isle Sweaters Simplified, Anna Bougeois, Eugene Bougeois, Martingale & Co, 2000,

Makers of Philosopher’s wool advise a couple of squirts of dish detergent in warm to your hands water; no “Woolite or Zero – they will spoil the feel of Philosopher’s wool”. “Allow the sweater to soak for a few minutes. Then swish around in the water. Drain and refill the sink with equally warm water and rinse your sweater two or three times until the water is more or less clear.” Dry flat. The lanolin in the wool may be replaced with a teaspoon of baby oil in the final rinse water. (The lanolin is what makes fisherman and fair isle sweater water resistant.)

“If you have lacquered wooden buttons, now is the time to rub a little oil into each to restore luster.” (I think this would apply also to leather buttons.)

*I have a copy of this book available on Amazon.com.

Found on Knitting Daily @ Interweave.com newsletter;

Allison Van Zandt, owner of Simply Socks Yarn Company online store advises:

Rinse socks separately before washing with other items. While dye shouldn’t run, super saturated colors might.

• Turn socks inside out when washing. That way the inside of the sock gets a fuzzy halo over time, and not the outside.

• Consider washing..socks..in a small mesh bag in machine so they don’t catch on zippers.(and hooks)

• Don’t wash socks in hot water. (Don’t wash any knitted item, wool or not, in hot water.) Even socks labeled “superwash” could felt or shrink a bit.

• Lay socks flat to dry. Over time, machine drying will lessen stitch definition and make socks look worn. The intense heat of drying might also break down fibers.

I feel that this advice applies to all knitted items. Of course large flat items can’t be turned inside out, but all other precautions can be followed.