Is there anything more fun than finding beautiful new handmade baby wear? Dressing babies up in all sorts of fancy regalia will always be entertaining and it’s great to see them with their own personal style… but it’s important to know how to take care of their clothes, especially if they’re made from wool.
Where hand-knitted clothes and blankets are concerned, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and wash items by hand, otherwise the yarn could shrink or felt – and before you know it, you’ll be dressing your child’s dolls and teddy bears, instead of getting them all dolled up.
Always check to see what garments are made of before their first wash. If they’re knitted using something like acrylic, linen or cotton, then it should be fine to put them in the washing machine on a gentle cycle and a cold wash. If, however, they’re knitted up using wool, then always make sure you wash them by hand.
Hand-washing isn’t hard but you need to make sure you’re using a gentle detergent and there are some specific wool detergents you can buy, which might be a wise move.
Simply fill the sink or a bowl with some cold or cool water and mix your choice of detergent in, then submerge your item completely. Gently massage your knitwear in the water to clean it, but don’t be rough and never wring or scrub the garment as you could change its shape and pull the yarn.
Rinse your clothing in cold water until the water runs clear, then gently remove any excess water (without wringing) and place your items on a dry towel. Roll them up and press firmly as you do, then lay the towel out on the floor or another flat surface, reshaping items if needed. Leave to air dry.
