Cone yarn, particularly yarn sourced from factory stock, often carries a light technological coating applied during production to make machine processing easier. This coating washes out with the first few washes, and the yarn opens up: it becomes softer, fluffier, and shows its true character. This is completely normal and expected. It is one more reason why swatching and washing your swatch two or three times before starting a project gives you a much more accurate picture of how the finished fabric will actually look and feel.
Washing
Always hand wash items made from carded merino, cashmere, alpaca, silk.
• use water no warmer than 30 degrees Celsius
• choose a gentle detergent, ideally one formulated for wool or containing lanolin.
• avoid any product with enzymes or bleach.
• do not rub, wring, or agitate the fabric. Simply submerge the item, gently press it through the water, and let it soak for a few hours or even overnight.
Rinsing
•rinse in water at exactly the same temperature you used for washing. A sudden change in temperature can cause wool and other natural fibers to shrink or felt.
•gently press the garment with your hands to remove excess water.
• never twist or wring
Drying
• roll the item in a clean dry towel and press firmly to absorb as much water as possible.
• then lay it flat on a fresh towel or blocking mat, reshape it by hand to its correct dimensions, and leave it to dry naturally.
•never hang a wet knitted or crocheted item, as the weight of the water will stretch it out of shape.
•keep it away from direct sunlight and heat sources, both of which can damage natural fibers.
Ironing and Steaming
Most finished pieces do not need ironing if they have been properly blocked while damp. Alternatively, use a steamer to get rid of wrinkles or even refresh a knitted piece after wearing.
Pilling
Pilling is a natural characteristic of many high-quality natural yarns, especially those with shorter fibers such as carded cashmere, wool or merino. It is not a sign of poor quality. Unlike the pilling on acrylic items — where broken synthetic filaments cling to the surface indefinitely — natural fiber pills can be cleanly removed, leaving the fabric underneath intact and soft.
•to remove pills, use a fabric shaver or carefully trim them with small scissors.
•never pull pills off by hand, as this damages the surrounding fibers and accelerates further pilling.
Storage
•store finished knitwear folded, never on hangers. Hanging stretches garments over time, distorting the shoulders and body of the piece.
•use boxes or fabric storage bags rather than sealed plastic containers: natural fibers need to breathe, and plastic traps moisture which can lead to mildew.
•to protect against moths, place small sachets of lavender, cedar, or eucalyptus in the storage area.
•check stored items periodically, particularly at the start of each season.
Care at a glance
Keep these rules in mind every time you wash and store your finished pieces:
✔always swatch first and wash the swatch 2-3 times to see how the yarn truly behaves after the factory coating washes out.
✔hand wash only, in water up to 30 degrees Celsius, with a gentle wool-safe detergent.
✔rinse at the same temperature to prevent felting or shrinkage.
✔dry flat on a towel, shaped by hand. Never hang wet knitwear.
✔iron with a cloth or steam only on the lowest setting. Never touch the iron directly to the fabric.
✔remove pills with a fabric shaver or scissors, never by hand.
✔store folded in fabric bags or boxes, with lavender or cedar to keep moths away.
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