Wish I knew this before I ruined my wool sweaters.
"Why did it shrink?!"
"Why did it stretch so much?!"
We've likely all experienced the heartbreak of opening the washing machine to find a beloved wool sweater transformed into a shrunken mess. While we often blame ourselves for choosing the wrong cycle, the truth is the "wool" cycle might be missing a crucial label: "superwash only."
In this Esenote, I'll share essential information for beginner knitters (and anyone who loves wool sweaters!) to help you avoid such disasters. We'll explore which hand-knitted wool garments can be machine-washed and which require gentle hand washing.
My first wool sweater catastrophe.
One fateful laundry day, my first and most beloved Mellow Mood sweater decided to become a shrunken, felted disaster.
Why did that happen? I washed it in the washing machine on a "wool" cycle. "Why not?" I thought. "This is wool, this is a wool cycle. So what's the problem?"
The problem is, I knitted it with regular, non-superwash wool yarn and didn't pay attention to the care instructions. Big mistake.
Here's the crucial point: regular wool, the type we most commonly use, cannot be washed in the washing machine, even on a wool or delicate cycle.
Okay, how can you recognize this wool yarn? The yarn label won't say "superwash."
My second wool sweater mishap
Next up, I bought some incredibly soft Extra Fine Merino wool yarn by Drops. It was pleasant to touch, not itchy at all, but the texture was unusual. Superwash, it said. Great! But here's the thing: "superwash" tells me nothing. Perhaps they wash it, who knows? 😉
I knitted a swatch and was shocked to see it nearly double in size after wet-blocking. Still, I went ahead and knitted the Weekend Glow sweater in my usual size.
And guess what? I had to shorten the sleeves and body by about 15 cm/ 6 inches after washing and blocking.
Why did that happen? Superwash wool yarn is known for being very stretchy due to its special treatment. Surprise!
Choosing the right yarn for your project
When choosing yarn for your next project, consider not only yarn weight, color, and composition, but also whether it's superwash or non-superwash.
Superwash wool yarn is chemically treated to be machine-washable and incredibly soft, making it a dream for those who dislike itchy wool sweaters. However, it's highly elastic, so watch out for potential stretching.
Remember, never use fabric softener with superwash wool yarn – it's already received plenty of treatment and fabric softener might ruin it.
Non-superwash wool yarn, on the other hand, is the more traditional wool yarn you might be familiar with. While not machine-washable, it's generally more forgiving. A little uneven tension here and there? No one will notice with regular wool yarn.
So, the verdict? It truly depends on your priorities. I personally love the softness of superwash wool yarn, and with a few tricks like swatching, lifelines, and adjusting the length after wet-blocking, I can manage the stretching.
However, if you're a beginner, non-superwash might be a better choice, especially if you're comfortable hand-washing your knitwear.
Free yarn guides
To simplify your yarn choice, I’ve created free yarn guides for Worsted and Aran weight yarn, each featuring over 20 different yarns.
These guides include popular yarns, and by tapping the yarn name, you'll be redirected to the store. For yarns like Drops, you can find local sellers by moving to the "Find a store" section and typing your country.
Download them on my website in the section “Goodies”.
📔 This Week's Esenotes Spotlight: The Aosta Summer Top 2.0 by The Knit Purl Girl.
This is a fantastic pattern for advanced beginners who are eager to try something new. I absolutely adore the “waffle” stitch pattern – it has a charmingly vintage feel, reminiscent of 1960s fashion.
After browsing finished projects on Ravelry, I was impressed by how well this top flatters different body types and ages.
Why You'll Love It:
Vintage Vibes: The Andalusian stitch might be familiar, but the design gives it a charmingly vintage feel.
Beginner-Friendly: This is a basic top-down raglan sweater with short rows. It's a great choice if you're looking to challenge yourself with a more intricate stitch pattern than basic stockinette.
Yarn Options: The pattern offers a variety of yarn choices. (Stay tuned for my upcoming DK weight yarn guide in a few weeks!)
Size Inclusive: The pattern is size-inclusive, with chest measurements ranging from 75 to 155 cm (29.5-61 inches).
🧶 The perfect yarn pairing: Sadnes Garn Line.
This yarn is very similar to Drops Belle, which I featured in a previous email (both are 53% cotton, 33% viscose, and 14% linen). However, after knitting swatches with both yarns, I found that Sandnes Garn Line is even softer and more pleasant to the touch. I believe this difference is likely due to the quality of the fibers used.
While Sandnes Garn Line carries a higher price tag than Drops Belle, it's a reasonable substitute if you're looking for a similar yarn with a luxurious feel.
Here's a helpful tip: when replacing wool yarn with plant-based yarn, consider going down a needle size or even knitting a smaller size overall. Plant-based yarns tend to be heavier and can stretch more than wool, so adjusting your approach can help achieve the desired gauge and fit.
❤️ I hope this Esenote was useful and inspiring!
Warm regards,
Julia Piro
Knitwear Designer & Esenotes Curator
P.S. Looking for even more inspiration? Follow me on Instagram or Facebook!