Spring Cleaning Your Knits

As the days become increasingly warmer, it’s time to put away your winter woolies. As knitters, we recommend this simple ‘spring cleaning’ routine to ensure that your sweaters (whether handknit or not) look good each season and are ready to enjoy when fall rolls around again.

At the end of the winter season, our winter gear can look a bit worn – and that’s great because it means you’ve been wearing and loving it! These three steps will help you freshen up your garments before storing them away and keep them looking their best year after year.

 

 

Step One: Wash

Most of us cringe when we hear the term ‘handwash only.’ Maybe we still picture someone bent over an old-timey washboard, working for hours at a tedious task. But modern wool washes are incredibly easy and fast to use! The benefits are noticeable – handwashing delicate items, even those in superwash fibers, extends the life of the garment – saving it from unnecessary agitation in the washing machine.

We carry two wool washes at fibre space, Soak and Eucalan (available in-store only, in a variety of scents.) Both of these are no-rinse wool washes. You simply fill a basin or sink with water, add a bit of wool wash, and let the garment soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Then, roll it up in a towel to press out excess water, and lay it flat to dry, reshaping as necessary. That’s it! Those pesky critters that eat holes in clothing are attracted to the dead skin cells that we leave on clothing, so giving everything a fresh wash before storage helps keep them at bay.

For garments that see a little more action (toddler sweaters and handknit socks, for example), we recommend this handcrafted Sock Soap. This all-natural soap contains lanolin, which acts as a softening agent and conditions your wool and natural fibers. Bonus – it also softens skin! Simply lather this soap into a sink of water with your garments and let them soak for 10 to 20 minutes. Rinse if desired, drain the water, and lay flat to dry.

 

 

Step Two: Freshen Up

After you have washed and dried your garments, you may notice some areas that need a little extra love. This is a great time to freshen up your garments for next season! If your garment has pilling, you can use a Gleener to remove those pills (bonus – it has a lint brush on the other side!) See our previous Stylebook article for a detailed how-to of using this hand tool to remove those pills.

Inspect your winter gear for any little holes, missing buttons, etc. Fixing them now means that they will be ready to wear as soon as the temperature drops. Most fixes are quick – a little stitch here or there to close a small hole. This little sewing compact has all of the tools you need. For larger holes, you can try your hand at the trend of visible mending – see our previous article for more details.

 

 

Step Three: Store

Moths and carpet beetles (the enemies of natural fibers) like dark, undisturbed places to feast on clothes. Choose spaces that you can routinely access (aka not the very back of the closet) to check for insect activity. You can also store them in a bin or sealed container. We recommend using natural deterrents, like these Vetiver Root Hearts. It is a natural insect repellent. Hang one of these with your handmade garments, or tuck it into a mesh bag to store inside of totes and long-term storage.

 

Whether your favorite sweater is handmade or store-bought, this simple spring cleaning routine will lengthen the lifetime of your garments and keep them style-ready for seasons to come.

 

  • The latest from Danielle
Danielle, owner of the fibre space shop, has been knitting since the age of six or so, when she completed her first project – a Cabbage Patch doll scarf. A Pittsburgh native with a degree in international development, she moved to the D.C. area to find a job and quickly established a career in non profit management and fundraising. For extra cash, she decided to turn her hobby into a job and taught knitting classes in the evening at area shops. With a heavy dose of sarcasm and a tough love style of teaching, Danielle quickly developed a following of students – busy D.C. professionals looking for a creative outlet. In October 2006, she struck out on her own with Knit-a-Gogo, Inc. – offering knitting classes and events all over the D.C. metro area. Before she knew it, Knit-a-Gogo had grown out of control and Danielle moved to the next natural step – a full service yarn shop. In July 2009 fibre space was born and has been rockin’ ever since. When she isn’t behind the scenes with a mocha in hand, Danielle is hanging with her daughter or lobbying for small business needs at City Hall.

fibre space™ specializes in unique yarns and fibres from hand dyed, independent, local and U.S.-made sources for knitting, crochet & spinning. Enjoy our wide selection of classes, designer workshops, yarn tastings, movie nights & more. Join the community in our comfy lounge, and let the helpful staff at fibre space™ get you started on your next handmade creation!

www.fibrespace.com

1319 Prince Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

703.664.0344

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