Washing Your Handmade Yarn Garments

A Little Wash Goes A Long Way

Handknit and crocheted projects deserve a little extra care! With gentle washing and proper drying, your handmade pieces can last for years, even generations. While care instructions may vary slightly depending on the fiber, the best overall practice for all Hue Loco yarns is to gently hand wash in cold water and lay flat to dry. We always recommend hand washing your handmade items; however, any yarn labeled superwash can technically be machine laundered if you choose.

 

Washing Your Handmade Garments

The best way to clean garments made with Hue Loco yarns is by hand washing. Fill a bowl, bucket, or clean sink with cold water, and add a small amount of wool wash. Submerge the garment and allow it to soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Avoid agitation during this time and do not scrub, twist, or wring the fabric. These movements can stress the fibers, distort stitches, and increase the chances of felting. When removing the garment from the water, lift it carefully and support its weight. Knit and crochet fabrics can stretch when wet, so handling them gently helps maintain their shape.

After soaking, it is best to remove excess moisture without twisting the fabric. Lay the garment flat on a clean towel, then roll the towel up. Apply pressure along the roll to help the towel absorb water from the fibers.

 

How To Dry Your Handmade Garments

After excess water is removed (see above), handmade yarn garments should always be laid flat to dry. Gently reshape the piece if needed, and allow it to air dry naturally. Laying the garment on blocking mats can help air circulate underneath the fabric and often speeds up the drying process. You can also place a fan nearby to encourage airflow. Flipping the garment halfway through drying can help moisture evaporate evenly. We never recommend putting handknit or crocheted items in the dryer, as heat and agitation can damage fibers and cause shrinking.

Washing Mohair, Suri and Alpaca Blends

Fibers with a halo, such as Mohair, Suri Alpaca, and Alpaca blends, require particularly gentle care. Our Mohair and Suri bases, along with our Aran base (which contains alpaca), should be handled with extra care when washing. These fibers can felt if they are rubbed or agitated in water. Treating these fibers gently helps preserve their soft halo and texture.

Hand Washing vs. Machine Washing

You'll see that some Hue Loco yarn blends have "superwash" in the name. These yarns have been treated to withstand machine washing and can typically be laundered on a gentle cycle in cold water. Even so, we still highly recommend hand washing your handmade items. Hand washing places far less stress on both the fiber and the stitch structure of a garment. Washing machines introduce agitation and friction that can gradually weaken fibers, distort stitches, and shorten the lifespan of a handmade item.

If you do choose to use a washing machine for superwash yarns, placing the item in a mesh laundry bag and selecting a gentle cycle can help limit excess movement and provide additional protection for the fabric.

Yarns that are not labeled superwash should never be machine laundered. Our Mohair, Suri, and Wild bases are non-superwash and should always be washed by hand.

Mixing Yarns

Sometimes makers choose to combine yarns in a project, using Hue Loco hand dyed yarn for one part of a garment and a more affordable option for another. Mixing yarns can work beautifully, but it is important to remember that varied fibers and yarn qualities can respond very differently to laundering. If a project is machine washed or dried, you may notice that Hue Loco yarn retains its structure and integrity better than lower quality alternative yarns. When yarns of different qualities are used together, the most delicate or vulnerable fiber in the project should dictate how the finished piece is washed and cared for.

A Note on Caring For Handmade Items

Every handknit or crocheted item carries significant time, craftsmanship, and creativity within it. Taking a few extra minutes to carefully wash and dry these treasured pieces helps ensure that they remain beautiful and wearable for many years to come!