How to Freshen Up Your Handknits for Fall

As sweater weather approaches my home near the southern beaches of North Carolina, I find myself wanting to dig out all my sweaters. It’s not quite time to pile on the layers of woolens yet, but preparing my sweaters for the season ahead is half the fun!

Even though laundry is the last chore I usually want to do, there’s something different about washing my handknitted sweaters. It’s fun to remember making each stitch that went into them, and anticipating the coziness they’ll bring all season long is energizing too.

For washing wool sweaters, you can use just about any gentle soap or shampoo, but if you’re wondering where to start, a dedicated wool wash is just the thing. I usually reach for my personal favorite, a bottle of lavender-scented Eucalan.

Eucalan is gentle enough for your treasured handknits.

How to Wash a Wool Sweater

Start with a basin of cool or lukewarm water. I like to use 18-quart dishpans, which are also useful for scouring fleece before spinning it into yarn. The beauty of these is that I don’t have to worry about occupying a sink