Yarn Washing & Care

Care
& washing

See the washing symbols explanation chart

You will find the specific washing and care instructions for each yarn on the ball bands and on every online colour chart (under the Care tab).

Here are a few additional tips for caring for the most popular fibres, so you can keep your garments in good condition.

General
tips

Wash garments using plenty of water, and if possible, separately. Never let them soak.

Wash dark colours separately. Dark colours often contain excess dye, so it is important to rinse the garment thoroughly until the water runs clear, to prevent the excess from affecting other colours in the same piece.

Only use detergents specifically designed for wool or other delicate fibres, or with a neutral pH and no dye.

Always reshape the garment and let it dry flat. Never expose it to direct sunlight.

Never put heavy garments to dry while still dripping. Avoid drying them on absorbent surfaces such as terry towels. In both cases, the garment may lose colour or its natural elasticity.

Note that heavy garments – e.g., in English rib or garter stitch – may stretch during wear or washing.

By yarn
type

ALPACA, MOHAIR, SILK AND UNTREATED WOOL

• Hand wash at 30°C (cold).
• Dissolve the detergent completely before adding the garment.
• Wash gently, do not rub!
• Rinse thoroughly.

COTTON, LINEN AND BLENDS

• Always machine wash at 40°C or 60°C depending on the label instructions. Washing at too high or too low a temperature can cause colours to run. If this happens, wash again at the correct temperature as shown on the label. Sticking to the correct temperature is very important.
• Do not use too much fabric softener.
• Choose wash cycles with a long rinse time.
• Cotton tends to shrink when washed; be sure to measure the garment before washing so you can reshape it correctly afterwards.
• Do not use a tumble dryer.

SUPERWASH TREATED WOOL

• Superwash treated wool should be machine washed on the wool/delicate cycle.
• Do not use fabric softener.

MERINO WOOL

3 of our merino yarns are superwash treated, which means the tip above applies. However, some other points are extremely important for the care of these yarns:

• When washing garments made of DROPS Baby Merino, DROPS Merino Extra Fine and DROPS Big Merino, it is important to strictly follow the care instructions on the label and colour chart.
• Merino wool should be machine washed at 40°C on the delicate cycle.
• Use a small amount of wool detergent (without enzymes or bleaching agents).
• NEVER use fabric softener (wool fibres become too soft and will stretch).
• Wash separately, with plenty of water.
• NEVER let it soak!
• NEVER leave damp garments in the washing machine for long!
• NEVER hang to dry; instead, lay the garments flat in shape.

WOOL AND SILK

• We generally advise against machine washing, except for Superwash treated wools, because even a wool cycle can cause garments to lose their shape and, in the worst cases, shrink. Qualities that contain silk may also lose their colour.
• Gently spin the garments in a pillowcase, or roll them in a towel and press to extract moisture.
• Never use a tumble dryer for wool – the garment will shrink!
• Any irregularities in the stitches will smooth out after washing or after a light steam.
• Remember, never iron or press a damp or dry garment. Never steam textured stitches such as cables. Never iron or steam-block silk.
• For steam blocking, preferably use a steam iron, or a classic iron with a pressing cloth placed between the iron and the garment. NOTE! Garments should never be ironed!

Always keep the ball bands – they are your guarantee! For us to process your claim, we need both the ball bands and the knitted garment.

Washing
symbols