How to Care for Knitwear So It Keeps Its Shape

How to Care for Knitwear So It Keeps Its Shape

Knitwear fails in predictable ways: stretched shoulders, a saggy hem, pilling at the sides. All three come from handling rather than from the yarn.

Washing

Cold water, gentle cycle, and turn the piece inside out. Heat is what shrinks and felts fibres, so keep the temperature low and skip the tumble dryer entirely. Wash knitwear less often than you think — airing it overnight handles most wear.

Drying

Never hang a wet knit. The weight of the water pulls the shoulders and lengthens the body permanently. Press the water out in a towel, then reshape the garment and dry it flat.

Storing

Fold, do not hang. A hanger concentrates the whole weight of the garment on two points. Folded on a shelf, a sweater keeps its line for years.

Pilling

Small bobbles are friction, not a defect — they appear where the arm rubs the body. A fabric comb or a cheap sweater shaver removes them in a minute and the garment looks new again.

Care instructions specific to each piece are on its product page, under Care Guide.