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sanity101
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
594 Posts |
 Posted - 05/26/2005 : 05:20:21 AM
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So where was the option for 'I just throw it in anyway whether it said washable or not'
Within reason of course, but if it's sturdy, well spun wool, into the washer it goes. (cold water, super-delicate cycle, in a little mesh baggie thing)
I do wash a swatch first to see if anything drastic happens, but I have items from Beaverslide Dry Goods, and Rowan Felted Tweed that I've washed several times like that. They both 'bloom' a bit but I wouldn't call it pilling, and there wasn't any shrinkage as though it had felted. I actually prefer the softer texture they got...it's very subtle.
-C |
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Valk_scot
Permanent Resident
United Kingdom
1281 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2005 : 06:31:18 AM
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I machine wash quite a few of my woolies....but I made an error last time I washed a sweater that I must have machine wased x-teen times. I had left a pair of my three year old daughter`s jeans in the machine. The extra agitation that the jeans suppied felted the sweater...oopps.
It was a pretty old sweater and I felted it properly into a new knitting bag, so not wasted. But I`ll check there`s nothing stuck to the roof of the washing drum next time.
Val.
[img]http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_9_21.gif[/img] |
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greengirl
Seriously Hooked
Taiwan
679 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2005 : 06:36:06 AM
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I'm pretty cavalier about throwing store bought sweaters into the washing machine (regardless of manufacturer's label... unless it's my cashmere, of course), but I haven't yet brought myself to do this with handknits. I guess it's a clear double standard.
"Strange, isn't it..... we sometimes think someone else's life is more interesting then our own......while all the while the classic story could be all around us."--from Jennifer Avalon's essay: Soap Opera |
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pjkite
Permanent Resident
1198 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2005 : 12:02:08 PM
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I'm pretty compulsive about laundry, especially of my hand-knits or handwovens. BUT since I'm not the only person in my house who does laundry... I mark my stuff (mostly socks) according to whether they can be machine washed and dried (green duplicate stitch on the bottom of the toe), machine washed only (yellow stitching), or hand-wash only (red stitching). I do the same with sweaters, usually along the inside neckline.
So far, it's worked well, except for one pair of merino-silk handspun socks that my SIL (who thought she was helping while I was ill) threw in with jeans. But they weren't completely wasted, since they now fit my 3 yo grand-daughter perfectly!
Pamela Kite
East Tennessee
http://fiberlife.blogspot.com/
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knitz2
Permanent Resident
USA
1800 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2005 : 12:21:42 PM
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| Sorry, I just don't have the patience/inclination to spend time with hand laundry so one of the first qualities I look for in yarn, especially socks, is machine washability. It will be the very rare item I will make with the knowledge that I must hand wash it. So, really, my answer is not based on whether I follow the washing instructions on the yarn but on my selection of the yarn to begin with. |
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Luann
Permanent Resident
USA
2610 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2005 : 12:31:45 PM
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My husband does the laundry, so anything that needs blocking or other special attention I put aside and wash myself. The laundry room is in the basement, where his music studio and the bike workshop are. That's his domain - I only go down there if I'm going to felt something! Upstairs on the 2nd floor is my domain, and the bathroom has a big clawfoot tub that is perfect for sweater washing. So I just save up the hand washing and have a laundry day every once in a while. Much easier than giving him anxiety over treating things right, or me getting mad because something got wrecked.
Luann
Knit and let knit! |
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Martheme
Sustaining Member
USA
1565 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2005 : 12:41:39 PM
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Hi,
I do all our laundry, except that the machine is upstairs in the hall outside my MIL's apt. Sometimes, if I leave things in the washer she moves them to the dryer. Generally very helpful, however I have had a few pairs of socks that have been dried once too many times and now need darning.
Recently, I've started just putting them all side and tossing them in a bucket or the kitchen sink, much safer.
Anything larger than socks only sees the inside of the washing machine on the spin only cycle. They dry much faster after a visit in the machine, much, much faster.
just my 2 cents,
Martheme
visit my sites:
http://www.inspirationsyarn.com & http://martheme.blogspot.com/ |
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phlame
Permanent Resident
USA
1547 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2005 : 5:34:24 PM
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Aha...there is some response to this poll other than the posted answers! My answer didn't exactly fit and of those. So I definitely agree with -C! 
Shirley in Claremont, CA (& soon , Dana Point)
I can resist everything except temptation.
-- Oscar Wilde |
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Wen
Permanent Resident
Australia
3242 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2005 : 8:29:57 PM
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The only reason I don't machine wash my woollens (I used to ) is that the machine is a monster that eats all handknits. I think its the agitator, it rubs against a stitch until it cuts it and the whole thing falls apart before the cycle is finished. My washbags are all too small for jumpers...
I'm never buying another maytag.
Wen
2005 stats: 7 FO, 9 WIP, 1 frogpond.
http://photos.yahoo.com/whdayus |
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celia
Permanent Resident
Australia
2454 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2005 : 8:41:04 PM
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Wen, I bought my washing bag from Raget (or was it KMart?) and it cost about $5. It's huge! I can and do fit a whole jumper in mine, and I think my jumpers are bigger :)
celia
My blog is here
http://celiaknits.blogspot.com |
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Wen
Permanent Resident
Australia
3242 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2005 : 8:54:59 PM
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Thanks Celia I'll have a look next time I'm at the shops.
Wen
2005 stats: 7 FO, 9 WIP, 1 frogpond.
http://photos.yahoo.com/whdayus |
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Tam
Permanent Resident
Australia
2810 Posts |
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Wen
Permanent Resident
Australia
3242 Posts |
Posted - 05/26/2005 : 10:49:21 PM
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yes but you have a machine that won't allow you to felt!
Wen
2005 stats: 7 FO, 9 WIP, 1 frogpond.
http://photos.yahoo.com/whdayus |
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Tam
Permanent Resident
Australia
2810 Posts |
Posted - 05/27/2005 : 12:27:51 AM
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I have felted 5 pairs of slippers and a french market bag in my washing machine.
Happy Knitting,
Tam in Melbourne
http://photos.yahoo.com/lillysmum2002
2005 Stats: 3 WIPs, 15 FOs
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