♡A Handknitter's Guide to Superwash Yarns♡
HOW TO CHOOSE PROJECTS AND KNIT SUCCESSFULLY WITH SUPERWASH
I’m Kavitha. I write hand knitting patterns under the name CraftDoodling Designs. I love exploring fiber and techniques in my work. I believe learning and sharing is a beautiful way to connect, bond and uplift each other.
All artists must acknowledge and learn from Vision, Uncertainty, and Knowledge of Materials, according to David Bayles, the author of Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking.
Knitters are artists too in many ways. And the more familiar we make ourselves with our materials, the more likely we are to achieve desirable results.
Superwash wool is widely available in beautiful colors from commercial suppliers as well as hand-dyers. Yet, in many knitting forums, there are often discussions about a finished item over-stretching in the wash. In today's post, I am sharing my learnings on how to choose projects and knit successfully with superwash yarn.
Envision the future of your project
Start with the yarn label. It usually has information to help you decide whether a yarn is a good fit for a given project. Look for information about suggested method of washing (machine wash or hand wash), water temperature, method of drying (tumble dry or flat), and settings of washer/dryer (gentle cycle, low heat, etc.).
With this knowledge, try to envision the future of the item you are about to knit, investing several hours of your life. Is your item likely to be cared for by you or the recipient as expected? Would switching to a different type of yarn make the project more feasible?
Knowledge of Materials
Swatching is always a good idea! There is no better way for knitters to gain knowledge of a yarn's properties than by knitting and blocking a swatch. Here, I am just going to quote Yarn Whisper Clara Parke's advice for testing super wash yarn and leave it at that.
“Your best course of action is to buy a single skein of yarn and knit a sizable swatch with it. Wash the swatch and let it hang dry. Hanging handknits is normally a no-no, but in this case we want to induce stretching to see just how far it goes. If you find a superwash wool you like, you’ll only need to swatch it once to be sure. Then you can return to it again and again.” — The Knitter's Book of Yarn by Clara Parkes
Uncertainty
Not all superwash yarns are made equal. Depending on the processing they undergo, each one might behave differently. However, there are a few things we can address by our tools and knitting.
Dropped stitches may unravel faster compared to non-superwash yarn. If your superwash yarn feels too slippery on metal needles, try switching to wood or bamboo knitting needles.
In general, it is important to have even tension while knitting with superwash. Uneven knitting is more likely to get stretched out and look sloppy after washing. If your purls are way looser than knits, this especially would show up in ribbing or brioche projects. Go for spray blocking instead of wet blocking if you need your finished item to hold shape - e.g. a ribbed hat.
In my experience, socks usually don’t stretch too much out of shape and are often able to bounce back in the dryer. This, I attribute to the tight gauge in which socks are knit. My teen regularly throws the pairs I knit for her in the washer & dryer and they hold up pretty well.
An advice that is shared widely is to knit superwash sweaters using smaller needles in a tighter gauge than usual. I am definitely going to follow this when I knit my next one.
Lace shawls, summer garments with a drape are good choices to be knit with superwash. Cables that have to pop, steeked projects may not be ideal choices for superwash knitting.
While machine-washing, use a laundry bag, wool wash, and set in gentle cycle. If you are tumble-drying, use low heat until your item is half dry and then lay it flat until fully dry. In general, the gentler your washing process is, the longer your item will last.
What is your experience with superwash? Do you have any tips?
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LATEST OFFERING FROM CRAFTDOODLING DESIGNS
I recently published a collection of fall accessories, Cutilitarian Knits, which includes: 🍂☕️🧶
Amphi Mitts
Amar Hat
Vivir Shawl
Kiran Cowl
I used Malabrigo Arroyo 100% Superwash Merino for the entire collection and enjoyed working with the yarn, which comes in beautiful colors. The patterns are available as individual downloads or as an ebook on Ravelry & Payhip.
Hope you’ll enjoy knitting one or more patterns from the collection.
Until next time,
Kavitha.
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Nice write up Kavita! Keep up the good work.