After featuring Campbell’s of Beauly on our blog previously (here) we thought a follow up piece on ‘How to care for your knitwear’ would make a great read in our ‘Paton Life’ magazine. Thank you so much Nicola for educating the Paton & Co community on how to ensure we achieve longevity from our beautiful knitwear.
Campbell’s of Beauly is renowned for high quality Scottish-made knitwear and specialises in Shetland wool, lambswool, and the ultimate luxury: cashmere. Founded in 1858, generations of families and international visitors have shopped with this historic brand. Although high quality knitwear can be expensive, it’s well worth the initial investment when an old favourite is still serving you well after years of wear.
But laundry mishaps can happen. Have you ever pulled a much-loved jumper from the washing machine only to discover that it’s shrunk to half its size? Most of us have been there at least once, so we asked Nicola Sugden of Campbell’s of Beauly for her top tips on how to care for your knitwear, ensuring that each piece can be enjoyed for years to come.
– Hand wash all knitwear at 30-40°C – but what does that actually feel like to touch? Think body temperature, so a little warmer than you might imagine.
– Hand washing in cold water can be as damaging as washing in hot water as the natural fibres are ‘shocked’ and shrink in either extreme hot or cold temperatures.
– Use a high quality soap to wash your knitwear. Nicola recommends the natural Woolly Wash at Campbell’s of Beauly; it’s made with lanolin which is a natural by-product from wool.
– When rinsing your knitwear, again keep the temperature of the water at 30-40°C.
– Do not rub or wring your knitwear when it’s wet; we recommend putting your garment on a gentle spin in your washing machine.
– Lay knitwear out on a towel to dry. Do not hang your knitwear as the weight of the water left in the piece will cause it to droop and sag.
– A gentle press of an iron when dry and a brush with a cashmere comb will sharpen up your garment ready for wear.
– Avoid over washing knitwear; it’s better to spot clean garments where possible. Hang worn garments on the line for airing on occasion.
– Store knitwear in a moth-free environment and deter moths by using lavender bags in your drawers. In the summer months, store knitwear in sealed plastic bags.
And finally, if you have damaged your knitwear, make do and mend. Campbell’s of Beauly mills offer a repair service for invisible mending; maybe patches will help, or darning might be the better option. We can help with this so do get in touch.
To read more please visit our blog https://www.campbellsofbeauly.com/blog/
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