Spring Cleaning Your Knits

As the days become increasingly warmer, it's time to put away your winter woolies. As knitters, we recommend this simple 'spring cleaning' routine to ensure that your sweaters (whether handknit or not) look good each season and are ready to enjoy when fall rolls around again.At the end of the winter season, our winter gear can look a bit worn - and that's great because it means you've been wearing and loving it! These three steps will help you freshen up your garments before storing them away and keep them looking their best year after year.  Step One: WashMost of us cringe when we hear the term 'handwash only.' Maybe we still picture someone bent over an old-timey washboard, working for hours at a tedious task. But modern wool washes are incredibly easy and fast to use! The benefits are noticeable - handwashing delicate items, even those in superwash fibers, extends the life of the garment - saving it from unnecessary agitation in the washing machine.We carry two wool washes at fibre space, Soak and Eucalan (available in-store only, in a variety of scents.) Both of these are no-rinse wool washes. You simply fill a basin or sink with water, add a bit of wool wash, and let the garment soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Then, roll it up in a towel to press out excess water, and lay it flat to dry, reshaping as necessary. That's it! Those pesky critters that eat holes in clothing are attracted to the dead skin cells that we leave on clothing, so giving everything a fresh wash before storage helps keep them at bay.For garments that see a little more action (toddler sweaters and handknit socks, for example), we recommend this handcrafted Sock Soap. This all-natural soap contains lanolin, which acts as a softening agent and conditions your wool and natural fibers. Bonus - it also softens skin! Simply lather this soap into a sink of water with your garments and let them soak for 10 to 20 minutes. Rinse if desired, drain the water, and lay flat to dry.  Step Two: Freshen UpAfter you have washed and dried your garments, you may notice some areas that need a little extra love. This is a great time to freshen up your garments for next season! If your garment has pilling, you can use a Gleener to remove those pills (bonus - it has a lint brush on the other side!) See our previous Stylebook article for a detailed how-to of using this hand tool to remove those pills.Inspect your winter gear for any little holes, missing buttons, etc. Fixing them now means that they will be ready to wear as soon as the temperature drops. Most fixes are quick - a little stitch here or there to close a small hole. This little sewing compact has all of the tools you need. For larger holes, you can try your hand at the trend of visible mending - see our previous article for more details.  Step Three: StoreMoths and carpet beetles (the enemies of natural fibers) like dark, undisturbed places to feast on clothes. Choose spaces that you can routinely access (aka not the very back of the closet) to check for insect activity. You can also store them in a bin or sealed container. We recommend using natural deterrents, like these Vetiver Root Hearts. It is a natural insect repellent. Hang one of these with your handmade garments, or tuck it into a mesh bag to store inside of totes and long-term storage. Whether your favorite sweater is handmade or store-bought, this simple spring cleaning routine will lengthen the lifetime of your garments and keep them style-ready for seasons to come.