How to care for knitwear so it lasts
Wool, cashmere and cotton knitwear reward a little attention and punish none. The whole routine takes five minutes a season.
Most knitwear dies in the wash, not on the body. The fibres are fine and the agitation is not, and the distance between a sweater that lasts ten years and one that pills in a month is almost entirely how you launder it.
Wash less, wash cool
Knitwear does not need washing after every wear. Air it overnight on a hanger or laid flat, spot-clean what you can, and wash only when it genuinely needs it. When you do wash, cold water and a gentle or wool cycle, inside a mesh bag, with a detergent made for delicates.
A sweater is a long conversation with a washing machine.
— the studio
Never hang a wet knit
Water adds weight and a hanging wet sweater stretches into a different garment by morning. Lay it flat on a towel, roll the towel to press out water, then dry flat on a rack away from direct heat. Reshape the hem and sleeves while it is still damp.
Pilling is not failure
Pilling is friction, not quality. A fine comb or a fabric shaver removes pills in minutes and the sweater underneath is fine. Avoid wearing a new knit against rough bags or seatbelts for the first few wears while the surface settles.
Fold, don't hang
Hangers distort knit shoulders over a season. Fold knits and store them flat, or rolled for travel. A cedar block in the drawer keeps moths away without the smell of mothballs.
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