Tag: garment care
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To Block or Not To Block: When is Re-blocking Necessary?
Keeping handmade garments looking their best means that they will need to be re-blocked periodically. There, I said it. Makers block a piece of handmade by using water or steam to relax the fibers and make the fabric malleable enough to set the shape and smooth the fabric manually. Blocked fabric holds the shape the…
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Wool Wash: What is it Good For?
Welcome to the Handmade, Washed & Worn series, where we explore how to wash, block, and store hand-knit and crochet projects. Whether you’re caring for a favorite sweater, a treasured shawl, or everyday accessories, these posts will help you keep your handmade items looking their best. In today’s installment, we’ll focus on : Wool Wash:…
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Handmade, Washed and Worn: 5 Reasons Handmade Fabrics Need Different Care than Store-Bought Clothes
Welcome to the Handmade, Washed & Worn series, where we explore how to wash, block, and store hand-knit and crochet projects. Whether you’re caring for a favorite sweater, a treasured shawl, or everyday accessories, these posts will help you keep your handmade items looking their best. In today’s installment, we’ll focus on : 5 Reasons…
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The Ritual of Caring for Hand-Knits
Before Wash and Wear My grandma’s wash day was a big production. Her open-tub washing machine looked like a big, white barrel with two wooden cylinders clamped to the top. Although grandma and my aunt were machine washing the clothes, they still handled each piece of laundry multiple times during the process. They scrubbed collars…