How to Wash Knitted Jumpers: No Shrinking, No Stretching

A good knitted jumper will see you through many winters – if you look after it properly. Most jumpers aren't ruined by wearing them, but in the washing machine: they shrink, stretch or start pilling. The good news: with a few simple rules, this can almost always be avoided.

First: check the care label

How a jumper can be washed depends mainly on the material, so the care label is always the most important source. Roughly, the symbols mean: a wash tub with a number shows the maximum temperature, one line underneath stands for a delicate cycle, two lines for a wool cycle. A hand in the tub means hand wash only, and a crossed-out square with a circle means: do not tumble dry.

Washing knitwear in the machine – step by step

1. Turn it inside out. This means the outside rubs less against the drum, so less pilling occurs. Embroidery and logos are protected too.
2. Put it in a laundry bag. The bag protects against friction and stops stitches catching on zips or buttons of other garments.
3. Choose the right cycle. A wool or delicate cycle is suitable for knitwear. Both move the drum far less than a normal cycle.
4. Keep the temperature low. 30 °C is almost always enough for knitwear. Higher temperatures are the most common reason jumpers shrink.
5. Spin gently. At a low spin speed – around 600 rpm or less – knitwear keeps its shape. At high speeds, the wet, heavy fabric stretches and can lose its shape.
6. Use a mild detergent. A delicates detergent is suitable for cotton and synthetics. For wool, use a wool detergent, as regular detergents can contain enzymes that attack wool fibres.
7. Don't overload the drum. About half full is enough, so garments can move freely and rub against each other less.

Which material needs what?

Cotton and Supima cotton

Cotton knitwear is relatively easy to care for but can shrink with too much heat – especially in the tumble dryer. A delicate cycle at 30 °C and drying flat is the safest combination. Supima® cotton, as used in our Heritage Supima Cardigans, consists of particularly long fibres. As a result, it is generally less prone to pilling, but it appreciates a gentle wash just as much.

Cotton blended with acrylic or polyester

Blends like the Fine Knit Pullover (50% cotton, 50% acrylic) or the Heavy Knit Sweater (50% organic cotton, 50% recycled polyester) hold their shape well and are easy to care for. Synthetic fibres are sensitive to heat, however: don't wash hot, don't tumble dry and don't iron hot – otherwise the surface can become shiny or stiff.

Viscose blends

Viscose is soft and fluid but loses strength when wet. Treat knits with a viscose content, such as the Rib Knit Wrap Cardigan, particularly gently: delicate cycle or hand wash, no wringing, minimal spinning.

Wool and cashmere

Wool felts when heat, friction and changes in temperature come together. So only wash it on a wool cycle or by hand in lukewarm water, using a wool detergent. Often, washing isn't necessary at all: wool naturally resists odours, and airing it out is usually enough.

Hand-washing knitwear

Hand washing is the gentlest method. Fill a basin with lukewarm water, dissolve a little delicates or wool detergent and gently press the jumper in it – don't rub or wring. After about ten minutes, rinse in water of the same temperature. Avoid big temperature differences between washing and rinsing, especially with wool.

To remove water, lay the jumper flat on a large towel, roll the towel up and press lightly. This removes most of the water without stretching the stitches.

Drying properly: flat, never on a hanger

Wet knitwear is heavy. On a hanger or over a washing line, its own weight pulls it out of shape. So:

• Dry flat on a towel or drying rack
• Pull the jumper back into shape while damp – smooth out the sleeves, hem and collar
• Don't place it on a radiator or in direct sunlight
• Don't tumble dry unless the care label explicitly allows it

Deliberately shaping knitwear while wet is also known as "blocking". It also works for getting a slightly misshapen jumper back into shape.

How often should a knitted jumper be washed?

Less often than you might think. If you wear a T-shirt or shirt underneath, you can often wear a jumper several times before it needs washing. In between, airing it overnight is often enough. Individual stains can be spot-cleaned with a little delicates detergent and lukewarm water. Every wash you save extends the life of your jumper.

What can you do about pilling?

Pilling – those small bobbles – is caused by friction, for example under the arms, on the sleeves or where a bag rests. It isn't a quality defect but normal for most knitwear. The bobbles can be removed with a fabric shaver or a sweater comb. Lay the knit flat and work without pressure. Washing inside out and in a laundry bag helps prevent new pilling.

Storing knitwear properly

Knitwear belongs folded on a shelf or in a drawer, not on a hanger – over time, hangers create bumps at the shoulders and the jumper gets longer. Before storing it away in spring, make sure it is clean, as stains set in over the months. For wool, protection against moths, such as cedar wood or lavender, is also recommended.

Frequently asked questions

Can knitted jumpers go in the washing machine?

In most cases, yes – on a wool or delicate cycle at no more than 30 °C, turned inside out and in a laundry bag. The exception: the care label shows hand wash only.

What spin speed should I use for knitwear?

As low as possible – around 400 to 600 rpm. For wool and viscose, an even lower setting is the safer choice.

Why has my jumper shrunk?

Usually because of too high a temperature, too much movement in the drum or the tumble dryer. With wool, felting caused by friction and temperature changes also plays a role. A slightly shrunken jumper can sometimes be saved by soaking it in lukewarm water and carefully pulling it back into shape while wet. Heavily felted wool, however, cannot be restored.

Can knitwear go in the tumble dryer?

Only if the care label allows it. For most jumpers, drying flat is the better choice, because the heat in a dryer shrinks fibres and can damage synthetic components.

New favourites for the colder months can be found in our Knitwear & Cardigans category. And if you'd like to know how best to layer knitwear on the coast, read on in our layering guide for the Baltic coast.