You spent hours on that sweater, hat or blanket, so it hurts when it comes out of the wash stretched, matted or a size smaller. How to wash knitted and crocheted pieces depends mostly on the fiber. Wool, acrylic and cotton react very differently to water, heat and movement, and the right method for one can ruin another.
Checklist before you wash
- Do you know which yarn you used? Look for the ball band, or check your order history.
- Do you have a scrap of yarn or a gauge swatch left? Test the wash on that first, before the whole piece goes in.
- Hand wash or machine? That depends on the fiber, and it is all in the table below.
- Do you have a towel and a flat spot ready to dry the piece and pat it back into shape?
- Is your detergent free of bleach and enzymes? A mild wool wash is the safest choice for almost any yarn.
Wool, acrylic or cotton: how washing differs per fiber
| Fiber | How to wash | Temperature | Drying |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wool (sheep's wool, merino), not superwash | By hand, or the wool/hand-wash cycle if your machine has one | Cold to lukewarm, max 30 °C (86 °F) | Never in the dryer. Press the water out, dry flat. |
| Superwash wool | Machine, wool or delicate cycle (check the label) | Usually 30 to 40 °C (86 to 104 °F) | Dry flat. Superwash can grow when wet, so don't hang it. |
| Acrylic, such as Durable Comfy | Machine, delicate or wool cycle | Around 30 °C (86 °F) | Dries fairly quickly. Flat drying keeps the shape best. |
| Cotton, such as Durable Coral | Machine on a gentle cycle, or by hand | 30 to 40 °C (86 to 104 °F), check the label | Never on a hanger. Dry flat to avoid stretching. |
| Blends, such as Durable Cosy Fine (cotton/acrylic) | Follow the most delicate fiber in the blend | Usually 30 °C (86 °F) | Flat drying is always the safe option for a blend. |
How to wash wool without felting or shrinking
Wool doesn't shrink just because it gets wet. It shrinks from heat, agitation and sudden temperature changes. The tiny scales on each wool fiber open up in warm water and lock together when you rub or knead them. That is felting, and once it happens you can't undo it.
To hand wash a wool sweater:
- Fill a basin with cold or lukewarm water and a little wool wash.
- Push the piece under and let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Don't rub or scrub.
- Drain, then rinse in water of the same temperature (or use a no-rinse wool wash).
- Press the water out with your hands. Never wring or twist.
- Roll the piece up in a dry towel and press to soak up more water.
- Lay it flat on a fresh towel or a drying rack, pat it into shape, and let it dry away from heaters and direct sun.
If you hang a wet sweater, its own weight pulls the stitches out of shape. Superwash wool is treated so the scales don't lock, which is why it can go in the machine. It is the exception, so check the label before you assume.
Washing acrylic: tougher than you'd think
Acrylic hardly shrinks and usually goes straight in the washing machine on a delicate or wool cycle. Durable Comfy, for example, is 100% microfiber acrylic. The thing to watch is heat. Hot water or a hot tumble dryer can relax acrylic fibers for good (knitters call it "killing" acrylic): the stitches go flat and limp and won't bounce back. Keep it cool and let it air dry.
Washing cotton: watch for stretching, not shrinking
Cotton doesn't felt, but it has its own quirk: it gets much heavier when wet, and that weight can stretch a crocheted bag, blanket or top if you hang it to dry. Always dry cotton flat, ideally on a towel you turn now and then so air reaches both sides. A gentle machine wash at 30 to 40 °C is fine for most cotton yarns, but check the care instructions for the specific yarn you used. Cotton can also shrink a little in a hot wash or dryer, so stay on the cool side.
Blends: follow the most delicate fiber
Yarns like Durable Cosy Fine (58% cotton, 42% acrylic) or Durable Glam (cotton and polyester) mix fibers. The rule of thumb is simple: treat the blend like its most delicate fiber. If there is wool in it, wash it like wool. For a cotton and acrylic blend, a cool, gentle wash and flat drying keep you on the safe side.
Stains and smells between washes
Not every handmade piece needs a wash after each wear. A hat or scarf often freshens up fine after a night outside or by an open window. For a small stain, dab it with a little lukewarm water and mild detergent instead of washing the whole thing. Washing less means less chance of shrinking, stretching or felting, and your piece keeps its shape longer.
Don't remember which yarn you used?
It happens, especially with something you made years ago. Keep the ball band with every project from now on, or snap a photo of it when you start. Without the label, a touch test gives a hint: wool feels a bit rougher and springs back when you squeeze it, acrylic is usually softer and smoother, and cotton feels matte and a little stiff. When in doubt, a cold hand wash and flat drying is the safest choice for almost any yarn.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put my knitted or crocheted piece in the washing machine?
It depends on the fiber. Acrylic and most cotton yarns can usually go in on a gentle cycle. Regular wool is best washed by hand or on a dedicated wool cycle, always cool. Superwash wool can go in the machine.
How do I wash a wool sweater without shrinking it?
Use cold or lukewarm water and a wool wash, let it soak without rubbing, and press the water out with a towel instead of wringing. Dry it flat, not on a radiator and not in the dryer.
Can acrylic yarn go in the dryer?
Better not, or only on the lowest heat. Too much heat relaxes acrylic fibers, and the stitches lose their bounce for good.
Why did my crochet blanket stretch after washing?
Cotton gets heavy when wet. Hang a wet blanket and its own weight pulls the stitches out of shape. Always dry cotton flat.
I don't know which yarn I used. What should I do?
Keep the ball band with every project from now on. If it's gone, a cold hand wash and flat drying is the safest bet for almost any yarn.
Putting it into practice
Run through the checklist, find your fiber in the table, and dry the piece flat. That prevents most washing disasters, whether you made a wool sweater, an acrylic hat or a cotton bag. Still working on your first project? Our guides on how to knit for beginners, how to crochet a scarf and crochet blankets help you get there. Making something for a baby? Our crochet baby blanket guide covers soft, easy-care yarn choices.
