Sweater Care Instructions

The sweater care instructions found on this page have allowed us to keep sample sweaters knit nearly twenty years ago in excellent, hand-me-down condition.

They are simple to follow and the knitwear you purchase from Hobbie's House of Wizard Wear will look good for years to come.

We use quality wool and acrylic fibers but these same care instructions can be applied to any sweater, vest or cardigan.

Our knitwear falls into two categories:

Sweaters in 100% pure wool from a famous mill with color trim in imported, pure new wool.

Sweaters and scarves in 100% high quality, imported acrylic, with easy to follow care instructions.

This is as good a place as any on this page to state, emphatically, that sweaters should never be stored on a hanger...even the non-slip, so called "sweater" hangers. Over time, the weight of a sweater will pull it down and stretch it out of shape. Just get into the habit of folding the sweater, with the fewest possible folds.

How to fold a sweater.

How to store wool sweaters.

How to wash your wool sweater instead of having it dry cleaned as recommended.

What if...your wool sweater stretched out of shape?

How to repair a snag in your sweater fabric.

Care Instructions - Wool

We highly recommend professional dry cleaning for Hobbie's New Style school sweaters and cardigans knit in WOOL.

Hobbie's House of Wizard Wear is not responsible for damage due to shrinkage or felting if the garment is not cleaned using our recommended care method.

However, if you have hand-washed a wool sweater or scarf in the past and feel totally comfortable doing this then by all means, hand wash your garment but please note that we still recommend dry cleaning for all our wool garments, and we will not assume responsibility for damage or shrinkage.

Dry cleaning by a quality dry cleaning establishment prevents even the slightest shrinkage and preserves the finish or hand of the knit fabric. What are the characteristics of high quality wool?

Luxurious with a soft hand;

Versatile and lightweight;

A good insulator;

It can be "washable" - we take this feature with a grain of salt. Although washable wool has been treated to prevent shrinkage, we would still prefer to dry clean the garment and avoid unpleasant surprises.

Wrinkle-resistant;

and absorbs moisture.

Listed below are care instructions for hand washing a wool sweater.

Use a high quality liquid detergent, specially designed for knitwear. We highly recommend Eucalan Lavender WoolWwash-8.4 Ounce .

The 8 ounce WoolWash is economical, the lavender scent is fantastic and it repels moths! Another plus? It conditions the fibers and as a no-rinse formula...it means even less friction on your garment.

Wash knitwear separately from other clothes to prevent friction against the yarn.

Do not soak, wring or rub too hard. This will prevent pulling the sweater out of shape and keep the garment soft. Wool tends to toughen up and "felt" the more it is handled. Wash with a light, soft touch.

To remove excess water from your sweater, roll it up in a fluffy towel and squeeze gently, or place in the washing machine for a very gentle, short spin. Yes, a short spin - the shortest spin your washer has and stop it before it is done spinning. We're talking just long enough to remove the excess water that weighs down your sweater.

Once you remove the sweater from the spin cycle, it is important to reshape it while it is still damp. Don't pull it out of shape - it will quickly grow a size or two.

Dry it flat - we use a sweater dryer - but you can dry your sweater on a towel, away from direct heat and sunlight.

Do not tumble dry - it will cause felting and shrinkage.

This fact bears repeating - All knitwear should be stored folded, with the fewest folds possible. Definitely do not hang on hangers. Yikes!

The American Sheep Industry Association has put together several fact sheets about this fantastic fiber. Click on the link above to read all about the history and processing of wool. The site also includes a file giving their care instructions for wool. You will need Acrobat Reader to read these .pdf files.

Care Instructions - Acrylic

An all time favorite - the School Sweater is knit in 100% high quality, premium imported acrylic. What are some of the finer points of acrylic yarn?

Great wash and wear characteristics

Super color fastness

Soft to the touch

Easy to care for

Keeps its shape

Quick drying

Durability - it is resistant to shrinkage, fading, and moths!

Listed below are the care instructions for your acrylic sweater:

Wash knitwear separately from other clothes to prevent friction against the yarn. Turn your sweater inside out.

Machine wash in the delicate cycle using warm water. We use cold water for everything!

Rinse in cold water - If you like, you can add a small amount of fabric softener to the final rinse.

Machine dry at a low temperature and remove promptly

Do not wring or iron. Do not hang your sweater. Fold it carefully.

Ever wondered how to interpret the universal care symbols seen on most labels? Lion Brand now uses the care symbols found on most brands of yarns. Click on the link below to review the symbols found on their labels and how interpret them. You'll be glad you did.

Care Instructions - The Wizard Scarf

Place the scarf in a mesh laundry bag to prevent fringe from tangling with other items in the washer, such as the School Sweater. If possible, wash the scarf by itself.

Machine wash the scarf in cold water and the gentle cycle using a mild liquid detergent.

Dry on low heat [knit or delicate setting - with or without a dryer sheet] and remove promptly. Do not wring or iron.

Care Instructions - Team Socks

The Team socks are knit in 100% acrylic. The heel and toe are reinforced with nylon thread.

Machine wash and rinse in cold water/gentle cycle. Dry on delicate/low heat. Remove promptly. Do not wring or iron.

Care Instructions - The RENT© Sweater

The RENT© sweater is knit in 100% acrylic.

Turn the sweater inside out before washing and preferably by wash the sweater by itself so that friction from other garments does not damage the surface of the stitches.

Machine wash in cold water/gentle cycle, with liquid detergent. Pass trough spin cycle and then dry on delicate cycle [about 15 minutes] with low heat.

Remove promptly. If the sweater still feels damp to the touch, place back in dryer and run through the same cycle again, checking every five minutes to ensure the sweater is dry.

Acrylic is notorious for stretching out of shape if handled when wet, even when damp. This is particularly true for this sweater as the weight of the sweater alone would stretch it when damp.

It also goes without saying that you do not wring or iron this sweater. Ribbed stitches will spring back to size and shape quite nicely as long as the sweater is dried completely.

Click HERE to access our collection of Wizard Wear knitting patterns.

"Shrunk My Wool Sweater" Care Instructions

Wizard Wear › Care Instructions