6 expert tips for caring for your knitwear | british fashion

How Often Should You Really Wash Your Sweaters ? How to avoid wounds And what about those dreaded moth holes? Fortunately, British brand &Daughter are here to help with all your knitting needs with their newly launched Mending & Refreshing service.

"The brand is built on longevity; We make our sweaters with the intention that they last forever," founder Buffy Reid told Vogue . "But obviously the sweaters are worn out and getting old over time. So we [want] to be able to help people upgrade and fix them so that if they invest in a sweater, they can really last a lifetime.

Here are her top tips for taking care of your knitwear this winter.

Only wash your sweaters once a year

Most of us wash our fabrics too often, which means they wear out faster. Most of the time we can spot clean if needed. "Because wool is a natural fiber, it cleans really well," says Reid. "We recommend washing our sweaters at the end of the season if you store them."

Avoid machine washing

While care labels on luxury fabrics often say dry-clean only, Reid recommends hand-washing wool clothing. "Knitwear always works best when washed because [the fibers] are restored and nourished by water, just like our own hair," she explains. "Hand wash with cold water and non-biological detergent. My father [and Columba Reid, his daughter's co-founder] always told me to apply conditioner just to add that shine and softness. Therefore, avoid washing in the washing machine if possible. Wringing can cause shrinkage and be careful not to twist the sweaters too much.

Fold, do not hook

In order for your fabric to hold its shape, you should not hang it up. "As the suspension dries, it expands under the weight of the water, so we always recommend laying it out on a clean towel," he says. You can then iron your sweaters to keep them in perfect condition before folding them for storage.

Invest in an unwinder

Bobbling is often a great gift that a sweater has long loved, but investing in a debobbler can help keep it looking new. "Any soft natural fiber will naturally swell," says Reid. "The difference between a high-quality sweater and an inferior one is the amount of these bubbles: once you remove the tassels from the surface, the yarn should settle down."

Watch out for those butterflies

To protect your sweaters from those pesky moths, keep cedar or lavender sachets in your drawers and make sure your knitwear is clean when you put it away. "Never store a dirty sweater," says Reid, adding that it's best not to store knitwear in a dusty place (under the bed, that's a big no-no).

Have your sweaters washed by a professional

When in doubt, it's always worth having your knitwear washed by a professional. "Our manufacturers are experts in washing in general. They wash each sweater at a different temperature because all yarns and colors look different," she explains. "They spray it, they squeeze it, it just puts that thread back into its best shape."

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