[Nfb-krafters-korner] FW: Article: Caring for your Hand Knit items

[Dixie]

Terry,

If you plan on using the information that this woman has compiled for
anything other than personal use, you will need to ask her for permission to
reprint it.



Dixie
@-> ~ <-@



-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-krafters-korner [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Powers, Terry (NIH/NCI) [E] via Nfb-krafters-korner
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2016 4:42 PM
To: List for blind crafters and artists (nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org)
Cc: Powers, Terry (NIH/NCI) [E]
Subject: [Nfb-krafters-korner] FW: Article: Caring for your Hand Knit items



I was wondering should I eliminate the part about determining the kind of
yarn?
What all imfo do you give, Becky.
Need to get this done, quick.  Only 1 day left!
Terry


Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2016 4:39 PM


What is this picture of.  I want to keep this on 2 pages so how can I remove
the picture?
I did remove the closure.
Terry P.


Sent: Monday, October 24, 2016 12:27 PM

[Care of Hand Knit Items - Photo: Betsie Van der Meer/Stone/Getty Images] By
Mary Marlowe
Leverette<http://laundry.about.com/bio/Mary-Marlowe-Leverette-52051.htm>
Laundry & Laundry Rooms Expert <http://laundry.about.com/>

Found at:
http://laundry.about.com/od/laundrybasics/a/carehandknit.htm

Updated August 16, 2016.

Hand-knit
items<http://aax-us-east.amazon-adsystem.com/x/c/QnK0L7yXdRnl5sidEwxG4A8AAAF
X93WWAAEAAAFKAT8rp3o/http:/www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_at/?linkCode=w50&tag=abou
tcom02laundry-20&imprToken=rl5q8frxJKXpepYjfwAnNw&slotNum=0&url=search-alias
%3Daps&field-keywords=how+to+knit&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Ahow+to+knit> are
treasures of someone's time, skill and artistic talent. Whether you've
received one as a gift or done the work yourself, proper care of hand knits
will help them last for many years to come.

Cotton, Wool or Acrylic?

The type of yarn used to knit your garment will determine the best way to
care of it. If you've done the work yourself, refer to the yarn's
label<http://aax-us-east.amazon-adsystem.com/x/c/QnK0L7yXdRnl5sidEwxG4A8AAAF
X93WWAAEAAAFKAT8rp3o/http:/www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_at/?linkCode=w50&tag=abou
tcom02laundry-20&imprToken=rl5q8frxJKXpepYjfwAnNw&slotNum=1&url=search-alias
%3Daps&field-keywords=yarn&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Ayarn&ajr=0>. You'll often find
care instructions. If you received the knitted item as a gift or purchase it
at a craft fair, ask the knitter or seller.

If you have purchased a hand knit item at a second hand store you can
actually learn how to tell if the yarn is a natural fiber or man-made. To
determine if the yarn of your shawl is a natural fiber or acrylic, requires
removing a bit of yarn for testing. Perhaps it can come from a fringe area
or other less important area.

Being very careful, light the yarn with a match or flame. If it smells like
burning hair and turns to ash it is a natural fiber.







 If while burning it has a chemical smell and melts rather than turns to
ashes, it is man-made.

Another test involves cutting a piece of yarn, unraveling the ends and then
putting them back together with a drop of water. Rub the ends together until
they feel dry. If they stay together, the yarn is
wool<http://laundry.about.com/od/stainremoval/a/carewool.htm> and it has
felted. If they don't stay together, the yarn is acrylic or man-made.

  *   Superwash wool can be hand or machine washed on the gentle cycle in
cold
water<http://laundry.about.com/od/laundrybasics/a/watertemperatures.htm>.
  *   Regular wool must be washed by hand in cold water or it will felt and
shrink.
  *   Cotton, linen and ramie yarn can be washed in the washing machine on a
gentle cycle using either cold or warm.
  *   Acrylic and other synthetic yarns can be washed and dried in with your
regular
laundry<http://laundry.about.com/od/howtodolaundry/fl/How-To-Do-Laundry-In-1
0-Easy-Steps.htm> as they do not shrink.
  *   Unknown fiber content items should be hand washed in cold water and
laid flat to dry.

Detergent Choices For Washing Hand Knit Items

For hand washing, choose a mild detergent and cold water. For wool fibers,
choose a formula developed for wool or mild baby shampoo. Specialty
detergents containing contain lanolin are available, such as
Eucalan<http://aax-us-east.amazon-adsystem.com/x/c/QnK0L7yXdRnl5sidEwxG4A8AA
AFX93WWAAEAAAFKAT8rp3o/http:/www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_at/?linkCode=w50&tag=ab
outcom02laundry-20&imprToken=rl5q8frxJKXpepYjfwAnNw&slotNum=2&url=node%3D262
625011&field-keywords=eucalan+wool+wash>. Lanolin is a natural oil produced
by sheep and helps preserve wool fibers and increases the water resistance
of wool. This type of detergent should be used for hand knit outerwear.

Hand Washing Tips

Hand
washing<http://laundry.about.com/od/handwashing/fl/How-To-Hand-Wash-Clothes.
htm> may seem like a lot of trouble, but you can be sure that plenty of work
went into creating your knitted garment.

  *   Gently agitate the knitted item in the water. Never wring or scrub.
  *   Drain the sink and add fresh, cold water for rinsing. Repeat this
process until all the water is clear and free of suds.
  *   Support the item from underneath as you transfer it to a dry towel.
  *   Gently remove excess water and lay item flat on a dry, absorbent towel
and roll up in the towel, pressing firmly as you roll. Do not wring the
towel.

Reshaping and Drying

  *   Lay a dry bath towel on a flat surface large enough to hold your
garment with arms extended if appropriate. A card table is the perfect size
for air-drying sweaters and typically has a protective vinyl top. Always
protect wood surfaces with a vinyl tablecloth under the towel.
  *   Place the knitted item on the dry towel and reshape into its original
shape. Pat it into shape; avoid tugging or pulling. Gently push the ribbing
together at the neckline, wrists and waist. Fasten buttons. Fold collar.
  *   Allow the item to dry for 24 hours.
  *   If not completely dry, Flip the item over onto a dry towel, arrange
into shape (the shape will have set by now but you don't want to add
wrinkles or slow drying), and dry for another 24 hours.
  *   Fold your garment and put it away. Never hang a knitted garment. The
weight will stretch out the shoulders very quick




End of Article.

To add to what she has said in the above article.  Make sure the towel is
one that is old and has been washed many times.  You don't want colors
leaching from your towel to the wet garmet.  Likewise, you may have colors
bleed from the garmet to your towel, so a towel you don't care if the dyes
from your yarns bleed onto is the best towel to use.