[Sampymom]

I'm am finishing up knitting the Ava Tunic from Ravelry. I knitted it in brightly colored chevrons, much like the picture. I used Knit Picks Cotlin yarn, which is cotton and linen. I want to wash it before giving it to my granddaughter. Should I do a full wash and dry or just soak and roll in a towel? Should I block it? Do you recommend a vinegar soak to prevent fading? I've never used this yarn before so I don't know how it washes. Btw, I love the yarn!

 

[Peggy Beryl]

If it were mine, I would soak it for 30 minutes in: 1 quart tepid water, 1/2 white vinegar, and 2 tablespoons Epsom salts. Then hand wash with just a couple of drops of shampoo in warm water and rinse thoroughly and pin for blocking. Allow to dry completely before removing from the blocking boards. If it looks like it could use it, I would steam iron lightly; more steam than iron because of the linen content.

It sounds very pretty. I'm sure she'll look great in it.

 

[Carol J.]

A test of the how the colors will wash before the garment was made would have been a good idea. How is the mother going to wash it, are you giving her special directions for washing?
If you have scraps of the yarn left over, put them all in a dish of cold or tepid water with soap or shampoo,let it rest awhile, and see what happens. Then decide whether it will need to have the colors set with salt, vinegar or whatever you have. My mother set colors with salt water, especially red.

Carol J.

 

[scrappyfox]

Use the product Color Cathcher, it heps with color running

 

[Dcsmith77]

I've never had a problem with Cotlin either fading or running, but I have not used every color. Knitpicks can probably advise you the best way to solve this problem, although most of the suggestions here are good ones - I won't say all of them, because I haven't tried all of them. I would call Knitpicks.

 

[Peggy Beryl]

Treating brightly colored clothing with the vinegar/Epsom salts treatment I suggested above assured being able to wash all such items in the regular family's wash over a 60-year period with no color run.

I suggested gentle handling of this newly knitted item to keep it in as near its virgin condition as possible to be presented as a gift; I would not expect it to be laundered gently after that.

 

[4jrodes]

I also LOVE the Color Catchers... I give them with every graduation gift I give. College students don't take time to sort clothes.

 

[Sampymom]

Thank you all so much for your advice! Knowing my daughter, she will just throw it in the washer and dryer and not give it too much special care! And that's exactly what I want her to be able to do! I think I'll give it a good vinegar/Epsom salts soak then gentle wash and then block. Hopefully that will set it up for tons of fun playtime and easy care! Thanks again!