Yarn Care
You can always find specific washing instructions for each yarn type in the labels and in each online shade card (under the Care tab).
Find below some extra tips for the most popular yarn fibers, which will help you keep your garments in good condition.
General Yarn Care Tips
- Wash garments using plenty of water, and if possible, separately. Never let the garment soak.
- Wash dark colours separately. Dark colours often contain an excess of dye, so it's important to make sure the garment is rinsed until the water is clear, to avoid the excess dye affecting other colours in the garment.
- Only use detergents that are made specifically for washing wool and other fine fibers, or a PH-neutral, dye free detergent.
- Always shape the garment, and lay it flat to dry. Never dry the garment in direct sunlight.
- Never put heavy dripping wet clothes to dry. Avoid drying garments on a surface that absorbs moisture, such as terry towels. In both cases, the garment can be discolored or lose its natural elasticity.
- Please note that garments knitted with special "heavy" techniques can grow in use or in the wash.
Alpaca, mohair, silk and untreated wool:
- Hand wash 30ºC (cold).
- Dissolve detergent completely before adding the garment.
- Move garment gently, don’t rub!
- Rinse thoroughly.
Cotton, linen and mixed qualities:
- Always machine wash at 40ºC or 60ºC depending on the instructions on the label. If washed at a wrong/lower temperature, colours may run. If this happens, wash again at the right temperature, i.e. according to the label. It is very important to adhere to the right temperature.
- Don’t use too much fabric conditioner.
- Use washing programs with plenty of rinsing time.
- Cotton has the tendency to shrink in the wash, so make sure you measure the garment before washing, in order to shape it correctly after the wash.
- Don’t tumble dry.
Superwash treated wool:
- Superwash treated wool should be washed in machine, using the wool / gentle cycle program.
- Don’t use fabric conditioner.
Merino wool:
DROPS Baby Merino, Big Merino and Merino Extra Fine are a Superwash treated yarns, which means they should be washed in the machine, using a gentle cycle program. That being said, there are a few more tips that are extremely relevant when it comes to caring for these yarns:
- Follow the washing instructions provided on the yarn label and in the shade card for the yarn.
- Wash merino wool in a 40 degrees / gentle cycle program.
- Wash separately, using lots of water.
- Use a small amount of wool detergent (without enzymes and optical brighteners).
- NEVER use fabric softener (the wool fibers become too soft and can slide apart).
- NEVER leave to soak!
- NEVER leave garments wet in the washing machine for a long period of time!
- NEVER hang to dry, instead dry the garments shaped on a flat surface.
Wool and silk:
- In general, unless a yarn is Superwash treated, we discourage the use of washing machine, since even the wool program can make garments lose their shape and in the worst cases lead to shrinking. Qualities that include silk could also lose colour.
- Spin garments lightly in a pillowcase, or roll them into a towel and press out the moisture.
- Never use a dryer for wool, the garment will shrink!
- Unevenness in the garment will even out after wash or light steam ironing.
- Remember to never put pressure o the garment neither in wet or dry conditions. Never steam iron on parts that are knitted in structures like cables. Never use iron or put press on Silk.
- When steaming, use preferably a steam iron, or a regular iron and a damp cloth placed between the iron and garment. Note! The garment should never be press directly!
Always keep the yarn labels – they are your warranty! In order for us to deal with any complaints in an orderly manner, we need the labels as well as the knitted garment.
Comparative Care Table
New
Coming Soon
Superwash
Feltable
| DROPS ♥ You #9 | A | 100% Cotton |
|
Machine wash on gentle cycle 40°C / Dry Flat | |
| DROPS ♥ You #8 | C | 100% Cotton |
|
Machine wash on gentle cycle 40°C / Dry Flat | |
| DROPS ♥ You #7 | A | 100% Cotton |
|
Machine wash on gentle cycle 40°C / Dry Flat | |
| DROPS Air | C | 65% Alpaca, 28% Polyamide, 7% Wool |
|
Hand Wash, max 30°C / Dry Flat | |
| DROPS Alaska |
|
C | 100% Wool |
|
Hand Wash, max 30°C / Dry Flat |
| DROPS Alpaca |
|
A | 100% Alpaca |
|
Hand Wash, max 30°C / Dry Flat |
| DROPS Alpaca Bouclé |
|
C | 80% Alpaca, 15% Wool, 5% Polyamide |
|
Hand Wash, max 30°C / Dry Flat |
| DROPS Andes |
|
E | 65% Wool, 35% Alpaca |
|
Hand Wash, max 30°C / Dry Flat |
| DROPS Baby Merino |
|
A | 100% Wool |
|
Machine wash on gentle cycle 40°C / Don’t use fabric softener / Dry Flat |
| DROPS BabyAlpaca Silk | A | 70% Alpaca, 30% Silk |
|
Hand Wash, max 30°C / Dry Flat | |
| DROPS Belle | B | 53% Cotton, 33% Viscose, 14% Linen |
|
Machine wash on gentle cycle 30°C / Dry Flat | |
| DROPS Big Delight |
|
C | 100% Wool |
|
Hand Wash, max 30°C / Dry Flat |
| DROPS Big Merino |
|
C | 100% Wool |
|
Machine wash on gentle cycle 40°C / Don’t use fabric softener / Dry Flat |
| DROPS Bomull-Lin | C | 53% Cotton, 47% Linen |
|
Machine wash on gentle cycle 40°C / Dry Flat | |
| DROPS Brushed Alpaca Silk | C | 77% Alpaca, 23% Silk |
|
Hand Wash, max 30°C / Dry Flat | |
| DROPS Cotton Light | B | 50% Cotton, 50% Polyester |
|
Machine wash on gentle cycle 40°C / Dry Flat | |
| DROPS Cotton Merino |
|
B | 50% Wool, 50% Cotton |
|
Machine wash on gentle cycle 40°C / Don’t use fabric softener / Dry Flat |
| DROPS Delight |
|
A | 75% Wool, 25% Polyamide |
|
Machine wash on gentle cycle 40°C / Don’t use fabric softener / Dry Flat |
| DROPS Eskimo |
|
E | 100% Wool |
|
Hand Wash, max 30°C / Dry Flat |
| DROPS Fabel |
|
A | 75% Wool, 25% Polyamide |
|
Machine wash on gentle cycle 40°C / Don’t use fabric softener / Dry Flat |
| DROPS Flora |
|
A | 65% Wool, 35% Alpaca |
|
Hand Wash, max 30°C / Dry Flat |
| DROPS Glitter | 60% Cupro, 40% Metal |
|
Hand Wash, max 30°C | ||
| DROPS Karisma |
|
B | 100% Wool |
|
Machine wash on gentle cycle 40°C / Don’t use fabric softener / Dry Flat |
| DROPS Kid-Silk | A | 75% Mohair, 25% Silk |
|
Hand Wash, max 30°C / Dry Flat | |
| DROPS Lace | A | 70% Alpaca, 30% Silk |
|
Hand Wash, max 30°C / Stretch to right measurements and Dry Flat | |
| DROPS Lima |
|
B | 65% Wool, 35% Alpaca |
|
Hand Wash, max 30°C / Dry Flat |
| DROPS Melody | D | 71% Alpaca, 25% Wool, 4% Polyamide |
|
Hand Wash, max 30°C / Dry Flat | |
| DROPS Merino Extra Fine |
|
B | 100% Wool |
|
Machine wash on gentle cycle 40°C / Don’t use fabric softener / Dry Flat |
| DROPS Muskat | B | 100% Cotton |
|
Machine wash on gentle cycle 40°C / Dry Flat | |
| DROPS Nepal |
|
C | 65% Wool, 35% Alpaca |
|
Hand Wash, max 30°C / Dry Flat |
| DROPS Nord | A | 45% Alpaca, 30% Polyamide, 25% Wool |
|
Hand Wash, max 30°C / Dry Flat | |
| DROPS Paris | C | 100% Cotton |
|
Machine wash 60°C / Dry Flat | |
| DROPS Polaris |
|
F | 100% Wool |
|
Hand Wash, max 30°C / Dry Flat |
| DROPS Puna |
|
B | 100% Alpaca |
|
Hand Wash, cold max 30°C / Dry Flat |
| DROPS Safran | A | 100% Cotton |
|
Machine wash on gentle cycle 40°C / Dry Flat | |
| DROPS Sky |
|
B | 74% Alpaca, 18% Polyamide, 8% Wool |
|
Hand Wash, max 30°C / Dry Flat |
With over 30 years in knitting and crochet design, DROPS Design offers one of the most extensive collections of free patterns on the internet - translated to 17 languages. As of today we count 249 catalogues and 9183 patterns - 9175 of which are translated into English (UK/cm).
We work hard to bring you the best knitting and crochet have to offer, inspiration and advice as well as great quality yarns at incredible prices! Would you like to use our patterns for other than personal use? You can read what you are allowed to do in the Copyright text at the bottom of all our patterns. Happy crafting!
