Fabric Care

Recently purchased an O! Jolly! sweater knit fabric? 
Here's how to care for your sweater knit. As with any fabric, preparing your sweater knit before cutting and sewing is essential. Sew a zigzag stitch or overlock stitch on any raw or cut edges on the fabric before washing. Always follow these instructions for laundering items made from this fabric.

Caring for Wool Sweater Knits

  1. Launder similar colors together. Mix a small amount of mild detergent or soap in sufficient cool water to completely submerge your fabric. (Do not use Woolite. Woolite contains "optical brighteners" which can remove natural oils and "dry-out" the fabric. Do not use bleach.) 
  2. Allow fabric to soak for 15 to 20 minutes.
  3. Rinse gently in cool water. You may use fabric softener, if you like.
  4. Remove excess water by rolling fabric in a towel and squeezing gently or by using the gentle spin cycle only of a washing machine.
  5. Gently smooth the fabric or finished garment into shape on a flat surface, being careful not to overstretch the fabric. 
  6. Allow fabric to air dry away from direct sunlight. 
OR you may have your fabric dry cleaned. Remember agitation, hot water and hot dryers will shrink most wool.
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Caring for Cotton Sweater Knits

If you've purchased the natural white cotton, dyed cotton, or grown in color cotton, here are the fabric preparation and care instructions: 

  1. Sew a zigzag stitch or overlock stitch on any raw or cut edges.
  2. Hand wash or machine wash on gentle in either warm or cold water. Do not bleach. Do not use Woolite. (See above.) Warm water may brighten or whiten the natural white cotton a little. Warm, alkaline water tends to deepen the color-grown cotton colors. The color cotton will not fade in the wash. Add a couple of tablespoons baking soda to the warm wash water to intensify the grown-in-color cotton, if you'd like. 
  3. Rinse gently in cold water.
  4. Remove excess water by rolling fabric in a towel. Or use a gentle spin cycle on your washing machine.
  5. Gently smooth the fabric or finished garment into shape as you lay it flat to air dry away from direct sunlight. You may also gently tumble dry cotton. Be sure to remove fabric from dryer immediately or when still slightly damp in order to prevent wrinkles.
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Last update 04Mar2019



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