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Original poster

Aran Jumper

32 replies

rainbowbee · 19/12/2023 22:10

I bought myself a really good quality genuine Aran jumper for Christmas.
It occurs to me slightly late in the day that I don't know how to wash it. I'm gathering that you just try not to have to and of course it never goes into the machine- but it's cream...
Both grandmothers would have known this. My own mother shrank all the ones they made. Any tips or pitfalls? It's really lovely, was an expensive treat for me and I don't want to wreck it.

OP posts:
Cheeesus · 19/12/2023 22:32

Very gently in cold water with special detergent. But maybe buy a bigger size than you need?

Sorry, missed that you had already bought it!

Catsmere · 29/12/2023 05:02

Hand wash, cold water, wool detergent. Press the water out in towels (ie by walking on it) and dry it flat. Good news is that you don't want to wash jumpers very often, only a few times a year - better to put them outside to air, if you can.

(Source: I made one in Merino wool last year and managed to felt the thing the second time I washed it in a gentle wool-cycle machine wash!)

UncleHerbie · 30/12/2023 12:08

Dry cleaners. I have 100% wool Aran jumpers i knitted myself 25+ years ago that look new because I’ve only ever had them dry cleaned.

Original poster
rainbowbee · 30/12/2023 23:35

I was just thinking dry cleaning would be a decent option. I don't think this garment would survive me having a go a doing it myself!

OP posts:
Catsmere · 30/12/2023 23:59

@UncleHerbie how often do you dry clean your jumper? I've never thought of getting knitwear cleaned that way.

SadlyACupOfTeaDoesNotSolveEverything · 31/12/2023 00:03

I have an Aaran cardigan and get it dry cleaned twice each winter (well once the first winter). It’s 5 years old and looks great. Probably wear it about 5/6 times before a wash.

Biscuithelp · 31/12/2023 00:03

Don’t dry clean. Hang it outside to air frequently. When you have to (much less often than you think), use no rinse wool wash like this, in almost cold water (in the kitchen sink)

KnitIQ No Rinse Delicate Wash Liquid Detergent 500ml, 100 Washes - Natural Wool Wash with Lanolin for Delicates and Knit Wool Fabric, Lavender Citrus Fragrance https://amzn.eu/d/dos9nw6

Clean under the arms with it and leave to soak for an hour. Then push as much water as you can out and put it in the spin cycle of your washing machine for 10 mins. Then dry flat

(I knit all my own jumpers)

JanglyBeads · 31/12/2023 00:11

(It's spelt arran)

Biscuithelp · 31/12/2023 00:12

(No it’s not)

AreYouThereDog · 31/12/2023 00:13

JanglyBeads · 31/12/2023 00:11

(It's spelt arran)

It’s really not.

Aran islands.
Aran jumper.

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 31/12/2023 00:19

I use this https://www.theneedlestore.com/products/soak-no-rinse-delicate-wash?variant=39252976042061

You don't need to rinse it out so there's less risk of agitation.
Essentially you felt wool with warm water, detergent and agitation/friction.

If you don't want it to felt, you avoid as much of that as you can. So if you're handwashing you don't want to rub or squeeze the garment - lots of not v warm water in a bathtub and very gentle waving it about slightly.
For things like spilled soup it's probably easier to spot clean it before washing the whole thing.

Given how much faff this is, it is probably easier to dry clean stuff.
I do love the smell of the fig Soak though.

Soak No Rinse Delicate Wash - 375ml

Soak No Rinse Delicate Wash is modern laundry care. It’s perfect for washing your laciest lingerie, softest sweaters, swimwear, workout wear, quilts and all the delicates you care about most. Made in Canada, Soak is the best, easiest to use, most delic...

https://www.theneedlestore.com/products/soak-no-rinse-delicate-wash?currency=GBP&gclid=CjwKCAiAnL-sBhBnEiwAJRGighevFJeSoBIH1J3kLgp5bdqIcVoWKKElIo7kGFG5v4zc2enFTPmELBoCBhsQAvD_BwE&variant=39252976042061

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 31/12/2023 00:20

Arran is in Scotland and known more for whisky than knitwear.

AreYouThereDog · 31/12/2023 00:23

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 31/12/2023 00:20

Arran is in Scotland and known more for whisky than knitwear.

Aran jumpers aren’t Scottish.

Biscuithelp · 31/12/2023 00:30

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 31/12/2023 00:19

I use this https://www.theneedlestore.com/products/soak-no-rinse-delicate-wash?variant=39252976042061

You don't need to rinse it out so there's less risk of agitation.
Essentially you felt wool with warm water, detergent and agitation/friction.

If you don't want it to felt, you avoid as much of that as you can. So if you're handwashing you don't want to rub or squeeze the garment - lots of not v warm water in a bathtub and very gentle waving it about slightly.
For things like spilled soup it's probably easier to spot clean it before washing the whole thing.

Given how much faff this is, it is probably easier to dry clean stuff.
I do love the smell of the fig Soak though.

I don’t really find it a faff, I wear a hand knitted jumper almost every day and wash 1 or 2 a week, takes about half an hour. I dry them flat on the Lakeland airer.

Biscuithelp · 31/12/2023 00:30

AreYouThereDog · 31/12/2023 00:23

Aran jumpers aren’t Scottish.

Show quote history

Yes, as super loud was pointing out!

UncleHerbie · 31/12/2023 00:38

Catsmere · 30/12/2023 23:59

@UncleHerbie how often do you dry clean your jumper? I've never thought of getting knitwear cleaned that way.

Once a year because it’s only worn instead of a coat. Knitted in 1997 and still looking good

Aran Jumper
Jitterybugs · 31/12/2023 00:42

Anyone old enough to remember the Irish folk group the Clancy brothers? Anytime they appeared on tv in the 60s and 70s in their trademark Aran jumpers my mum used to say “I wonder how often those jumpers get washed” 😆

Aran Jumper
JanglyBeads · 31/12/2023 00:48

I am so sorry (but quite amused that I managed to start a little argument!)

I had checked the spelling of the Isle of Arran before I posted, but of course, as I now know having googled, that is irrelevant because Arab jumpers are Irish in origin.

"It is a style of sweater, also known as a fisherman’s sweater, which originated in the Aran Islands in Connemara, off the west coast of Ireland.", as aranislandsknitwear.com informs me.

Apologies OP. Long live your jumper.

JanglyBeads · 31/12/2023 00:49
  • not Arab, obvs
Catsmere · 31/12/2023 00:55

UncleHerbie · 31/12/2023 00:38

Once a year because it’s only worn instead of a coat. Knitted in 1997 and still looking good

Show quote history

Magnificent!!

Do you remember what the yarn is? It reminds me of the Heirloom Merino Fleck DK I used for my cable jumpers (the first that felted and its modified replacement).

Aran Jumper
UncleHerbie · 31/12/2023 01:09

Catsmere · 31/12/2023 00:55

Magnificent!!

Do you remember what the yarn is? It reminds me of the Heirloom Merino Fleck DK I used for my cable jumpers (the first that felted and its modified replacement).

Show quote history

Thanks. Possibly Sirdar but can’t recall exactly as it was a lifetime ago; however it was bought at Harrods when it was closing down its haberdashery dept. I got 20 50g balls for about 15 quid. The last time a jumper of mine went in a washing machine it felted and became unwearable. I vowed then never again

Nutsabouttopic · 31/12/2023 01:18

Aran jumpers are from the Aran Islands. Fishermen wore them, they were knitted by their wives/ mothers. Each family had their own individual pattern. This was in case a fisherman drowned he could be identified by the pattern on his jumper.
My mum still knits them. She handwashes them and puts them between two towels squeezing out as much water as she can and then dries them flat preferably outdoors

Catsmere · 31/12/2023 01:18

UncleHerbie · 31/12/2023 01:09

Thanks. Possibly Sirdar but can’t recall exactly as it was a lifetime ago; however it was bought at Harrods when it was closing down its haberdashery dept. I got 20 50g balls for about 15 quid. The last time a jumper of mine went in a washing machine it felted and became unwearable. I vowed then never again

Show quote history

They closed their haberdashery department? Bastards! (I haven't visited London since 1993, I'm in Australia.)

I thought it would be a stretch asking if you remembered! 😆

Yeah, I'm avoiding wool now since it can't be machine washed and I only have a tiny sink, and no bath. I was really pleased with a new King Cole line recently - Big Value Tweed. 98% acrylic, 2% viscose and softer than some of their other mixes I've used, like Riot or Splash. It's listed as machine washable and tumble-dryable (is that a word?) and I was delighted to fine that the label tells the truth for a change! Gentle machine wash and an hour on low heat for a big cable cardigan and it came out fine.

However I'm derailing the thread! Sorry, OP.

UncleHerbie · 31/12/2023 01:25

Catsmere · 31/12/2023 01:18

They closed their haberdashery department? Bastards! (I haven't visited London since 1993, I'm in Australia.)

I thought it would be a stretch asking if you remembered! 😆

Yeah, I'm avoiding wool now since it can't be machine washed and I only have a tiny sink, and no bath. I was really pleased with a new King Cole line recently - Big Value Tweed. 98% acrylic, 2% viscose and softer than some of their other mixes I've used, like Riot or Splash. It's listed as machine washable and tumble-dryable (is that a word?) and I was delighted to fine that the label tells the truth for a change! Gentle machine wash and an hour on low heat for a big cable cardigan and it came out fine.

However I'm derailing the thread! Sorry, OP.

Show quote history

In those days all the big London dept stores sold haberdashery. Only John Lewis/Peter Jones and Liberty do these days. Thanks for the King Cole recommendation 🧶

mathanxiety · 31/12/2023 01:31

JanglyBeads · 31/12/2023 00:11

(It's spelt arran)

Arran is the Scottish island.

The Aran jumper comes from the Irish islands of the same name and spelling.