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:

AllTheChaos · 31/12/2023 01:31

I’m sure I read somewhere recently that machine washable wool has usually had some kind of special coating applied? I must check…

Catsmere · 31/12/2023 01:38

UncleHerbie · 31/12/2023 01:25

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 🧶

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You're welcome!

I remember buying fabric at the Army and Navy store and I think at John Lewis.

Catsmere · 31/12/2023 01:39

AllTheChaos · 31/12/2023 01:31

I’m sure I read somewhere recently that machine washable wool has usually had some kind of special coating applied? I must check…

That would be superwash merino!

NotMyFirstChoiceofName · 31/12/2023 01:39

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!)

I agree with this. I have a lot of wool clothes ( merino rather than Aran wool) and I hardly ever wash them. I hang them up to air ( ideally outside ) each time I wear them, spot clean any stains as soon as I see then and occasionally spray the armpit ( of dresses, jumpers and tee shirts ) with vodka or rubbing alcohol.

With a cream Aran jumper I’d be very careful to wear an apron over it when cooking or cleaning, to avoid oil or tomato based stains which are hard to remove.

I have one wool top which I washed too often and I had to re lanolin it ( sorry don’t know the correct word for this ) to make it soft and stain repellant again.

Catsmere · 31/12/2023 01:53

NotMyFirstChoiceofName · 31/12/2023 01:39

With a cream Aran jumper I’d be very careful to wear an apron over it when cooking or cleaning, to avoid oil or tomato based stains which are hard to remove.

I have one wool top which I washed too often and I had to re lanolin it ( sorry don’t know the correct word for this ) to make it soft and stain repellant again.

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Nodding in agreement here!

AllTheChaos · 31/12/2023 02:22

That’s it! Thanks @Catsmere !

Catsmere · 31/12/2023 02:24

You're most welcome, @AllTheChaos!

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