Brora hand wash sweater

[PinkTonic]

I just bought a mohair sweater from Brora which says hand wash only. Anyone got one and put it through the wool cycle on their machine? I normally do all my wool/cashmere sweaters in the machine irrespective of instructions but I haven’t any other mohair ones, so not sure whether to risk it?

I've put mohair (a Brora cardigan so probably very similar), same as cashmere, I use a net bag, wool detergent and on a wool cycle. I've never had any problems.

I've machine washed a mohair jumper from Brora before (wool cycle obv) - then dried flat. A bit of reshaping needed but afterwards fine.

Depends on the washing machine. I’ve ruined some sweaters before on a wool cycle in my previous washing machine, this one seems to be fine (Miele W1, wool cycle, 20 degrees, Ecover wool detergent, 600 spin).

Worth remembering that felting cannot be reversed or fixed.

I had a batwing cashmere Brora jumper, it shrunk on the wool cycle, and no number of corrective measures saved it, ( soaking in fabric conditioner, rolling, careful reshaping...) it was done for. Massively disappointed (£325 down the drain).
I wouldn't risk it.

@CortieTat yes, mine had felted on the wool wash.

I have put mohair on a low temp wash and shrunk it. It shrank six sizes down than what it was. It we r from oversized to fitting me pretty perfect bar the length in the arms. I’d not chance it with your Brora @PinkTonic. Mine was from a charity shop so cheap.

Wool cycles can vary, I had a machine with a hand wash cycle that was gentler. I have felted things accidentally on wool cycle but I think that was partly because I put two or three things in together and they rubbed against each other.
I now favour Eucalan wool wash for washing delicate woollens by hand, it's no rinse which makes hand washing less of a faff and the jasmine scented version smells divine. Expensive but you use a tiny amount.

Thanks for the replies. I’ve never ruined a sweater on a wool cycle before but I’m erring towards not risking it. I’ll give the Eucalan wool wash a go I think, it was the interminable rinsing which was putting me off hand washing. I’ve also got a very very fine cashmere sweater from Me & Em which I’ve been balking at putting in the machine so that’s a plan for both of them!

I’m really sorry to hear that! I also have their batwing and it’s one of my favourite jumpers. Unfortunately once something felts it can’t be undone. Wool is hair with hair cuticle not unlike human hair and when felted the layers of cuticle get stuck against each other like tiny hooks and it’s impossible to take them apart. That’s why felted fabric makes a lot of noise when pulled apart and loses its elasticity.

Complete derail but I just got a Brora cashmere vest (for £3) in a charity shop and I'm delighted with it! Soz, had to share! 😀

My plan is to hand-wash it.

Fantastic find! I thought I’d done well getting mine in the sale

I’ve got quite a lot of Brora cashmere, and always machine washed. I machine wash all my knitwear. I do have a fairly new washer so maybe that helps

For the record my machine is a Samsung 11kg, it's about 6 year's old, has never destroyed any woollens.

5/5, would recommend.