Genevieve Sweeney | Knitwear Care

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GS Care

Caring for your Genevieve Sweeney Knitwear

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HOW TO CARE

At the heart of every stitch lies a story woven with love and meticulous care. Each garment we craft is a testament to our unwavering dedication, a fusion of passion and precision. We understand the profound significance of preserving the integrity of your cherished knitwear.

Genevieve has mastered an artistry that transcends mere fashion: she creates timeless pieces you actively want to wear time and time again. Our commitment to excellence extends beyond the creation process; it’s echoed in our advice on how to care for your knitwear, ensuring that every garment remains a treasured companion on life’s journey.

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STEPS TO THE PERFECT CARE

When hand-washing your garments, make sure that the basin you are using is clean so that no other materials or products can harm the yarns. Following this, when choosing a detergent to wash with, we recommend a gentle garment detergent such as our bespoke wool and cashmere wash or baby shampoo, as both of these substances are very delicate.

Now, before adding your knitwear to the basin, add the recommended amount of detergent to cool water and run your hands through to ensure it’s distributed evenly.

Turn your sweater or cardigan inside-out and submerge it in the water, moving it gently through the suds. For troubled areas – such as stains – carefully massage a small amount of detergent into the area, rinsing and repeating as necessary. Then, after 30 minutes of soaking, gently rinse the whole garment until the water runs clear.

Do not wring or twist your garment; instead, gently press the excess water out before placing it onto a clean, dry bath towel. Roll up the towel and press with your palms to continue squeezing out the water. Remove and place flat onto another dry towel, arranging your sweater or cardigan into its original shape. Leave it to air dry, replacing the towel as necessary.

Never tumble dry your knitwear – not only does this risk your garment shrinking or becoming misshapen, but it can also wear down the fibres over time and knock the life out of them. It’s also worth noting that tumble dryers are not very environmentally friendly as using them risks releasing fibres into the waterways, which can be harmful to your garments and to the environment.

Hand washing may seem like a long process but its actually very quick and only needed once a year – if you prefer not to wash at all, hang it outside in the fresh air for a couple of hours and it will revive it.

PILLING

After a little wear, you may start to notice a small amount of balls of fibre forming in areas where there is more friction, such as underarms or side seams – this is called pilling. Please don’t worry as this is a completely normal process with wool or cashmere, and requires only a little maintenance to keep your garments looking as good as new. Pilling can be easily removed using a product like our specially designed cedar wood pill comb. That said, try to avoid combing too often as excessive use can cause yarn fibres to break.

At GS, to preserve the natural beauty of the fibres, we choose not to over wash or use lots of conditioner on our knitwear to give it a fake soft feel. While this means our cashmere doesn’t quite have that well-known ‘super-soft’ handle, it does considerably reduce the chance of pilling. It also allows the cashmere to gradually and naturally soften over time, resulting in a longer-lasting quality that still feels beautiful to the touch, use after use.

For Brushed Wool Styles such as the Lunan, Leslie, Laide and Lenzie, the pilling may occur in a different way to an un-brushed style. Instead of small balls of fibre forming, the brushed wool may rub together where there is more friction (places such as underarms or side seams). Again, this is a completely normal process and requires only a little maintenance to keep your knitwear looking as good as new. As the fibres are brushed and elongated to create this almost felted texture, we recommend using a gentle wire brush to even out and elongate the fibres; this will have them looking as good as new in no time.

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STORAGE

When storing your GS sweaters and cardigans, it is best to wrap them in acid-free tissue paper and store them in a clean, dry area. Avoid hanging them up using a coat hanger, as this can cause garments to lose their shape and could leave hanger indentations in the shoulders.

If you are worried about moths, try adding natural lavender, rosemary or cloves to your drawers or wardrobe. These are an effective yet kinder alternative to mothballs, which often have added chemicals that can irritate allergy sufferers, small children and animals. Genevieve has written a fantastic blog around getting rid of moths and making your knitwear last a lifetime.

Alternatively, try our GS lavender and cedar wood bags. Hand-crafted using lavender picked by Genevieve herself at a local farm in the beautiful Finchingfield, Essex, they’re gentler on our environment and our families – both human and animal.

IN KNITWEAR WE CARE

Our How to Care for Knitwear Guide serves as a valuable resource providing you with the knowledge and tools necessary. From tips on washing and storage to advice on handling delicate fibres, we’ve curated a comprehensive guide to ensure your pieces remain as pristine as the day you acquired them.

In addition to our informative guide, we proudly offer a selection of premium knitwear care products to elevate your maintenance routine. From fragrant lavender bags that gently infuse your wardrobe to wool combs and completely natural liquid detergents, we spare no effort in sourcing the finest products, passionate about safeguarding your knitwear investments.

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WINTER ACCESSORIES & SOCKS

For winter accessories such as beanies, scarves and gloves, we recommend following the same hand-washing advice as you would for sweaters and cardigans. This ensures the longevity of your beloved wool winter accessories, keeping them looking and feeling their best for seasons to come.

All of our sparkly viscose and cotton socks are machine washable: to care for them best, we recommend putting them on a 30-degree wash program.

Our Merino wool socks are crafted to withstand the rigours of machine washing, making them a convenient addition to your laundry routine. We recommend using a gentle 30 degree wash to ensure they receive the best care possible, preserving their softness and integrity over time.

On the other hand, our Soro Merino wool and cashmere socks should be hand-washed only. These lounge socks are designed for pure luxury and are best saved for indoor wear – we know you may want to show off your gorgeous GS socks outside too, but the cashmere fibres can pull if teamed with outdoor shoes. We advise hand-washing only to safeguard the delicate cashmere fibres from potential pulling, ensuring they remain pristine for your indoor relaxation.

Please avoid tumble drying any of our socks, as this causes the fibres to shrink and become misshapen – as good as we are here at Genevieve Sweeney, we wouldn’t be able to work miracles and fix misshapen socks.