YARN AND WASHING

When we knit, we only use pure natural materials, that is, there are no synthetic materials mixed into the yarn. Our preferred yarns are alpaca, pure new wool, Merino wool and a lovely thin mixed yarn that consists of 50% Pima cotton and 50% Merino wool. Every single yarn has different characteristics and the garments will therefore be very different depending on which yarn they are knit with. Pure new wool, Merino wool, Egyptian cotton and organic cotton probably do not require much of an introduction. Wool and Merino wool do not need to be washed very often. Wool is self-cleaning and carries away moisture, which is why it does not become sour and damp stained like cotton. Wool and Merino wool can be machine washed on a wool program at maximum 30 ^oC (80^o F). If you are concerned that the garment might pill, then we recommend hand washing. In addition, it is important that you use a wool detergent as ordinary detergents produce too much foam and can ruin the wool. After washing, it is advantageous to centrifuge the clothes in order to get as much water out of the clothes as quickly as possible. After centrifuging, gently stretch the garment back into shape and lay it on a towel and place it on a flat surface.

Alpaca is a fantastic yarn. In the Incan civilization, it was only worn by the nobility to show off their wealth. Alpaca fibers come from the South American camelid. The fibers are long and lustrous, as soft as cashmere and lighter than wool and have tremendous capacity to warm and insulate. This is necessary for the alpaca, which lives at up to 5000 meters height in theAndesMountains, where temperatures vary widely between night and day. Alpaca wool is very suitable for premature babies and other babies who find it hard to keep warm and who catch colds easily.

On the other hand, we advise you not to use alpaca cardigans and sweaters indoors for babies who produce a lot of heat or for children who move around a lot, as they will find it hard to get rid of the heat. If you are in doubt as to whether your baby is too warm, feel the back of the baby’s neck. It is best that the child is warm and dry on the back of the neck. If the child is damp there, it could be a sign that the child is dressed too warmly. For children who tend to be warm, our classic vest is a good way of dressing your child warmly without it becoming overheated. Like wool, Alpaca should not be washed too often, unless something has been spilled directly onto the clothes. A cardigan or a hat can be aired out once in a while, since Alpaca is self-cleaning, like wool. Alpaca can be washed on the wool program in the washing machine, but be aware that even if your washing machine keeps the maximum temperature at 30^oC, Alpaca wool does have the tendency to pill easily. If you would like to avoid that, we recommend hand washing at maximum 30^oC. After that, use the centrifuge and dry the item on top of a towel laid out on a flat surface, just as with ordinary wool and Merino wool.

All wool, Merino wool and alpaca begin to pill and gather lint with use. This is mainly due to the surface becoming worn when rubbed against something else, such as a snowsuit or a parent’s shirt when the child is being carried. If you would like to avoid pilling, you can either remove them manually or use an electric wool pill remover.