How are you washing handmade blankets?

lhull · April 2009

I am finally getting around to washing the baby's stuff. Did you just throw them in with everything else? Gentle cycle? Thanks!

ljlkm · April 2009

Depends on what the blanket's made of? Is it a quilt? A knitted/crocheted blanket?

yo.mama · April 2009

Some of my handmade blankets came with washing instructions, so I applied that to all my handmade items. Wash warm on gentle, low tumble dry.

lhull · April 2009

ljlkm:
Depends on what the blanket's made of? Is it a quilt? A knitted/crocheted blanket?

LOL, yeah I guess that would help. They are both knitted.

Temp149801812508276 · April 2009

I washed them on gently cycle. I had one that was just a simple cotton-type blanket and then another that was a crocheted one. They came out just fine. We have a thin quilt on our bed, not hand-made but purchased from BB&B, and we wash it occasionally on gently cycle.?

aynjc · April 2009

I tried to wash the more delicate stuff together on gentle and air dry.

kellystoo · April 2009

yes! I washed everything. A lady from my mom's office made me a knitted blanket that is absolutely beautiful...I wasn't sure if I should wash it or not but couldn't bare the idea of wrapping her in a blanket that has never been cleaned so I washed it on gentle and air dried it...it was just fine.

ljlkm · April 2009

lhull:
ljlkm:
Depends on what the blanket's made of? Is it a quilt? A knitted/crocheted blanket?

LOL, yeah I guess that would help. They are both knitted.

Now it depends on what the yarn is made of. If it's acrylic or superwash wool, then you can wash on gentle cycle. Acrylic you have to hang dry or tumble on low (the yarn could melt otherwise). Superwash wool can be dried normally. If the yarn is straight up wool, you have to hand wash--machine washing may cause the yarn to felt. Most knitters wouldn't make baby items out of non-machine-washable yarn (except me, but I'm mean) so you're *probably* ok machine washing on gentle cycle and tumbling dry low.

Suparstarz714 · April 2009

I crochet blankets and I just tell people to wash like they would other blankets. I haven't had any blankets fall apart.

NoelleHansen · April 2009

I throw anything that might snag or get wound up and shaped weird into a zippered lingerie (sp) bag.It's fairly large and fits a baby blanket. I also use it for baby socks so they don't get eaten by the w/d or lsot in other clothes.

Aprilynn0206 · April 2009

i washed all of mine on gentle.. cold water.. and hung them to dry..

Chiperelli · April 2009

And use a gentle detergent too - like Dreft or Woolite

grinsandgiggles · April 2009

Gentle wash with cold water, or hand wash if very delicate. Depending on the blanket...air dry or tumble dry on the lowest heat. Knitted or crochet blankets should air dry. My mom (she's made blankets for years) always lays them flat on towels so they don't dry weird. You'll want to use a detergent like Woolite.

If you want the blanket to stay in great shape for years I would not wash it like you do all other blankets....they might stay in decent shape at first, but in time they will stretch and fall apart.

kyra&jp · April 2009

Great question!

aspade · April 2009

I wouldn't hang knitted blankets--they'll get all stretched out.

I would hand wash in cold also to be on the safe side.

As a knitter, I'm a little disappointed that not everyone who knit or crocheted for you gave you cleaning instructions. I always do--it's like rule #1. Otherwise, someone could easily ruin what you spent hours making, negating your otherwise kind and thoughtful gift.

On the other hand, most people use cheap yarn, which means acrylic and machine washable. You can probably tell if it's cotton--definitely go with cold and hand washing if so. And I would just use Woolite or some equivalent.

GL!

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