Guide to Washing and Blocking Your Hand-Knits & Crocheted Treasures

Guide to Washing and Blocking Your Hand-Knits & Crocheted Treasures

You turned sticks and string into a piece of wearable art—now let’s lavish it with the gentle care it deserves! Laundering wool doesn’t have to be scary; with the right products and a dash of confidence, you can keep every stitch springy, soft, and ready for adventure. Just follow these simple steps to clean sweater success!

Step 1: Gather the Dream Team

  • Eucalan Wool Wash – a lanolin-enriched, no-rinse formula that cleans while conditioning fiber, so there’s less handling and absolutely zero suds to chase away (available in-store). 
  • Strucket – a clever two-part bucket-and-strainer that lets you soak and drain with the greatest of ease. Snap, lift, and let gravity work its magic.
  • Cocoknits Knitter's Block – eighteen interlocking EVA-foam tiles with a textured surface that speeds drying and adapts to any project shape, from itty-bitty baby sweaters to lace shawls with ample wingspan.
  • Cocoknits Super-Absorbent Towel – feather-light felt-like cloths that drink up water far better than a standard bath towel, shaving hours off drying time.
  • KnitPro Knit Blockers – comb-style blockers with multiple stainless-steel pins that create perfectly straight edges (think crisp shawl borders or cardigan fronts) with half the effort of single T-pins.

Having these heroes on hand turns “laundry day” into a mini spa session for your stitches!

Step 2: Pre-Wash Prep: Pause & Measure

Before you add a single drop of water, give your item a quick once-over: weave in any sneaky ends, adjust the tension on any snags with a spare needle tip or Handi-Tool, note the pre-wash dimensions, and check for any unfortunate stains that might require an extra touch of love. You’ll want to dab those ever-so-gently with a dot or two of wool wash.

Step 3: The Gentle Soak

  1. Fill & Fragrance: Pop the Strucket’s inner strainer into place and fill the outer bucket with cold or cool water. Add a capful of Eucalan—pick a scent that makes your heart sing or stick with Unscented for fragrance-free bliss. Swish lightly.
  2. Submerge & Chill: Lower your woollies into the bath, pressing it below the surface so every fiber drinks up the lanolin-rich water. Now walk away for 15–20 minutes; Eucalan’s no-rinse formula means you’re soaking for clean fiber and lasting softness, not for agitation.
  3. Hands-Free Drain: Ready to lift? Grasp the Strucket’s handle, click the strainer into position on the edge of the outer bucket, and watch the grey water stream out of your garment. No squeezing, no wringing, no wrestling large dripping wet things! Let it sit here until the water stops running out. Then give it a light press if you like to get a touch more water out for good measure.

STEP 4: Bye-Bye Excess Water!

Lay a Cocoknits Super-Absorbent Towel flat, spread your damp garment on top, and roll it up sushi-style. A gentle press (or a few light happy dance steps) pushes gobs of water into the towel. Unroll your towel to reveal fabric that’s damp, not dripping.

Pro tip: swap the first towel for a dry one if you’re blocking a large cardigan or blanket; the drier your piece is at this stage, the faster the next step goes.

Step 5: Block to Brilliance

  1. Build Your Canvas: Click together enough Cocoknits blocking mats to match your project’s footprint, aligning the included one-inch cotton cloth grid on top of your mats if you want super-precise symmetry.
  2. Pin with Power: Starting at the center of one edge, slide a KnitPro Knit Blocker just inside the bound-off edge, then work outwards, stretching gently until the fabric opens and the edge straightens. Corner curves? Use the shorter four-pin blockers for perfect arcs. 
  3. Shape & Smile: Smooth lace points, coax cables into proud relief, or open up brioche so it blossoms. Because the soft surface “grips” the fabric, pieces stay put while drying without introducing pilling or leaving any fibers behind.

Leave your masterpiece alone in a well-ventilated room alone until it’s bone-dry. No cheating! Give it a joyful—but gentle—snap as you lift it from the blocking boards and feel that beautiful bounce!

Step 6: Extra Love Notes

  • Mind the Temperature: Sudden swings from hot to cold water can felt even the finest Merino. Keep it cool!
  • Skip the Spin Cycle: Machine agitation and centrifugal force break delicate fibers; your Super-Absorbent Towel does the job minus the drama. 
  • Store Smart: Once fully dry, fold (don’t hang) your wool garments to prevent shoulder dents and sagging. A lavender sachet or cedar block discourages moths while adding a whiff of calm.

The Wrap-Up: Celebrate Every Stitch!

Caring for hand-knit and crocheted pieces is less about chores and more about honoring the hours of creativity you put into each loop. With Eucalan’s gentle cleanse, Strucket’s hands-free soak, and a powerhouse blocking squad from Cocoknits and KnitPro, you’ll transform laundry day into a confidence-boosting ritual. So cue your favorite playlist, pour a cozy cuppa, and revel in the magic—your woollies will thank you with years of warmth and wonder!

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