I’m making a baby blanket for a friend’s mother, and so I want to be sure that she can machine-wash the blanket easily. The label on the hank said to hand-wash, but various sites that sell the yarn said machine-wash is fine. Is it fine to machine wash it, or how badly will machine washing damage the yarn?
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The biggest problem is probably going to be shrinking. If this were clothing, that would be a big issue, but for a blanket, it should be alright.
It’s very important to note that when you give handmade gifts to a baby or child, they’re going to need frequent washings. I’d select a yarn designed for baby projects for that reason. Most are acrylic, probably for their washability.
Machine wash…warm water, delicate cycle. Dry flat….blocking (not quite stretching) but pulling it square. I use a couple towels underneath, and then lay what needs to dry on my spare bed. (After I shut the door on the cat). Use warm water in the rinse too…its the change in the temp that makes the fibers shrink.
Well, these are the use and care instructions for this yarn from the Blue Sky website:
Hand wash or dry clean. Wash in tepid water using a mild soap. Do not twist. Shape and dry flat on a towel. Store your little treasure neatly folded, after all, it may be a family heirloom.
This does not mean that you cannot machine wash it, but any problems that occur in the yarn would not be covered by the implied warranty of useability. IOW, you do it at your own risk, if the yarn were to fall apart after having been machine washed, the manufacturer would not replace it since you failed to follow their use and care instructions. Cotton does not shrink in the same way that wool does, and, in fact, washing it in hot water is not recommended for other reasons, it may fade the colors for dyed yarns or it may actually stretch the garment. If you are going to machine wash it, hand knit garments should, in general, be washed after being placed in a lingerie bag to protect them from snagging and keeping them from being stretched in the spin cycle. Wash it on a gentle cycle in warm water, and has been suggested, lay it out on a flat, padded surface, gently shaping it, and let it dry in a place where it will not be disturbed by animals or other children.
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