Wool Fabric Care
How to care for wool knit fabric including wool jersey knit fabric, wool interlock knit fabric and wool blend knit fabric.
As your favorite online fabric store, our Nature’s Fabrics team is always happy to answer any questions you have about how to care for our fabrics. One specific question we get most often is, how do you care for wool fabric?
To help you out, we’ve put together a quick cheat sheet on how to care for wool fabric. Keep reading to learn more.
How Do You Care for Wool Fabric?
After creating your garment, you’ll want to follow generic guidelines for caring for any type of wool fabric. A few of the most important to remember are:
- Washing Wool Fabric by Hand: Clean the wool with a mild detergent in cool to lukewarm water. Soak for five to seven minutes before rinsing all the soap out and line drying. Never wring out the fabric, which can cause damage.
- Washing Wool Fabric in a Washing Machine: Use cold water and the gentle or wool setting, if available. Choose a mild detergent and avoid any scent boosters, bleaches, or detergents that have added bleach. Do not put the wool item in the dryer.
If you notice a stain on the wool fabric, you’ll want to treat it immediately. Do not use stain removers unless they state that they are safe for wool, and never use bleach. Dab the problem spot with a clean damp cloth until the stain lifts. If it is a particularly tricky substance, like red wine or paint, make sure to solicit the help of a professional dry cleaner. They often have more tools and experience to get the issue taken care of.
How Often Do You Need to Wash Wool?
One of the biggest misconceptions about garments and blankets made from wool fabric is that you need to wash it after each use. The truth is that you can get away with washing only once or twice a year, depending on the item and how heavily it is used. For example, wool blankets should only need laundering bi-annually or quarterly at the most for heavy usage. Sweaters and other apparel pieces can be washed every four to six wears, assuming they aren’t sweaty or soiled.
Should You Prewash Wool Fabric Before Sewing?
Absolutely! Start by either hand- or machine-washing the wool fabric on a gentle cycle with cold water. This will keep the fibers from felting, which can be a problem if you use warm or hot water. Once finished, line dry it and then press with the steam setting on your iron. From there, you should be ready to cut and complete your project with no issues. The most important thing to remember is that you want to keep the process as cool as possible, so no hot water and skip the super-hot iron.
Do you want to dye your wool?
We have a bit of a tutorial at Nature's Fabrics that will give some tips and tricks. Check that out here.
Finding Great Wool Fabrics Online
Looking for wool fabric in fun styles and colors? Nature's Fabric is your source for top quality wholesale and retail fabrics. Please visit our online fabric store to see our picks for the best wool, cotton, and bamboo fabric by the yard.