How to Care for your Mittens
This is not as daunting as it might seem!
1) Pull the lining out from the inside of the wool. You’ll end up with the wool to one side and the lining to the other side, with the seam in the middle. This allows you to do a more thorough job of washing and drying them.
2) Wash the mittens gently in a sink of cool water, using a delicate soap. Liquid Woolite or Ivory work well. Squeeze the mittens to work the soap through the wool and the lining. Avoid rubbing, twisting, scrubbing, since these may cause pilling and distort the wool.
3) For best results, let them rest in the soapy water for 10-20minutes. Then, gently squeeze them again. If there are stubborn stains or lots of dirt, gently roll that area between your hands.
4) Rinse thoroughly in cool water and then under cool running water until the water runs clear. Squeeze out as much of the water as you can. Roll the mittens in a bath towel and squeeze out more water. Again, avoid rubbing, twisting, scrubbing, since these may cause pilling or distort the wool.
5) Lay the mittens on a dry towel in an airy place to dry them. Do not put them near heat although that is very tempting. The heat is likely to shrink the wool. Turn them occasionally. If you have a drying rack, that will help them dry faster. It could take a day or two for the wool to dry completely.
6) When they are thoroughly dry, stuff the lining back into the wool. Line up the seams and the thumbs.
7) Summer Storage Wrap the dry mittens in white tissue paper or a clean cloth and place in a cardboard or cloth box in a cool dark place. Avoid plastic bags, if you can. If not, be sure to wrap in tissue paper or cloth. If you have room in your freezer, that's a great place to store them for the summer. If not, a closet shelf will do. Avoid hot attics and damp basements.
Optional. Add a bag of lavender, artemisia and/or tansy, if you like the smell. These herbs will help repel moths. I would not add moth balls or flakes, as these contain toxins. The jury is out on how well cedar repels moths.
8) When cool weather returns, take out your mittens and let them keep your warm for another wonderful winter. Repeat for years to come. ©Heidi Hammel 2023
How to Care for your Hat
Here's a basic guide:
1) Wash the hat gently in a sink of cool water, using a delicate soap. Liquid Woolite or Ivory work well. Squeeze the hat to work the soap through the wool. Avoid rubbing, twisting, scrubbing, since these may cause pilling or distort the wool.
2) Rinse thoroughly in cool water and then under cool running water until the water runs clear. Squeeze out as much of the water as you can. Roll the hat in a bath towel and squeeze out more water. Again, avoid rubbing, twisting, scrubbing, since these may cause pilling or distort the wool.
3) Dry the hat by reshaping it and then placing it on a water glass, fleece-side out, in a cool, airy room until the fleece is dry. The wool might still be damp. Then turn the wool side out. Let it dry thoroughly.
4) Summer Storage Wrap the dry hat in white tissue paper or a clean cloth and place in a cardboard or cloth box in a cool dark place. Avoid plastic bags, if you can. If not, be sure to wrap in tissue paper or cloth. If you have room in your freezer, that's a great place to store it for the summer. If not, a closet shelf will do. Avoid hot attics and damp basements.
5) Optional. Add a bag of lavender, artemisia and/or tansy, if you like the smell. These herbs will help repel moths. I would not add moth balls or flakes, as these contain toxins. The jury is out on how well cedar repels moths.
6) When cool weather returns, take out your hat and let it keep your warm for another wonderful winter. Repeat for years to come.