Cashmere Care – how to care for your knitwear

INSPIRATION

CARE GUIDE

- care for your handmade cashmere & wool

Quality over quantity - that’s what we believe at CARE BY ME.
Our cashmere styles are a timeless investment, meant to be cherished and passed down through generations. Made with love, made to be loved and made to last. Season after season, year after year.
Extend the life of your cashmere pieces with proper care, ensuring they remain timeless treasures in your wardrobe year after year.

Love for Cashmere

CARE BY ME cashmere styles are certified handmade and crafted with love on an old-fashioned hand-knitting machine without electricity in our social workshop in Kathmandu, Nepal. We use only Grade A cashmere – the finest and most valuable quality.

Cashmere is wonderfully soft, luxurious, and natural – and once you’ve tried it, it’s hard to live without, for both everyday wear and special occasions.
This luxurious fiber doesn’t deserve to be saved only for “best.” Wear your cashmere regularly; just treat it well so it lasts and stays beautiful longer. Do be careful not to wear the same sweater every day – just like shoes, cashmere and heavier knits need time to rest between wears.

How to clean your knitwear

Air your clothes

As cashmere is a self-cleaning fibre, products should only be washed when absolutely necessary. We recommend that you air your cashmere outdoors or in a damp bathroom instead of washing it.
This is usually enough to freshen it up.

Machine wash

If your product needs washing, we recommend that you wash your cashmere product in a newer washing machine on either the wool or hand wash program at 30 degrees and spin at a maximum of 500 revolutions.
Always use detergent intended for wool and never use fabric softener!

Hand wash

Cashmere can be washed by hand, but it often happens that you rub or wring the product, so we do not recommend it. You risk wringing it out of shape or damaging the fibers. If hand washing is necessary, wash one item at a time in lukewarm water and use liquid detergent intended for wool. Carefully lift the item out of the water. DO NOT wring or rub the material. Gently squeeze excess water out of the item with the palm of your hand and lay it flat to dry as described in the section; Keep the shape below.

Stain removal

Cashmere is naturally stain-resistant, but if a stain does appear on your cashmere sweater, we recommend that you wash it as described above. Do not rub the stain! Just dab it. If the stain does not come off by machine or hand washing, contact a professional dry cleaner.

Stay in shape

Never hang your wet cashmere to dry on a hanger. When wool gets wet, it can stretch easily and the weight of the water can pull the product out of shape. Instead, lay the product flat on a towel without stretching it (or rolled up in one) and let it dry at room temperature. Avoid drying on a hot radiator or in direct sunlight - never use a tumble dryer.

Fold your knitwear to maintain its shape and prevent it from losing its original structure. Never hang large, thick sweaters on hangers as they can stretch and lose their fit.

Ironing

You can advantageously iron your cashmere or wool products with full steam.
This gives the product the smooth glossy surface that characterizes cashmere, and causes the fibers to stand up so that the softness is maintained.
It is important that you do not iron lengthwise as you normally iron, but instead press the iron up and down on your cashmere - so that the fibers are pressed down again.

Natural fluff

Even with the finest cashmere, lint can accumulate on the surface of your knitwear - this is completely natural.

We recommend that you do not use electrical appliances or shave the cashmere, as you risk damaging the threads or fibers and thus creating even more lint or perhaps even holes.

Instead, use our cashmere comb, which gently removes lint.
Lay your knit on a flat surface and gently comb it until it is smooth and soft again. Alternatively, you can remove any lint with your fingers.

Buy your cashmere comb here

Storage of cashmere products

Do not hang your cashmere products on hangers. The products - especially heavier items - can lose their shape. Fold the product and place it in a closet or drawer.

Prevent moths

As cashmere is a natural material, it can attract pests such as moths and carpet beetle larvae. If the product is to be stored for a longer period of time, we recommend that you place it in an airtight bag.

According to an old household tip, to keep moths away from your cashmere and wool, you can use dried lavender in your wardrobe. Place a small sachet of dried lavender or a small tassel between your knitwear - it will keep your clothes fresh and smelling great while also deterring insects. Cedarwood is also a good idea.

Tip: Make your own lavender sachet

Gather dried lavender flowers in a small cotton bag, or make your own.
Use a regular plate to draw a circle on a piece of lightweight fabric.
Cut out the circle, place the dried lavender flowers in the middle of the piece and gather the fabric around them. Tie it all together with a pretty bow.

Put the bag in the drawer or on the shelf with your knitting – voilà!

Want to know more about cashmere? Then visit our material guide