Know Your Yarn, Part 2
In our article, Know Your Yarn, Part 1, we talked about the different weights of yarn. Today, in Part 2 of this series, we’re going to discuss Superwash and Non-Superwash yarn.
Superwash yarn is wool that has been chemically treated with a chlorine gas to remove the scales and then coated with a plastic resin to keep it from felting when it’s washed in a washing machine. The fiber world is becoming more aware of the harmful environmental impacts this has and there is some movement towards finding less destructive processes. For now, the most common way to superwash yarn creates such toxic waste water that it is banned in the United States.
Malabrigo Rios is superwash, notice the depth of color
So, why is superwash yarn popular? Several reasons: the colors are deeply saturated because of the way it takes dye, it can be machine washed and sometimes dried depending on the instructions on the label, and it’s soft. All of this makes it great for items such as socks, baby clothes, or cowls.
Superwash yarn is heavier than non-superwash yarn and it tends to grow so it isn’t the best choice for adult sized sweaters. It also isn’t as warm which should be taken into consideration.
Most yarn intended for socks is superwash
If you’re going to make an item that will be machine washed and dried, it’s imperative to make a 4-6” swatch and wash it as you plan to wash your garment. You’ll gain valuable information by carefully measuring the height and width of your unwashed swatch, along with stitches and rows per inch. Measure again when it’s dry to see the difference and accommodate for that. There are differing opinions on whether or not to put superwash garments in the dryer. Some yarn tags say to machine wash and dry flat, others don’t mention anything about drying. Sometimes machine drying can help retain the original size and shape of the garment. That’s why it’s so important to swatch and launder!
Walcot Yarns’ Origin manages to have gorgeous colors and be non-superwash
Non-superwash yarn is wool that has not been treated at all. It’s fresh off the sheep’s back! This yarn must be gently hand washed and laid flat to dry. The colors tend to be a bit softer and more subdued. Textured stitches and cables look crisper in non-superwash yarn. Colorwork shines because the scales that are still on the wool cause the stitches to stick together and bloom when washed, resulting in a smoother result across colors.
Non-superwash yarn keeps all of the fire retardant and insulating qualities of wool. If you’re knitting with a breed-specific yarn, you can feel the qualities of the fiber particular to that breed. This yarn isn’t as slick and sticks to your needles better; it won’t slide off your needles as quickly so you’re less likely to lose stitches. And, if you happen to drop a stitch, those little handy scales make it easier for the dropped stitch to stop dropping!
Woolberry is non-superwash
How can you tell if a yarn is superwash? Look carefully at the label. It should say something like ‘SW Merino’ where it lists the fiber content. If there is no ‘SW’ or the word ‘superwash’ then you can be assured that it’s natural wool.
We encourage you to set aside some time to browse My Sister Knits for superwash and non-superwash yarn. See what differences are easy to see and feel. Now that you know a bit more about the two types, you can make more informed decisions about what you want for your next project!
Happy knitting,
