Common Mistakes in Home Finishing of Knitted Garments

Home finishing of knitted garments – especially when working with yarns to be finished – is a delicate phase.
Many issues such as felting, stiffness, loss of shape, or “disappointing results” are not caused by the yarn itself, but by common mistakes made during home finishing.

Let’s go through the most frequent ones.

1. Using Water That Is Too Hot

This is the number one mistake.

Natural fibers (wool, cashmere, alpaca, etc.) do not tolerate high temperatures, especially when combined with movement.

What happens:

• the fiber closes

• the garment over-compacts

• there is a serious risk of irreversible felting

👉 Basic rule: always use lukewarm or cold water.

2. Changing Water Temperature Between Washing and Rinsing

Even if the water is not hot, temperature shocks are dangerous.

Typical mistake:

• washing in lukewarm water

• rinsing in cold water (or the opposite)

Result:

• fiber stress

• stiffness

• loss of elasticity

👉 The temperature must remain consistent from start to finish.

3. Rubbing, Twisting, or Wringing the Garment

Many people treat knitwear as if it were cotton.
This is a serious mistake.

What NOT to do:

• rub the garment

• twist it to remove water

• wring it forcefully

Consequences:

• deformation

• localized felting

• damaged stitch definition

👉 Water should be removed by gentle pressure only, never by twisting.

4. Using the Wrong Detergents

Another very common mistake is using:

• aggressive detergents

• universal laundry products

• overly degreasing soaps

These products:

• dry out the fiber

• remove elasticity

• make the garment stiff over time

👉 Always use a detergent specifically designed for natural fibers, gentle and low-impact.

5. Over-Fulling in the Belief That It Makes the Garment Softer

Fulling is a tool, not a shortcut.

Typical misconception:

“If I full it more, it will become even softer.”

In reality:

• excessive fulling compacts and closes the fiber

• the garment loses definition

• the lifespan of the product is reduced

👉 Fulling must be light and controlled, never forced.

6. Hanging the Garment to Dry

Hanging a wet knitted garment is one of the most underestimated mistakes.

What happens:

• the weight of the water stretches the fabric

• the garment elongates

• shoulders and edges lose shape

👉 Knitwear must always be dried flat, on a horizontal surface.

7. Ignoring Resting Time

After finishing, many people want to “see the result immediately.”

Mistake:

• handling the garment as soon as it dries

• folding or wearing it right away

Natural fibers need:

• time

• rest

• stabilization

👉 The final result becomes evident after several hours (or even a full day).

8. Judging the Yarn After the First Treatment

Especially with:

• cashmere

• recycled cashmere

• carded yarns

The first treatment:

• opens the fiber

• starts the process

• is not always the definitive result

👉 Often it is the second treatment that truly reveals the yarn’s potential.

9. Treating All Yarns the Same Way

Every yarn is different in terms of:

• yarn count

• twist

• fiber type

• structure

A common mistake:

“I always do it this way and it always works.”

👉 Every yarn must be understood and respected, not standardized.

10. Assuming the Yarn Is at Fault

This is the most widespread mistake.

When a garment:

• felts

• becomes stiff

• loses its shape

The first reaction is often:

“The yarn isn’t good.”

In most cases:

• the yarn was perfectly fine

• the finishing process was not

Home finishing is not complicated, but it requires:

• attention

• gentleness

• awareness of the fiber

A yarn to be finished does not forgive mistakes, but when treated correctly, it delivers outstanding results.