Ever wondered what superwash wool yarn is? In today’s knitting blog post, I’ll talk superwash wool yarn and what you can expect from it. I’ll even make some suggestions for knitting projects and share tips on how to care for it.
Whether you’re an experienced knitter or a first-time knitter, it’s always good to know the materials you’re working with. The more you know, the more it’ll make you a better knitter.
In this previous post, I talk more in depth about wool, its basic composition, and share other interesting facts. If you haven't read it yet, it might help you better understand this subject. Be sure to check it out.
Now, let’s talk about the process that changes regular, natural wool into superwash wool.
What is Superwash Wool?
Superwash wool is any wool fibre that has been chemically treated to make it machine washable and (usually) dryable. Since the fibre has been modified, the wool won't felt.
This chemical process removes the cuticles, or scales, and coats the fibre as shown in the images above. The treated wool fibre is then smoother and moves more freely since it no longer has scales to restrict it.
You can see how smooth the superwash fibres are in this close-up view of my Pioneer Gloves.
Get the Pioneer Gloves pattern from Boho Knits.
Try Malabrigo Sock, Diana in fingering weight for this project.
Obviously, these are just a few superficial details of what makes wool superwash. To better understand superwash and how it will behave in your knitting, let’s take a deeper dive.
Facts about Superwash Wool
In these next sections, we'll talk about superwash yarn characteristics and how it behaves in your knitting. Here's what you can expect from superwash wool yarns.
Superwash Yarn Characteristics
One of the benefits of superwash wool yarn is that it's been treated to make the wool fibre machine washable. The treatment process also prevents the natural fibre from felting. In other words, your finished knits will never look fuzzy or shrink, which is always a good thing.
When knitting with superwash yarns, you’ll find that they tend to be softer than non-superwash. If you find the natural fibre to be “itchy wool”, superwash might be a good solution for you.
Not only is superwash wool softer than natural wool, but it tends to be shinier, too. The amount of shine will vary based on the fibre type but, in some instances, it can really enhance the look of a finished knitted piece.
Typically, the shine is more often seen in dyed yarns with darker colors, like in the image below.
Get Daybreak Shawl from West Knits on Ravelry.
Try Manos del Uruguay Alegria yarn for this knitting project.
Another characteristic worth heralding, superwash wool yarn is always a good choice for knitting projects where gauge is not critical. Magic words, I know.
Knits that can “grow” a little like baby blankets and scarf knits are ideal projects for this type of yarn.
Another important detail about superwash wool is that it often has more plies and more ply twist. This is due to the superwash wool process and the need to make up for what it lost when the yarn was treated.
Superwash Yarn Behavior
As mentioned earlier, superwash wool is softer than non-superwash wool. Not only is it softer, but it’s also smoother than natural wool.
You’ll find your knitting stitches moving along your knitting needles more easily. You may also find that it helps you to knit faster, too.
And if you’re looking for better movement and more drape for your knitting project, consider using a superwash yarn. Just look at this Electric Love Mosaic Cowl. Knit with superwash yarn, you can see how it softly drapes and folds.
Get the Electric Love Mosaic Cowl knitting pattern.
Try Manos del Uruguay Alegria yarn for this knit cowl.
Adverse Superwash Yarn Behavior
Something you might not know or expect from superwash yarns is that finished knits may stretch or sag. This is due to the superwash wool process, which makes them less elastic.
Compared to natural wool, superwash yarns have less memory, like cotton yarn, and tend to lose their shape more easily.
One way to counter this issue is to knit tighter or with smaller knitting needles for the best long-term outcome. If you’re already a tight knitter, this may finally benefit you.
Another behavior to note is that superwash yarns can be slick or slippery, especially on metal needles. If this is happening, you might try changing your needles to a natural material. Wood or bamboo knitting needles will give your stitches something to grab on to.
Try ChiaoGoo Spin Interchangeable Bamboo knitting needles.
You may also find yourself splitting stitches or dropping stitches more frequently.
In my experience with superwash yarns, if I dropped a stitch, I noticed it would unravel faster than when I used natural wool, so you’ll have to stay vigilant. Check your work frequently for rogue stitches.
I can’t stress how important it is to have control of your knitting stitches and to have an even knitting tension. Uneven knitting could make for a sloppy finished piece that’ll only end up in the closet or getting frogged entirely. Your time and effort are worth way more than that.
So, for developing good habits and for your sanity, just knit a gauge swatch. This will show you how your yarn will behave before it’s too late.
Get the Paseo Blanket knitting pattern.
Try Berroco Ultra Wool DK 100% superwash wool.
Superwash Yarn Knitting Projects
The best part about superwash yarns is that they’re a great option for easy care knits. Some examples would be knitted baby blankets, summer knitting projects, knit socks, or any knitting accessories, really. They also make great lightweight sweaters.
They’re soft, cool, machine washable, and make great knit gifts.
There's something else you should know about when working with superwash yarns. I mention this because I know some knitters tend to find a yarn brand they like and stick with it if they produce quality results. Nothing wrong with that.
If you're wanting to use a certain brand of yarn but switching to their superwash, yarn gauge will definitely vary from their non-superwash. As I mentioned earlier, superwash yarns often have extra plies and extra ply twists as compared to non-superwash. This will change the make-up of the yarn and vary the gauge.
There's that word again: gauge. As always, knit a gauge swatch, no matter how sure you think you are. It's time well spent.
Also, superwash wool doesn’t bloom like non-superwash wool. This is especially important to know if you like to knit colorwork projects.
In case you're unfamiliar with this term, blooming occurs in non-superwash wool when it's washed and dried. When wool blooms, it becomes fuller, lending itself across stitches and sealing gaps. It's also what allows the colorwork to expand and fill in properly for the best effect.
Finally, if you’re hand knitting for someone who experiences cold winters, non-superwash wool is recommended instead. Superwash yarns do not wick away moisture like non-superwash wools and do not retain heat as well.
Hand Dyeing Superwash Yarn
shown here in Capital Sock SW are dove's cry, wide open spaces, and au naturel
If you like to hand dye yarn, you’ll be happy to know that superwash yarns are easy to work with. They take up and hold dye colors more readily than non-superwash wool.
Since superwash yarn is chemically treated, it withstands the heat that comes from the dye process. It also absorbs dye well and produces richer colors.
You’re sure to find bolder and more vibrant colors at your local yarn shops (LYS) and online compared to non-superwash wool. Similarly, you’ll find more unique color choices to make distinct creations.
Personally, I’ve had good experiences with mosaic knitting using superwash yarns. For example, like in the earlier mentioned Electric Love Mosaic Cowl and, recently, this Lazy River Cowl.
Get the Lazy River Cowl mosaic knitting pattern.
Try Malabrigo Sock in Aniversario fingering weight yarn.
Try Wayback Yarns Capital Sock in Dove's Cry.
We've covered a lot of ground here but there's still one last thing to discuss.
Superwash Yarn Care
Here are some tips to help you care for your superwash knits:
- Because of their lack of elasticity, you’ll need to wash your hand knit items more frequently to help maintain its shape.
- Also remember, superwash wool is still a natural protein fiber. Moths simply love to feast on wool, especially dirty wool. You’ll need to make sure that your superwash knits are cleaned regularly and stored properly to avoid them being devoured by wool moths.
- Even though superwash yarns have been treated for heat exposure, they may become compromised over time, which could lead to felting. Most superwash yarns recommend cold washing and air drying flat to best preserve your knits. As with all yarns, follow the care instructions on your yarn ball band.
Finally, just remember that superwash yarns will always vary from one brand to another, by type of wool fibre, and by wool or wool blends. As long as you keep this in mind as you knit with superwash yarn, you'll be fine.
Well, that wraps up our discussion of superwash yarn and what you need to know about it.
If you found this information useful or learned something new, drop me a note below and share your experience with me. I’d love to hear from you!
Lovely informative letter with tons of additional material available within, should a person want an additional pattern or yarn choice. Thanks Christina!
* Soft Heartspot: we adopted a rescue furry baby who couldn't walk, too weak to eat, etc ...10 years ago. Within a couple weeks of huggy-Loves, he was bouncing up stairs, loving his walks, & dancing circles for "cookies." Our "Kukui" (Candlelight), is the bliss of our hearts, the light in our happy days together!
Deborah, I'm so glad you're enjoying the newsletter! Thank you for taking the time to leave such a sweet comment. So very appreciated! ~ Christina
So glad to read this! I'd already purchased some superwash for a sweater and was worried when I read about the lack of elasticity. So glad it'll work as I love the colors. Thanks so much!
Hi Linda! I'm happy you found it helpful. If you're concerned about the elasticity, just make a swatch first. Then wash it, block it, and even hang it. This will give you a truer idea of how the yarn behaves. Luck!
Another great article Christina! Just this summer i knitted a couple garments with superwash indy-dyer yarn; they are so soft & turned-out well. Thanks for the information about caring for this type of yarn. Have a Happy Autumn!🍁🌻🍁
Thank you so much, Deborah! So glad you found it to be helpful!
Happy knitting!🧶 ~Christina 😊
Very interesting article. I searched for this information because I’ve used superwash yarns and just felt like they performed differently but couldn’t put all the pieces of the puzzle together. Now it makes sense. I want to revert to untreated yarn but having a terrible time finding 100% untreated merino. Any suggestions?
So glad to hear this article helped you, Sharron!
Yes, I do have some suggestions! Some brands that come to mind are Cascade, Berroco, Plymouth Yarn, Patons, and Rowan. It's hard to be more specific without knowledge of your budget or the yarn weight you're looking for, but there are many to be found. If you're looking online, you might find search filters that factor in "hand wash only". You could also just type in "100 wool" and see what comes up. Sometimes you'll see this option come up as wool for felting. It's the same thing, even if you don't plan on felting a project. I hope this helps! Happy shopping!
I just finished a sweater in superwash wool and it turned out about 2 sizes larger than my previous sweaters I knit with non superwash wool. Im not happy with this saggy sweater especially since it was costly. Can i shrink it in the drier?
Oh no! Sorry to hear this.
Before you throw it in the dryer, first check the care instructions on your ball band. Some superwash yarns shouldn't be dried in the dryer.
If it is machine dryable, bear in mind that it still may not change or shrink your sweater.
If you do a Google search, you'll find all kinds of suggestions and recommendations. Heed them with caution.
Basically, you have three options: 1) take a risk and see; 2) rip it back and start over; or 3) give it to someone who can wear it.
Best of luck!
I have been using superwash merino blends for some childs winter hats.
But I'm having trouble finding these to purchase online.
I read somewhere that a blend helps the item to keep it's shape.
So what is a good blend?
I've used worsted weight 75% merino superwash 25%polyamide; and
50% superwash merino 25% Alpaca 25% Viscose.
Thank you!
Janette, great question! As you probably know, superwash yarn is great for easy care, especially for children's knits, but because of the chemical process, the yarn is stripped of its natural elasticity (memory). Other factors also come into play: knitting to gauge, the stitch type (ribbed, textured, etc.), and the size of your needles. Knitting looser than recommended gauge or knitting with large needles and creating loose fabrics will make it difficult to retain its shape.
Superwash yarns that have a majority of wool in their blends are your best bet. Try them out by knitting small swatches and washing/drying as the yarn label instructs and see how they hold up. That’ll save you a lot of guesswork and time.