Superwash vs NonSuperwash yarn
If you have been around for a while, you have probably noticed that I knit only with non-superwash yarns.
So why don't I knit with superwash yarn? After all, it is very soft and easy to care for. Why choose something that needs to be washed by hand when you can just toss it into the washing machine instead?
There are so many reasons why I prefer knitting with non-superwash wool yarns, but before we get into that, let me quickly define superwash versus nonsuperwash wool yarns.
Superwash wool yarns have been treated with chlorine to remove the scales that coat the wool fiber and then the fibers are given a plastic coating. This means that you can toss this wool yarn into the washing machine without it felting. The lack of scales and the plastic coating make the wool fibers glide over each other without grabbing on to each other. This makes the superwash wool yarns super easy to care for because you can simply toss them into the washing machine. However, the superwashing process is rather polluting, and many of the wonderful natural properties of wool are lost in the process.
Non-superwash wool yarns have been left in their natural state. The wool is not treated in any way and nothing has been done to alter its natural properties. Non-superwash wool yarns can still felt and will break down naturally, leaving no plastic waste behind.
Biches et Buches create several lovely non-superwash yarns.
The superwashing process strips the wool of many of the natural properties that make it so amazing. Your garment made from superwash yarn is going to stretch out, stain, stink, and, ultimately, end up thrown out long before a garment made from non-superwash yarn would be.
When I knit a sweater, I want to be able to wear it for at least five years, and it needs to look good for that entire time. To make this possible, I need to knit with yarns that are going to hold up and help the knitted fabric keep its shape. The fibers in superwash yarns have had their ability to grip each other stripped and shellacked away. These fibers are going to slide past each other instead of holding each other and cause the knitted fabric to grow endlessly. The fabric will not be able to hold its shape.
Conversely, the fibers in non-superwash wool yarns can still grab onto each other and lend each other support. This means that the knitted fabric can retain its shape. The sweater will not grow until it cannot fit you anymore, and the stitch pattern you used will still show up beautifully instead of being distorted.
Simply put, if you want your sweater to last, use non-superwash wool yarn.
Your superwash sweater is going to stretch out until you cannot stand to wear it anymore. Plus, the fabric will end up distorted and just look janky.
The longevity of the knitted item is my biggest motivator for choosing non-superwash yarns, however, there are quite a few differences between non-superwash and superwash yarns.
Non-superwash wool yarn
Pros
Will last for a very long time
Will look good for a very long time
Is very easy to mend
Will be warmer
Will not stain
Will not stink
Cons
Needs to be washed by hand
Superwash wool yarn
Pros
Can chuck it in the washing machine
Cons
Will stretch out
Will stain
Will stink
Will lose its integrity and the stitch pattern will become distorted
Will not last very long
If you have been frustrated and disappointed by how quickly your superwash garments wear out, try knitting a sweater with non-superwash yarn. I'll recommend a few of my favorites down below this next photo.
All of these swatches were knit in non-superwash yarns.
This list of non-superwash yarns is not exhaustive. It includes yarns I have used, loved, and can highly recommend. There are way too many beautiful yarns for me to list them all.
Bare Naked Wools
I have knit with many of the Bare Naked Wools yarns and have loved every single one of them. Their whole ethos is yarn in its most natural, unaltered state. They offer many interesting fiber blends and yarns from less-common sheep breeds. I have knit with Stone Soup DK, Better Breakfast DK, Modern Deco Sport, and have a giant pile of Kent Worsted waiting to become a cabled cardigan.
North Bay Fiber Co
So far, I have only knit with Heritage DK, but I have a box of samples of every single one of their yarns. Heritage DK is a super soft and lofty. A dream come true for woolen spun yarn lovers. The Elemental line of yarns are all worsted spun and so, so soft. I’m dreaming up designs for all these yarns right now.
Biches & Buches lambswool
This yarn comes in three weights, fingering, DK, and aran. So far, I have only knit with the DK weight version. For my woolen-spun, slightly-rustic-but-not-itchy yarn loving self, it is an absolute dream. I’ve wanted to use this yarn for years and now knitting myself a colorwork sweater from it. I’m loving every stitch.
You can find the fingering weight version of Biches & Buches lambswool here.
This is an affiliate link. If you choose to purchase this yarn via this link, I will earn a small commission with no additional cost to you.
Barrett Wool Co
Wisconsin Woolen Spun Worsted Weight is one of my all-time favorite yarns. There is a reason it’s sold out so often! I highly recommend trying to get your hands on it sometime. It is lofty, a touch rustic, but not at all itchy. The fingering weight version of this yarn is a bit itchy for me.
Woolens is a bit rustic so if you are used to the baby-soft feel of superwash merino, you might find it a bit off-putting. I love it very dearly though. It creates a lovely cohesive fabric that will last a very long time.
Home Fingering is very smooth and not at all itchy although it doesn’t have a very “soft” feel to it. However, the fabric will last forever and look pristine. If you want your sweater to look perfect for years, this is an excellent choice.
De Rerum Natura Gilliat and Ulysse
Both these yarns are a delight to knit with. I used them for my books Forest and Woodland Ramble. Being woolen spun, they are ideal for colorwork although they also look amazing in textured patterns. I have been very pleased with how well these yarns are wearing. They are staying in great shape and not pilling much at all.
Quince & Co core wool yarns Lark, Chickadee, and Finch
I have used all three of these yarns many, many times. They are soft and delightful to knit with. The fabric is durable although it will pill. The pilling doesn’t bother me. I just shave them off every once in a while.
The Woolly Thistle
The Woolly Thistle is an online yarn store that carries a large selection of non-superwash wool yarns. You can browse their yarns by brand, weight, or fiber content. If you are interested in trying yarns from different sheep breeds, they have a lovely selection available to you. If you would like to indulge in a little online yarn shopping, you can find their website here.
This is an affiliate link. If you make a purchase via this link, I will earn a small commission at no cost to you.
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