HAND-MADE JUMPERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21399, 25 January 1933, Page 3

HAND-MADE JUMPERS

HOW TO WASH THEM ■■ AVOIDING SHRINKAGE It is the washing of woollen garments, these attractive hand-made jumpers, the fine woollen garments that babies and small children need in such numbers even in summer, that causes more heart burn-, ings than any "other branch of laundry work, and there are many "schools of thought" on this subject. There are those who believe implicitly in the cold-water method. With the cold-water method just sufficient hot water is used to dissolve the soap flakes and added to the required quantity of cold water, and the woollen garments washed and then rinsed in successive cold waters.

Others.. agaiu prefer warm water, and use a soap jelly made from pure soap and borax in just tepid water. Certainly woollen garments will shrink and become hard if the water is too hot or if the temperature of washing and rinsing waters is uneven. For the same reason woollen garments must never be rubbed or twisted or wrung. The suds in which they are washed should be rich, about 2inches deep on the top of the water, and the garments soused and kneaded. At least two or three rinsing waters of the same tepid temperature as the washing solution are necessary. While heavy, closely-woven woollen garments, like men's underwear, may be put through a wringer if the tension is loosened, loosely-knitted clothes are best rolled in a thick towel to remove the greater part of the moisture, then pulled gently into shape before being spread out flat to dry in a shady place in a current of air. Before washing a jumper, or, knitted garment, it is an excellent plan to lay it flat on a surface, and with tape measure in hand to note the bust, shoulder and under-arm measurements, the length and width of the sleeves, centre front and centre back. After washing it will be a simple matter to stretch or ease gently to the same size and shape, especially "if a ruler or some hard, straight surface is placed against the outer edges of the garment while it is being eased to shape. Another method is to lay the jumper, before washing, on a plain piece of paper and trace round it with a pencil, making a cardboard frame from this pattern. These hand-made jumpers must be handled carefully while ini the tub, for their own weight when full of water is sufficient to stretch them. They should always be dried lying flat. While direct sun and radiator heat should be avoided during this drying process, an electric fan will expedite the drying process without doing any harm.