Cashmere Care Guide

Cashmere

Considered the best of all yarns. Cashmere is the finest wool available. It is also relatively rare (compared to other yarns) and challenging to produce, which makes it a more expensive material.

Cashmere comes from the Cashmere goat, which is kept and herded by the nomadic mountain peoples of Mongolia. Uniquely, these hardy Cashmere goats grow winter undercoats of exceptionally fine wool to withstand the bitter cold and harsh weather. From these white hairs of the undercoat, the best finest soft cashmere yarns are produced.

Todd and Duncan are our long-standing suppliers for fine cashmere yarns, selecting their wools from goatherds who uphold the highest standards of animal welfare and long term sustainable methods. Established in Scotland in 1897, T&D use the soft waters of Loch Leven to process the cashmere fibres before spinning and winding their super fine yarns, ready for our knitting.

A G.H.Hurt & Son knitted and hand finished cashmere piece provides exceptional craftmanship.

All wool is an environmentally friendly material. So, Cashmere’s natural fibre will biodegrade, releasing their natural nutrient back into the earth. However, G.H.Hurt & Son endeavour to make knitted pieces of real quality that will last a lifetime. Caring for your G.H.Hurt & Son Cashmere piece will ensure it will last a long time.

 

How to Wash and Dry Cashmere Shawls & Scarves

Due to the nature of our traditionally hand-finished pieces, knitted in fine quality yarns, please wash by hand only, in cool water not exceeding 30 degrees (Celsius) in temperature.

• Always wash your G.H.Hurt & Son Cashmere knitwear by hand.
• Fill a sink or large bowl with cool water, (not exceeding 30 degrees Celsius).
• Feel free to add a splash of specialist wool detergent.
• Place your piece into the water and submerge the whole piece.
• Gently rinse in the water before removing.
• To dry, gentle squeeze out any excess water.
• Then dry flat on a bath towel, away from direct sunlight.

Our Cashmere knitwear can also be dry cleaned as an alternative, if stains cannot be removed by washing.

Please do not : use a washing machine or tumble dryer, as the machine action may “felt” fine yarns ; or hang on a line, as it may become “stretched” ; or in direct sunlight, as this may cause patchy fading ; or near heat, as this may cause “shrinking”.

How to Store a Cashmere Shawl or Scarf

Make sure they are clean and dry when you put them away too, as moisture can encourage moths. For longer term storage, use a sealed container and consider using natural moth repellents such as cedar, rosemary or lavender, (as many prefer these to traditional mothballs).

For long-term storage, keep out of direct sunlight, as extended exposure to the Sun’s UV can fade your beautiful knitwear. Also, it’s a good idea not to store your woollen pieces in modern plastic packaging for a long period of time, some types of poly’ bag may discolour your items.

The G.H.Hurt & Son luxury gift box is the perfect way to achieve this. This sturdy box was also designed with storage in mind. Containing acid free tissue, to pack your shawl or scarf, your knitwear can be stored in the box, neatly folded, clean and dry, away from sun light and pesky insects.