Wear with love, handle with care by hand-washing ♡
Fine wools make a fabulous hand-knit garment with its luxurious and super soft feel. Like any fine textile, taking special care of your piece is very important so that it stays looking new.
Washing by hand is always recommended. This can be done by filling a basin that will be able to accommodate your piece comfortably with cold water and a mild and gentle soap. Submerge your garment in the water and let it soak for just three to five minutes, followed by rinsing in warm water. Without twisting or wringing the garment, squeeze as much water as you can from it. A great way to absorb excess liquid is to roll the item in a thick, absorbent towel. You can then squeeze or wring the towel with a gentle touch. Once you unwrap it, you can lay it flat in order to dry lying on a new, dry towel. Please note, darker colors (particularly reds) tend to run, however the impact and color dilution of your piece should be minimal.
Never put a fine wool garment into the dryer unless you plan to give it as a gift for a new baby afterward.
Dry clean
If you are not comfortable with your ability to care for your merino wool clothing, you can always send it to the dry cleaners. Most merino wool apparel can be safely cleaned by a dry cleaner, but you must be careful as frequent exposure to the harsh chemicals can damage the fabric and make the wool harsh, which sort of defeats the purpose of wearing merino wool clothing.
If all else fails...
Ask your mother.
Last Day to Apply is Monday January 15th!
What do I get for being a Third Piece pattern tester?
As a tester you get the pattern first and for free!
As a tester you also get:
- a special discount on test yarn and materials.
- access to our virtual community group to connect with other knitters
- A beautiful new Third Piece design made by you!
- A special thank you gift once feedback is submitted.
What should I consider before applying?
Skills: With each design, we specify the skills required to make the piece. Please be sure you are comfortable with the general foundations of knitting and the specific skills noted for the new design.
Supplies: At Third Piece, we often source our designs with a mix of our own brand of yarns + specially curated yarns. With each design we specify the yarn type, weight and yardage estimates.
While not required, we do recommend testing with the yarn the pattern was designed with*; however it is not required and you are always welcome to pull from your own stash. We will not provide the supplies to test knit but will list materials suggested.
*As a pattern tester, a primary perk of the program is receiving a special discount on the yarn and tools noted in the pattern test.
Timing & Schedule: With each test there is a defined start and end time for the testing period. We do our best to provide an estimate of the time to knit, but please be mindful of your own knitting speed and capacity in being able to complete the project within the noted time frame.
What are my expectations as a pattern tester?
Prior to moving into a Pattern Test, our designs go through a series of samples, size grading and review by our team. We are looking for your help to be an additional set of eyes and hands that can knit our pattern before we publish out into the universe!
As a tester, here’s what we’re looking for from you:
- spelling mistakes and typos
- feedback on size and fit
- confirm the final yardage/yarn requirements or weight of the garment
- an estimate of time to execute
- sharing of any images of the finished product/process
- honesty with details and ease of pattern interpretation.