[SJC]

Its nylon.

[bontempi]

??

[SJC]

Oh, no I think they call nylon acrylic.

[Nik]

Oh, no I think they call nylon acrylic.

That would be most unusual as the two are clearly distinct from one another. Any more info on this? Both acrylic and nylon are common additives to modern wool knit. Nylon makes a good mix for wool socks although the use for sweaters is a bit novel. Acrylic is a different story.

[Nik]

Question to those who have washed their Shawl Shaker:
Label says hand wash only. Any experience with machine-washing this one? 15 celsius, 30 celsius, whatever your experience was I'd be intersted to know. Shrinkage (I imagine very little) and how the wool reacts (surface fuzzying up or not?).

[Tommy]

This is probably not very helpful since you have probably already done a hand wash, but I found hand washing shrunk mine maybe 5% in the body but very minimaly lengthwise since I carefully stretched it while drying.

I also gently stretched the waistband downwards at a slightly inwards angle after blasting that part with hotwater. Any change there probably wasn't much more than a cm or two longer and maybe a cm at most slimmer on the waistband. But it seems to sit better now?

[SJC]

i did wool machine wash and flat dry.

[Guillermo]

Most washing machines have a setting where they basically only do "handwash" with wool garments. They just fill it a few times and rinse the item without shaking it which is what usually shrinks wool.

[Nik]

I already went ahead and washed it on wool setting. I know it's the agitation that can shrink wool, more so than the temperature (30 versus 15 celsius), even.
No I didn't wash it by hand before that. I HATE handwashing knitwear because machines, as Guille just pointed out indirectly, have actually become so good at it that it makes the handwash alternative look messy. However, I always fear that the integrity of the yarn (or how much individual fibers will get loose, fuzzying the surface and leaving lint on anything worn underneath) just might lessen more than necessary. When handling the wet sweater to lay it flat results in your hands getting full of fiber lint, that's a bad sign although sometimes the yarn gets its integrity back once dried. Will report back.