Machine washing -- my experience

[ibrew4u]

With the older machines, I could remove a woven wool item while it was still quite wet, then put it on a hanger and straighten the grain and pleats by hand, then let the garment air-dry. Knitted wool items, of course I block those.

Forgive my male ignorance, "block" them?

[room2ndfloor]

Blocking is what is meant when a label says "air-dry, flat." To block a knitted item, you blot it gently with a towel, without twisting. You then spread the damp knitted garment onto a horizontal screen, patting the knit and stretching it into its original shape. The knitting is then left on the screen to air-dry at room temperature.

The reason that wool knits are never to be hung to dry is that their own weight will distort their shape, sometimes permanently.

Since I knit a lot, I also have a lot of experience with blocking.