I absolutely love these mittens! They are so soft and cozy! They have a very saturated color that is rich and beautiful. The mittens never fade or lose their shape. I do soak them in the sink with cool water and a mild liquid detergent called "Woolite", then lay flat to dry. Eight years ago my family flew to the top of the island, then had a large new bus drive us down to the lower end. It was an awesome vacation! I loved New Zealand! And my favorite part of the entire vacation was visiting the Tin Shed. We had lots of time to eat, walk around and watch the cute animals everywhere. Once inside it was nice and warm! All the ladies that helped us were extremely kind and helpful! I came home with huge slippers, super thick bed socks, mittens, lotions, etc!!! I live in the United States, I'm disabled, and am now bedridden. My feet and ankles are so swollen, I can't wear shoes. I love the thick combed lambs wool bed socks! I'm so glad that the Tin Shed has this beautiful website so I can look at the pictures, read the news and goings on, and feel like I'm back there once again! I don't know how many times I have purchased more socks, but now I have quite a collection! I love the bright colors, the dots and the stripes, and especially how thick and soft they are to walk on. Plus they are so cozy when I'm out in my wheelchair! Everywhere I go, I always get compliments on my socks! I think I'm up to approximately 10 pairs! And soon to be a total of 12! My order a couple of months ago was done online, and I couldn't believe how fast my package arrived! Even after all these years, I still feel like family! The Tin Shed is a very unique place to visit, and everyone must stop in to say hi and have a look! It's a wonderful, relaxing experience!