Jan, gran used to do the same. Her knitting needles were thick like long pencils.
I just weighed the jumpers and they are 1.4Kg (3lbs). That's a lot of wool per jumper!

The wool alone would cost something like £20 - £25 or maybe more, so they are a real bargain.
Saundra, I got a fact sheet of dos and don'ts and it is all pretty much what we oldsters would do.
Hand wash in warm water using mild soap. Rinse till water is clear. Do not wring or spin (use the towel trick). Dry flat. The washing will have to be done in the bath as I don't have a big enough sink.