Depilling cashmere
What is pilling?
Part of cashmere’s allure is that soft halo that surrounds the sweater. This halo adds that extra soft cushion to the overall luxuriousness of the piece. With regular wear the top halo hairs become tangled, causing pilling most commonly in high-friction areas like under the arms and the sleeves. The higher quality the cashmere the less likely the piece is to pill. That said, with the simple routine care of washing and depilling regularly, any cashmere sweater will look and feel like-new!
The tools.
After many years of trial and error we settled on two depilling methods - depending on the style of knit. The depiller you use will depend on the knit of your garment. With finer more delicate knits, we suggest using our rechargeable electric depiller that removes the surface pills with its rotating blades. This depiller is perfect for both thin and thicker knits, and collects the fluff internally, allowing for a mess-free job. With thicker knits, the two sided manual comb will work great! Though simple in its form, it will allow you to gently rake over the surface and catch all of those loose fibres.
How to DePill Cashmere
CLICK BELOW TO WATCH OUR VIDEO ON HOW TO depill YOUR CASHMERE!
PART I
It’s amazing how a sweater can be transformed to look brand-new by simply depilling.
The best way to prevent pilling is to wash your cashmere often!
This allows the fibres to relax and prevent the fibres from tangling.
1
Prepare Your Tools
To begin, you will need a rechargeable sweater shaver or manual fabric comb and a flat surface. You may also want to have a lint roller on hand.
2
Inspect The Sweater
Lay your cashmere sweater flat on the surface and carefully examine the pills. Identify the areas that require attention, paying attention to high-friction areas like the underarms and elbows.
3
Test A Small Area
Before moving forward, it's advisable to test the sweater shaver or fabric comb on an inconspicuous area, such as the inside hem or a hidden part of your sweater. This will help ensure that the tool doesn't damage or snag the delicate cashmere fibers.
4
Begin Depilling
Gently run the sweater shaver or fabric comb over the pilled areas of the sweater using short strokes. Be sure to apply light pressure to avoid damaging the fabric.
Start from the top and work your way down, addressing one section at a time.
5
Clean The Tool
After removing a significant amount of pills, clean the sweater shaver or comb thoroughly to avoid transferring any fibres back onto the sweater.
6
Steam The Sweater
Once you've successfully tackled the pilling, it's a good idea to steam your cashmere sweater. Simply set your iron to the steam setting (med/high) and press on a flat surface.
This will help allow the fibres to rest and restore the sweater's overall softness.
7
Store Properly
To prevent future pilling, store your clean cashmere sweater folded in a drawer or on a shelf, away from rough surfaces or items that may cause friction.
Remember, the key to depilling a cashmere sweater is to approach the process gently and with patience. With proper care, your favorite sweater can regain its original charm and bring you warmth and comfort for years to come.