Hi Muffy,I enjoy reading your blog - it has lots of great insights, and has introduced me to some wonderful new-to-me brands (I've become a Lotuff Leather devotee.)I'm writing because I recently had a chat with the owner of a company called AlterKnit <https://alterknitnewyork.com/>, about a sweater I sent in for repair. If you haven't heard of AlterKnit, they are (I believe!) the very best at almost magically erasing snags, moth holes, repairing unravelled hems... anything a precious sweater might need, they can do it, tremendously well. They've saved several of my favorite knits over the years. Given your emphasis on helping readers think carefully about buying and preserving high quality items, I thought you might consider giving AlterKnit a nod on your blog. As you might imagine, the number of garments they receive for loving restoration has declined over time, sadly. I'd love to spread the word about what they can do.Thanks for all the work that goes into your blog - it's a delight!Best,
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
A Reader Email: Sweater Repair
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AlterKnit appears to do outstanding work! For those readers who are nearer the west coast, I can personally vouch for the work of Village Mending in Portland, Oregon. https://villagemending.com/
ReplyDeleteVillage Mending's Elise has repaired two decades-old sweaters of mine, both having suffered extensive moth/pest damage. It took a few weeks, but when I picked up the sweaters, they looked essentially brand new. Had I not known about the repairs, I wouldn't have noticed them.
I wish they did wool blankets. I have two Hudson Bay blanket with holes.
ReplyDeleteTry the company which "Nevada 8:10PM" recomended, village mending.com. As far as I see on their website, they did some blankets too.
DeleteAlterknit Here! We offer professional invisible repair on knit and woven fabrics. We have decades of experience. It doesn't matter if it's a blanket or a sweater or a coat. Text us a pic or two or three :) to 212 473 6363 and we can see if we can help!
Deletethank you
DeleteThis sounds like a wonderful company. Very useful post. Looking forward to getting several older sweaters fixed. My grandmother used to fix my sweaters when I was a young man. Always thought it was so odd that most don’t like to extend the life of their clothes. I guess it’s so much easier just to throw it away and buy something new
ReplyDeleteI used to have a lady fixing my cashmere pullover for last 25 years, nothing odd here. I wish I could have some of the clothes from the past, especially their quality.
DeletePerhaps it's not very usual for a woman to say but I truly hate shopping (or I started to hate it around 10 years ago when quality started to go down).
And btw, I always tried to use out rest of the fabrics which couldn't be rescued any more. Dog's toys, wardrobes refreshers usually there is enough fabric for this.
We are so very lucky to have a seamstress who has never let us down!
ReplyDeleteYes you are. There are very few seamstresses around at all.
DeleteAlterknit here again! Can't help but chime in! A good seamstress is hard to find ! Rarer still is a true Reweaver/Reknitter.
Deleteif they're a loose knit, I mend them myself.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this useful post. I just shipped for repair a red Pringle cashmere cardigan with gold buttons that the moths found. I purchased it in Scotland in the early 80s for, I’m guessing, £20 - 30. Now, I hope to wear it beyond the confines of the house. I don’t know where one would find the quality and thickness of cashmere today.
ReplyDeleteWithout A Trace (they have a website--just type in the words) in Chicago. I have sent several things to them and though expensive, when they come back you cannnot find the moth holes or snags. One time I sent two red items and they called me and the lady said one was not worth repairing! It was an outer wool sweater to a two piece set bought at J Jill. The hole was at the nape of the neck where the price tag had stretched it and somehow made a perfect round hole before I bought it. I had already worn it. My alteration lady tried to pull it together with basic sewing thread but it was shiny, not wool so I picked that out and sent it to Chicago. The lady said, "I'm not going to do it; it's not worth it....do you want me to send it back with the other piece we are doing?" I said to just throw it away. I did appreciate her honesty and wished at the time I had had hair long enough to cover the place! Since then I have sent two more things, those worn at outdoor jazz festivals and having sat in chairs in the dark with who knows what on them, the wool poncho by Eileen Fisher receiving a moth hole before I noticed. On that one she said the women work through microscopes and this would be a tricky repair, it might come back a little thin. They take threads carefully from other parts of the garment to do the work. It is not cheap, only for those items that you are in love with. Be warned! So worth it! I think they call you with an estimate before they do the work.
ReplyDeleteYou have got to create a book - a coffee table book - even paperback. Can a coffee table book be paperback? That Osprey with the fish - I mean come one - that's spectacular. I'm not even mentioning the MG and Triumph automobile photographs. All through school, the MG and Triumph owners were constantly engaging each other on which was better.
ReplyDelete