After a reader recommended AlterKnit <www.alterknitnewyork.com>, I asked the owner for some tips for storing wool, and repairing wool at home and by experts.
As with any service provider, the owner's advice holds: "Chatbot, email, and text all great tech tools but you should seek to connect with a real person, ask questions and listen to what they say they can offer. Online content can be inaccurate and before & after photos and videos can be misleading. Engage with the company you thinking of hiring. Results are important when reinvesting in your closet so really ask what you can expect."
Hi Muffy!
It’s great to be here on Salt Water New England. A customer introduced me to your blog and it feels like home!; I live in NYC now, but I’m originally from Marblehead, MA. Reading your blog, I remember my school girl days, when the air would turn crisp, the leaves would start changing and it was a time bring out my collection of fair isle sweaters—little did I know then that I would grow up to be a sweater fixer one day! On that note, we spoke about providing some helpful information to your readers on all things sweaters so here we go!
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| All photos provided by AlterKnit |
What are the best ways of storing winter knits?
The first rule of thumb is to fold them and leave them on the shelf or drawer. Please do not store them on a hanger. Not only will it stretch the fabric, our experience has shown that the shoulders become beacons for moths. We get many many items in for repair that have holes on the sleeve cap, especially from the front facing side of your closet.
During the warmer months, the first step is make sure you clean before putting away. Moths and silverfish or even your dog or cat are attracted to protein deposits-this can be from food, skin, hair or dirt, so cleaning is number one. Cleaning goes for outerwear too, especially your wool and cashmere coats. We tend to not clean outerwear regularly, but they get a lot of repeat use so make sure you clean those too! We get a lot of coats and suits in for repair so don’t forget about them!
At Alterknit we like to say that we can give you tips on how to prevent moth damage but that no one can promise a 100% foolproof method. Things are going to happen!
We suggest storing winter knits and wovens in breathable storage options-not plastic. There are storage bags that are a hybrid of natural and synthetic and those are ok. The bottom line is that we want the garments to be able to “breath”. This allows the air to circulate which prevents yellowing, weakening of the fibers and moisture build up which can lead to mildew. You can throw some lavender sachets or cedar chips in there, but be advised you will need to reactivate the scent regularly in order for them to remain effective. I like to throw some Irish spring soap bars around as they seem to not to like the smell too much and it maintains the smell for longer. You can cut up a bar and place it throughout the closet and drawers as well.
Now onto repairs which is a hot topic these days!
From our perspective there are three types of solutions to fixing damaged knits and wovens.
The first is to do nothing at all.
The second is to do it yourself.
The third is to hire a professional.
The question that needs answering is what kind of repair do you want?
If you don’t care about how it will look then a local tailor, seamstress or even you can take some fiber and close up the hole with a sewing needle. This method is not the same as reknitting or reweaving.
Reknitting and reweaving is a skill that takes years to become good at. So its up to you which results you want and what you are willing to pay for those results!
If you want a repair that will not only look like nothing ever happened but also provide you blemish free use for years to come then you want a professional.
When seeking out a professionals, not all are alike!
You want to determine if the person does invisible or visible repair. And the only way to determine this is by asking questions. Chatbot, email, and text all great tech tools but you should seek to connect with a real person, ask questions and listen to what they say they can offer. Online content can be inaccurate and before & after photos and videos can be misleading. Engage with the company you thinking of hiring. Results are important when reinvesting in your closet so really ask what you can expect.
If you have any questions we are here to help, so reach out to us via phone (212) 473 6363 or 24/7 on www.alterknitnewyork.com.
Wonderful information, thank you for this. I'll have to give the soap trick a try. Is Irish Spring particularly effective or will any strong scent do? I have an affinity for the Caswell-Massey Newport variety. Regarding wear spots and holes, I have my local tailor apply leather patches to the elbows of my thicker sweaters once they begin to give up the ghost. I recognize it is not a viable solution for all sweaters or an aesthetic all would desire, but it works for me.
ReplyDeleteHow do you wash the sweaters after adding the leather patches? Wouldn't the leather wrinkle and turn stiff after been soaked wet? I'd really love to hear about your experiences.
DeleteI have just folded away a lovely pumpkin Hawick merino sweater from fall 2014 because it's left elbow is just about to give in. It has been one of my favourites and is still in good condition otherwise, so I've been thinking about taking it to someone for patching. However, I've been hesitating because leather seems such a difficult material. Could something else be used instead, perhaps wool flannel or cotton twill?
Thanks in advance,
Ekku
Nothing fancy, just hand wash and lay flat to dry. The leather may crisp up when dried but always returns to form after a wear or two. As alternatives, consider a mid-weight canvas perhaps?
DeleteGreat information!! If Alterknit is checking comments: Do you have a recommendation for a good gentle detergent for washing woolens at home? Hand washing vs. the wool/gentle cycle on my washer?
ReplyDeleteI don't know what Alterknit recommends but we use Eucalan and it's wonderful. It doesn't have to be rinsed and leaves woolens clean and soft. Handwashing woolens is the way to go..
DeleteTo salvage a sweater rather than go out and buy a new one. Now that is something that is most definitely the thing before preppy. As my grandfather would say, “ Some people get to accumulate a lot of money because they don’t spend their money”.
ReplyDeleteIt’s just how you think
I've consistently heard the advice to clean your woolens before putting them down. However when you have 30 or 40 wool sweaters, a dozen wool sport jackets, wool trousers, and wool outerwear, that becomes a ruinously expensive and/or time-consuming proposition.
ReplyDeleteIs that because of moth damage? If so it's not really a problem here in the UK (and most modern quality wool garments are treated to avoid moth damage). If it was I would have the same problem as you.
DeleteFirst and foremost - clean your wool undies before you put them down. It’s imperative.
ReplyDelete