The Pilling Guide
Knitwear in detail
THE PILLING GUIDE
This year, our knitwear drawer opens even wider.
New jumpers, new cardigans, sleeveless knits and, above all, new yarns.
For this first instalment in our series about knitwear in detail, discover our pilling guide: everything you need to know to keep your knitwear looking its best for years.
We know that knitwear made from natural fibres such as mohair, merino or alpaca keeps you warmer, but these are also delicate materials that need to be cared for.
After a few weeks, the first washes and long days wrapped up in it, you may start to notice small bobbles appearing on your favourite knit — and that’s perfectly normal.
#1 Pilling: definition
To fully understand what pilling is, you first need to understand how knitwear is made.
When a jumper is knitted from natural wool, the yarn contains fibres of varying lengths. With longer fibres, the yarn is less likely to pill.
It is the natural movement and friction of everyday wear that cause the shorter fibres to work their way out of the yarn. They then tangle with others, forming small clusters — these are bobbles.
#2 What is the link with knitwear quality?
When you see these bobbles appearing, you might be inclined to think that the knitwear is of poor quality. In reality, it is a perfectly normal phenomenon, linked to the structure of the yarn, which is made up of fibres.
Pilling is influenced by a number of factors:
The type of wool: a “hairier” wool will be more prone to pilling.
The knit style: a tighter knit will generally be more resistant than a looser knit, from which fibres can escape more easily.
The quality of the yarn: a higher-quality yarn is made from longer fibres, which are less likely to work their way out.
The treatment of the yarn: to make yarn soft, its fibres are raised, which increases the risk of pilling.
Lifestyle: since bobbles are caused by friction, a more active lifestyle may cause them to appear more quickly.
#3 Knitwear takes work!
And once bobbles have appeared, what should you do?
We always recommend keeping your knitwear: bobbles do not mean a jumper is unwearable — far from it!
If you do want to remove them, there are several options:
1. Carefully remove the bobbles one by one.
2. Use a special knitwear brush or comb.
3. Use a shaver designed to remove bobbles from jumpers — use it carefully and sparingly, as it can easily create holes!
The best way to prevent this type of wear is to take care of your knitwear from day one: wash it by hand in cold water, leave it to dry flat, and air it out properly after wearing it…
We love them so much, and we wear them so often, that knitwear truly deserves this extra care, doesn’t it?
