Wool care – essential tips and products

The Truth

Natural fibres will always pill and bobble to a certain extent, it’s simply an unavoidable fact. Some mistakenly believe that the more you spend on clothing, the less you’d expect this to happen. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but regardless of how much you spend on woollen clothing or accessories, this will still occur where certain fibres are concerned. From designer to high street, from mass produced to handmade, it’s universal.

Don’t despair! Luckily there are plenty of things you can do stop this from happening. You can even revive tired, old worn out garments with the help of some handy wool care tips and a few fantastic products.

Pilling and bobbling occurs when fibres rub together, so think underarm areas and perhaps where you sling your shoulder bag over your knitwear. This is particularly common with softer, chunkier yarns and fibres that are often spun more loosely. When pilling happens, this can make your knitwear look shabby and ready to throw out. But I’m pleased to say, with the right wool care and a little preening your garments can look good as new.

Here’s how I go about reviving my knitwear. I hope you find at least one of these recommendations helpful! And please comment if you have any handy tips to share 🙂 sharing’s caring!

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Knitting Nottingham exhibition

This month, Nottingham’s Bonington Gallery (part of the Nottingham Trent University School of Art and Design campus in the centre of our beautiful city) played host to a celebration of textile technology and history. Nottingham was built on textile design and production (predominantly lace) and although our once thriving textile sector fell into decline following World War II, you don’t have to  go very far to see the influence this foundation of industry and design has had on our little city.

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Brooklyn Tweed Anais sweater

This was a labour of love, but boy was it worth it! The Anais sweater by Brooklyn Tweed was actually the first full garment I ever knitted and I have to say I didn’t make it easy for myself! Although it’s knitted mainly in stockinette, there are beautiful little details in the waist shaping, and the fashioned decreases grafting the sleeves to the neck. Then there’s the stunning lacework for the cowl neck. A very intricate knitting pattern for a novice!

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Knitwear faves – AW14 part 2

One blog post just wasn’t enough to cover all of my favourite autumn/winter jumper knitting patterns that I’m desperately in need of! (If you missed my last post click here!) And as I’m ‘knitting for me’ this autumn, my list keeps getting ever longer. So stick the kettle on, grab a blanket and put your feet up while you check out the rest of my must-haves for this year.

Chloe – Jo Storie

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Knitwear faves – AW14 part 1

It’s my favourite time of year, when the leaves start to turn and the cool air begins to bite, and my choice of jumper becomes progressively thicker day-by-day. This two part blog explores my favourite jumper knitwear and knitting patterns I’ve discovered this autumn. Comfy, cosy, snuggly, warm and soft – don’t these all just make you want to curl up in a ball with nice hot cup of Ovaltine?

Danforth – Quince & Co.

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Couture knitwear

I’m always amazed at what people can do with a bit of yarn and some imagination. I had a lazy Sunday this weekend and spent a good hour or so browsing endlessly from website to website gawping at beautiful couture knits.

Some of these are pre-2014, but worth a mention nonetheless. Just take a look at this knitting eye candy. Links to all of the designers shown are included below. I heartily recommend you check them all out – and let me know if you’ve got a favourite knitwear designer!

Motohiro Tanji couture knitwear - Shortrounds Knitwear
Image source: Motohiro Tanji

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