Dig out your favorite winter knits and put them back in circulation for daily wear!
During this period, I reward the past year’s sweaters, socks, and accessories with a gentle wake-up to ensure every garment is ready to shine this upcoming season, and I handle them with care to make them last.
Here are a few tricks you can use.
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Stored winter knits
If you have winter knits stored in tissue with sachets, they might be a bit musty, so itโs best to open them up a week or two before youโre ready to wear them.
Unwrap items and air them on hangers or a drying rack for several days to let any lingering scents dissipate.
Signs of insect or pest presence
Reviewing winter knits that have been stored together for holes or damage. If you find small holes or black specks, these could be anything from mouse poop to insect casings. If you suspect insect casings, put the items in bags and into the freezer for a week, then pull them out and carefully handwash, dry, and return them to the freezer for another week. This should kill anything that might still be living on the garment and salvage it.
Mend
If you find holes from snags or weak spots in the fabric, this is the perfect time to mend them. Search your stash scraps for any yarns that match. Choose to darn with patches for spots where the fibers have worn completely through and use the woven darning method for thin areas that havenโt entirely fallen apart.
De-pill
My preferred de-pilling tool is nylon, stiff-bristled brush. You can buy brushes designed specifically for this purpose, or a cheap, free toothbrush from the dentist will do a decent job. Avoid electric sweater shavers, and these cut through the pills.
Remove pills effectively by stretching the area taut and brushing, in short strokes, in a single direction.
Seasonal bath
Soak your socks, sweaters, and accessories in a warm bath in the tub or a large sink is all it takes to have them smelling fresh and ready for wear. Add a few droplets of your favorite essential oil to the water, plus some no-rinse wool wash, for knits that smell fresh longer.
You can wash my sweaters only once a year and only hats, mitts, and socks more frequently (I do that every other week).
Gifting or donating
Opening up last seasonโs garments might reveal that some of your knits just donโt fit within your wardrobe. If this is the case with any of your knits, use this opportunity to freshen them up and prepare them for either gifting or donating.
This is the perfect time of year to donate to shelters. There are even movements in some cities of knitters who hang knitted accessories on statues and fences in high-traffic areas with tags inviting those who need the knits to take them home.
This time of year is about the excitement of reconnecting with some of our favorite winter knits and taking pride in wearing them.
These few tricks will ensure that your knits look their best and make them last longer.