Prevent Pilling

When shopping for items you wear frequently such as black cardigans or crewneck sweaters always look at the fiber content. While synthetic fabrics can look and feel like cotton or wool, knits with acrylic or polyester in them will pill more because it is an inherent quality of the fibers. Go for wool, cashmere, mohair, or cotton/wool blends. Although it will cost more, it will look better longer.

Abrasives accelerate pilling, so hand washing and line drying are the best options. Some fibers, such as mohair, must be dry-cleaned. Wash sweaters with polyester or acrylic in them inside out with liquid detergent. Don’t put heavier items, denim or jackets with zippers and pulls on it, in the same wash. You could use a lingerie bag for your knits in the washing machine to lessen the friction on the surface of the garments. Also, don’t hang your knits on hangers as this further weakens the fibers especially around the shoulder seams.

As for getting rid of the tiny balls of fiber already on your sweater, any technique is going to take some time. Sewing and craft stores sell fabric shavers, but I find sitting down with a razor blade and some time to kill effective and inexpensive. Pull the fabric taught and carefully lift from under the pill to break it away from the surface. Use a thimble on your finger to control where your blade goes.