Your favorite sweater made from cashmere – now has a hole. Probably it is a moth hole or a tear from a sharp object or maybe climate factors made an opening. Now you can neither throw your beloved cashmere sweater nor you can wear it. What can you possibly do?
Fortunately, with the right materials and techniques, it’s possible to repair this high-quality clothing and make it as if a new one. These simple techniques will help you restore your cashmere sweater to its former glory and keep it looking beautiful for years. So grab your needle and thread, and let’s get started!
Identifying the Type of Damage
Well, there is a problem with the sweater but what created it? Cashmere is a natural animal wool, so it is extremely delicate to external factors. Here are some common types of holes you may encounter:
- Pilling is when small balls of fiber form on a piece of cashmere fabric. These balls can eventually break off, leaving small holes in the fabric. Pilling is usually caused by wear and tear or improper washing techniques.
- Snags are small loops or threads that get caught on something and pull out a strand of fiber. Snags can lead to larger holes if lots of threads are untreated
- Holes can be caused by pesky moths or other pests, as well as wear and tear over time. Holes can range from small pinholes to larger tears.
Choosing the Right Repair Method
Now you have discovered that the damage on your cashmere sweater is a hole. For holes, you need to use a cashmere needle to sew the opening from the inside. If the hole is large, you need to patch the area with cashmere fabric or cashmere patch kit. And don’t mismatch color and texture!
Pilling is quite easy to remove. A good lint removal will easily pull out fiber balls without cutting them off. On unavailability of lint removal, use scissors, but it is a bit time-consuming process. Don’t be forceful as you might cut the fabric. This will create a hole and you have to go through the repairing hole procedure.
Snags can be cut out using a seam ripper or scissors. As they are close to the surface, there is a high chance that you might poke a hole in the sweater. Using blunt scissors can pull out snag instead of cutting it. Handle with extreme care to avoid holes at any cost.
Kits to fix holes in Cashmere Sweaters
Now the damage is identified. The next step is to prepare your kits. Be very careful and attentive using these kits as delicate fibers of cashmere may not withstand your energy to fix a sweater.
Soft-bristled brush or a lint roller – Remove any loose fibers or debris from around the hole
Cashmere Thread – Matching yarn as your sweater color
Darning needle – Flat, blunt tip needle to sew cashmere sweater
Scissors – Cut the thread and trim any excess fibers
Patience – Take your time and use small and even stitches
Step by Step method to mend your Cashmere Sweater
From preparation to reinforcement, there are eight steps to fix the hole in your sweater. But if you have a larger hole in it, some extra procedure will be required to cover up the opening.
Step 1 – Clean your sweater
Rinse your cashmere sweater carefully before going into sewing. The task is to make it free of dirt and debris. Now, How to wash cashmere? You hand-wash it with cool water or give it to professional dry cleaners. Don’t use washing machines or hot water as this can shrink or damage the fibers.
Step 2 – Iron your sweater
Once you have a clean sweater, iron it on low heat. There might be some wrinkles and creases due to wearing or storing. A big no on ironing damaged area as it may cause further distortion.
Step 3 – Pin your sweater
Flip the sweater inside out. Lay your awesome cashmere sweater on a flat surface. Use safety pins or clips to hold any damaged areas together. Don’t pull too tightly on any areas.
Step 4 – Clean the area around the hole
Use a soft-bristled brush or a lint roller to remove any loose fibers or debris from around the hole.
Step 5 – Thread a needle
Get a needle and insert a color-coordinated thread on it. For example, use yellow thread on a yellow-colored cashmere sweater. Don’t use ordinary needles to secure the fabric and prevent further damage.
Step 6 – Start weaving
Insert the darning needle into your gorgeous cashmere sweater at one side of the hole, just outside the edge of the missing area. Pull the thread through until it’s snug against the fabric.
Step 7 – Weave back and forth
Cross over to the opposite side of the hole. Insert the needle into the fabric again, this time just inside the edge of the missing area. Pull the thread through until it’s snug against the fabric. This is a sewing/weaving process to cover the hole:
– Do not make a knot at the end of the darning thread
– Run the needle through one of the loops near the hole
– Leave the extra thread of about 1-2′ hanging at the end
– Sew through the adjacent loop as if creating a geometrical figure with eight sides
– After the eighth stitch, pull two ends of the thread and close the hole
– Knot twice with two ends
Step 8 – Finishing weaving
Trim any excess fibers. Use your scissors to cut any loose threads on the outside of the sweater.
For holes bigger than 1 inch
The process for fixing small and big holes in a sweater is similar, but the hole size may require different techniques or materials.
Step 9 – Cut the patch
Cut a patch from an area of the sweater. Or get an extra cashmere patch of the same colored yarn and texture. You can get one at a cashmere garment shop, nearby craft store, or online retailer.
Step 10 – Sew the patch in place
Sew the patch onto the inside of the sweater over the hole. Use small, even stitches. Store excess yarn properly for further use.
Step 11 – Finish and Reinforce
Trim any excess thread. Fluff up any areas that may have been compressed during sewing. You can always reinforce it with additional stitching or weaving for a stronger hold. Your cashmere hole is fixed.
What to do after fixing the cashmere sweater?
It’s okay if some mishaps or accidents make a hole in your favorite cashmere sweater. But if you have ruined expensive cashmere by carelessness, now it’s time to be more attentive. Excellent Cashmere products are so strong and timeless that they can be transferred from generation to generation. Start being more cautious while washing your cashmere, or storing your sweater to avoid moth damage. Proper care is what you need to do after fixing the hole in your sweater as the enemy of cashmere might do it again.