Understanding Pilling
What is Knitwear Pilling?
Knitwear pilling is just the little bobbles that can appear on a wool jumper when soft fibres work loose and rub together during everyday wear. You’ll usually notice them under the arms or anywhere your knit brushes against coats, bags or seat belts. It’s totally normal, even really good wool and cashmere can pill and it’s simply the fibres settling. A quick de‑pill now and then keeps everything looking neat.
How to remove bobbles / Pilling from Knitwear
The easiest way to deal with knitwear pilling is to gently remove the little bobbles with a de‑pilling comb or a fabric shaver. Just lay the jumper flat and work over the surface lightly - no pressing or scraping. Once the pills are gone, the knit instantly looks fresher. To slow pilling down, try not to wear the same jumper on repeat and avoid rough surfaces or bag straps rubbing against it. A quick tidy‑up every so often keeps your knitwear looking clean and well cared for.
How to prevent Knitwear Pilling
You can’t stop pilling completely, but you can definitely reduce it. Give your knitwear a day or two to rest between wears so the fibres can settle, and try to avoid rough surfaces or bag straps rubbing against the fabric. Washing on a gentle wool cycle with a mild detergent helps keep the fibres smooth, and always reshape and dry flat. Storing your jumpers folded rather than hung also protects the knit. A little care goes a long way in keeping pilling to a minimum.