Monday, November 12, 2012

The Hole-Y Redeemer

Have moths been snacking on your sweaters? Raise your hand (in the proverbial sense or by clicking "Like" as we do these days) if you recently pulled out your sweaters with the onset of colder weather, only to find HOLES!  Moths may like light but let me tell you, they LOVE cashmere, cotton and wool...especially wool.  Assuming those suckers didn't go to town and eat half way through your cardigan, there is hope both for redemption of your hole-y garment and prevention of future feeding frenzies.  Let's start with how to bring your sweater back to life.

Redemption:
A good tailor can seamlessly (pun intended) close the gaps, matching thread color to almost perfectly blend in with the rest of the fabric.  And here comes my plug for Seams To Fit.  Deborah and Toni know whats up when it comes to repairs.  They charge a few dollars per hole but if you have been hit hard by the moth monsters, they'll ease the pain with a volume discount.  I give them an A+ on matching thread color and blemish minimization.  Stop by their shop at 201 Bala Avenue 
Bala Cynwyd, PA. 


Prevention:
  1. Moth Balls are Out:  They are toxic and gross.  Try natural cedar blocks instead and scatter them throughout your sweater drawer/closet.  They smell great and repel moths..a two-fer!  
  2. Air 'em Out: Dry cleaning clothes, exposing them to the sun, high heat and extreme cold help too.  So break out your sweaters, shake 'em out outside and give them some room to breathe.   
  3. Keep 'em Clean: Keeping your clothes clean is HUGE.  Moths are only able to digest animal fibers.  BUT all of you who think you are safe with Acrylic and polyester...NOT SO FAST.  Moths, will cut through the fibers of the fake stuff just to get to dirt and stains on any nearby dirty wool. 
Don't be discouraged if you discover damage amidst your crewnecks.  We can SOS (save our sweaters)!