How to Care for Sweaters and Knitwear by an Expert

I am all about finding ways to maintain your current wardrobe so you can have it last and buy less. I was thrilled to learn about AlterKnit New York, a company that does expert invisible repairs to garments to extend their life and maintain their style. Specializing in invisibly repairing knits, I invited Miriam Mades from AlterKnit New York to share her expert tips on how to care for sweaters and knitwear to extend their lives.

I originally wrote this piece a few years ago, but am updating it as it's still incredibly important to find ways to care for our clothing to keep it in our closets, not needing to buy more and add to landfills. Even when donated, damaged clothing often ends up being trashed. The most sustainable thing you can do is to care for your existing closet.

What is AlterKnit New York?

AlterKnit New York is based in Queens and is expert in repairing garments. From your grandmother's coat with the brittle crumbling lining to that snagged Missoni dress you found at an estate sale, your beloved cashmere eaten by months or that perfect pantsuit ruined by a cigarette burn, AlterKnit can repair and it and make it look like brand new.

Known for being honest, transparent, and fair in pricing and estimates, AlterKnit New York is a favorite of celebrity stylists and vintage collectors for their incredible garment repair skills. But AlterKnit is available to all of us, with free shipping labels to send in your garments and free return shipping to all 50 states (call for international availability). This is a small company and work is done by hand so know this when considering time to complete projects and the cost.

AlterKnit New York offers reknitting, reweaving, knit alterations, cleaning, moth hole repair, de-pilling, restyling, custom knitwork, suit repair, and more. While AlterKnit has expertly repaired and reworked designer pieces from Chanel, Marni, Christian Dior, Pendleton, Givenchy, Valentino, Prada and more, AlterKnit can also repair your favorites from J. Crew, L.L. Bean, Brooks Brothers, or your beloved sweater from Macy's or suit from Ann Taylor. All brands (and even unknown/no labels) are all treated equally.

How to Care for Sweaters and Knits By an Expert

Many of you contacted me asking how to care for sweaters and knitwear; getting advice from a professional made sense, so I asked Miriam Mades from AlterKnit New York to share her expert tips. This is what Miriam does not just with her clients' garments, but her own personal wardrobe. Take it away, Miriam!

How to clean and store sweaters and knits

The most important thing we tell everyone is to CLEAN your clothes. Nothing is foolproof, but cleaning your clothes and storing them properly, especially at the end of the season, will give you a good chance that your knits will remain hole-free. Holes can come from critters, from the beauty products you wear, from your body itself. Removing the oils, fragrances, and products that can attract critters and eat away at fibers is the ultimate way to care for sweaters and knitwear.

You have choices when it comes to cleaning. Wash on delicate in your machine, hand wash in the sink or send them to your dry cleaner. But PLEASE clean them- your clothes will thank you.

Do fine knitwear and sweaters need to be hand washed?

Some items are suited for washing exclusively by hand, while others fare well in the machine. Check the garment label. For sweaters, we like to encourage a mix of hand washing and dry cleaning.

How should sweaters be stored?

Please don’t hang sweaters in your closet. The shoulders will start to get out of shape due to the stress points caused by the hanger. , the weight of the fiber can also stretch out the body's length. Fold your sweaters and knitwear like you would a t- shirt. If you need to remove any creases, you can gently steam them out with the low setting on your iron or with a garment steamer.

Do sweater shavers damage knits?

If you use your sweater shaver correctly, it can extend the life of your knitwear. Removing pills will help your garments look new and also remove a lot of the proteins that critters like moths and silverfish are attracted to.

To ensure your sweater shaver doesn't damage your knits, always use it when your garment is on a flat surface. I recommend using an ironing board so you can separate layers and access all edges of the garment without stretching or bunching.

How should one store sweaters at the end of the season?

At the end of the season, double-check all your knits for snags and holes before storing them. If you see any holes, sooner rather than later is the best time for repair.

After repairing hundreds and hundreds of sweaters and knits, we know that the sweater that is sent to us in November most likely had the holes in July. We know nobody wants to see feel or touch their cashmere fisherman sweater in the hot summer days but getting a head start of refreshing your wardrobe before the autumn season arrives will be worth it.

When the seasons change, you can store sweaters and knitwear in a breathable sweater bag with some cedar blocks or sachets for good measure. We don’t recommend storing clothing in plastic bins due to lack of airflow and the smell that the bin leaves on the clothes.

How to care for fine knits.

Fine gauge knits are delicate, and can easily snag. And snags can become holes if not quickly treated. Take care when putting on and removing fine knits. Jewelry should be put on after the knitwear is on, and jewelry should be removed before the knitwear. Never hang fine knits, fold them and store somewhere smooth to prevent snags on wood or other fibers.

Shopping list to care for sweaters and knitwear:

While holes, snags, and damages should be repaired by a professional like AlterKnit New York, there are some products you should have on hand to care for sweaters and knitwear like a professional:

• Garment Steamer: Steam out creases but also steam out smells from an otherwise clean sweater. I own this one and it is reliable and easy to use.
• Sweater Shaver: Remove pills not just for aesthetics but also to reduce the chance of holes from silverfish and moths. I own this one; there is a battery version and a rechargeable version, and I recommend both.
• Knitwear Wash: Especially for fine knits, do not trust them to your everyday laundry detergent. I really like this wool and cashmere wash for the gentle cycle as well as handwashing sweaters.
• Mesh Bag: If you do put your sweaters in the machine, placing them in a mesh bag like this will reduce the chance of them being pulled and stretched while cleaning.
• Drying Rack: Whether you handwash or machine wash your sweaters, they do best when airdried. A rack like this packs up to nothing but offers a ventilated way to dry sweaters without stretching or snagging.
• Breathable Sweater Storage: Sweaters and knits store best when they can breathe. I really like these bags.
• Cedar Blocks: Add some to your storage containers and tuck into drawers where you keep your sweaters and knits. They will help keep away moths and other critters that may feed on your sweaters. I own this set which offers cedar blocks on hooks to hang in the closet, balls to tuck into drawers, and rings that can go over hangers or slip into storage containers.