Let's Talk Pilling

This is dull.

But you’ll thank me. Honest.

Pilling.

(Yawn)

Pilling is where you get those irritating little bobbles all over your new jumper. And while this is not the most fascinating subject – buying a lovely new sweater that turns into a dishrag overnight CAN BE AVOIDED.

Here are the facts.

Pilling happens when loose fibres in your jumper come into contact with friction. You will get pilling under the arms of your jumper, on the shoulders and hip if you carry a tote bag, right smack diagonal across the front if you drive a lot and are law-abiding.

All cashmere sweaters pill a bit. It’s normal for the fibres that have been spun into yarn to settle down – bit like when you get tufts of fluff on a carpet when it’s first laid. But, pilling is reduced when the fibres are longer – logically they are twisted in more so they fall out less. GRADE A cashmere is made of fibre that is that is 3.6cm long. Basic cashmere is 2.8cm or less. It’s not a lot of difference, you’d think, but it is.

So, what you’re looking for when buying a cashmere jumper that won’t pill is… GRADE A cashmere. If it doesn’t say GRADE A – it isn’t.

You can’t tell by looking at a jumper, or feeling it, whether it will pill. Google ‘how to spot a cashmere jumper that won’t pill’ and you’ll be told to go around rubbing jumpers in order to create some friction. You may get funny looks.

If you don’t want to get arrested, instead, look for 100% GRADE A cashmere.