3 Tools for Removing Pills from a Handmade Sweater

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You invest a lot of time and effort into making your handmade garments. And it can be discouraging when they start to look worn out. We’re here to help! Here, we are sharing a variety of tools that can help you remove pills from a sweater—or any piece of knit or crochet. The result is a refreshed project that looks as good as the day you finished it, and that you’ll be able to continue to enjoy for years to come.

Above: Which one of these three depilling tools is right for your sweaters?

Why Do Projects Pill

Before we get into the tools that can remove pills, it is important to understand why they happen. As Woolmark, the leading authority in the wool industry, explains, it’s complex, but there are two main things at play: yarn and wear.

You may find some of your projects pill more than others. Look closely and compare them. It’s likely that the yarn used to make the project with less pilling has a tighter twist and is a fiber with a longer staple length. The project that pills more will likely have yarn with less twist and a shorter fiber length.

Focusing on the project with more pills, look at where they’re happening. Pills are most likely to occur where is more friction. So, you’ll see pills developing along the forearms, elbows, side body, and underarms of a garment. You won’t see them on the upper back or yoke … unless you’re sleeping in your sweaters.

Related: How to Clean Thrifted Knit or Crochet Items

It’s worth noting, pills are natural. They’re aren’t a bad thing. Expensive sweaters will pill just as much as inexpensive ones. See pilling as simply as a sign of wear, and an indication that it’s time to give your sweater a little extra love and attention.

Tools to Remove Pills from a Sweater

There are many different depilling tools on the market today. If the pills are large enough, you don’t need any of these tools. Just remove them by hand. However, if you have several sweaters that need depilling or the pills are particularly small, you should look at investing in one of these options.

A Basic Razor

The thriftiest way to remove pills from a sweater is right in your bathroom. You can use a basic shaving razor to shave the pills off fabric. However, you might not realize that it’s working as you do it. Unlike examples below, razors aren’t sticky nor do they vacuum feature of mechanical removers. Try rolling a lint brush over your fabric after shaving it to pick up all the bits.

Pumice Stone

Pumice is volcanic glass with a very sharp, roughly textured surface. The sharp edges of volcanic glass can be used to shave pills off the surface of a knitted or crocheted fabric. Sweater Stone Inc., a U.S.-based producer of pumice stones specifically for cleaning sweaters, is a great option. Just gently swipe the stone across the surface of the fabric to rub away the pills.

Rechargeable Fabric Shaver

Another option for removing pills from a sweater is a rechargeable fabric shaver [affiliate link]. These are very easy to use. You simply turn them on and start rubbing the perforated plate on the area of your sweater with pills. A small fan sucks the pills inside and spinning blades time them from your fabric. The only downside is that they don’t work as well on larger pills as the holes are too small and the suction isn’t that strong.

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With a bit of time and extra attention, your handmade garments can look refreshed and ready for another season of wear. Have you tried any of these tools to depill a sweater? Share your experience in the comments below.

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