Knitwear: 5 top tips to avoid bobbles (piling) | Accentuate Life and Style

Do you find your knitwear bobbles after one season of wear, leaving it almost unwearable ? Well, fear not! With winter fast approaching I’m here with five top tips to keep your knitwear in pristine condition, allowing you to wear your much loved cosy knits year after year.

Let’s get started….

TIP ONE: Consider the fibres in your knitwear.

Whether your knitwear is made from natural or synthetic fibres, it will still be prone to bobbling (or piling as it is also referred as) - regardless of how much you have invested in the piece. Cotton, acrylic, polyester, nylon and wool are all prone to the piling affect which can leave your favourite knitted items looking rather unsightly.

The bobbling is in fact caused by friction when the fabric rubs and the fibres break, gathering into small balls.

So is there a material that bobbles less than the others? Thankfully the answer is yes! If you’re looking for a natural fibre less likely to succumb to the effects of friction - Merino Wool is your girl. The fibre is stronger and woven tighter and therefore less likely to bobble so easily.

TIP TWO: Wash less often and in mild detergent

If you want to keep your knitwear looking new for as long as possible, it really isn’t necessary to wash it after every wear. Air dry your knitwear after each wear and try not to wash it until you absolutely need to. The swirling and spinning in the washing machine will contribute to the fibres breaking and ultimately bobbling.

It can also be helpful to switch from a powder detergent to a mild liquid detergent. The reason for this is that the gritty nature of powder detergent can be too abrasive for your knitwear.

TIP THREE: Wash your knitwear inside out

By washing your knitwear inside out, any bobbles that do form during the wash cycle are likely to occur on the inside of your garment instead of the outside. Magic.

TIP FOUR: Avoid the tumble dryer

Now, it is unlikely you’d look to throw your best knits into the tumble dryer - but if it does cross your mind - just know that not only can your item shrink, the abrasive nature of the cycle will break fibres and contribute to bobbling. Air drying your knits is not only better for your garments, it is also better for the planet.. Win win.

TIP FIVE: Remove bobbles that have formed.

Over time, most knitwear items will bobble to some degree. So to give your knits a new lease of life you can remove bobbles that have formed with either an electric bobble remover or a knitwear comb. I’ve listed some examples below.

Electric Fabric Shaver: Philips GC026/30 Fabric Shave £14.99

Fabric Comb: Woolovers Pilling Comb £5

Happy bobble-free knitwear season everyone !

Maria xx