By Pat Munro

If you have ever had the pleasure of owning and wearing a cashmere sweater, you understand the luxury of that delicate texture resting on your skin. So then, what does a person do when their prized cashmere gets a moth hole, snag or rip? I can almost hear the gasps. Considering the process of getting that fabulous fiber knitted into a sweater, it’s no wonder how pricey each cashmere piece can cost you. Replacing anything cashmere is an investment for some, so don’t be hasty in donating it to a charity or worse throwing it out. Here, I will give you tips and tricks for caring for, and fixing that much loved cashmere.

Why is cashmere so expensive?

Cashmere derives from goat’s wool. Not just any goats, specialty goats which have been bred for generations in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia. The top of the line cashmere wool comes from a type of goat bred in the Mongolian mountains. These goats are exposed to temperatures -50 degrees Celsius or worse, which helps to make the wool very soft, and very warm. Every wool strand on the goat is gently combed in the spring months to keep the wool supple and untangled. The collected wool during the shearing phase are kept long and kept in the best conditions possible in order to retain the luxury.

How do I care for my cashmere?

Moths are the scourge of cashmere and must be kept away at all costs. To avoid these vile interlopers, you must take care in the storage of your cashmere.

Never hang your cashmere in your closet, instead place it in a sealed plastic bag. If you are not adverse to using cedar chips or moth balls, place these in a separate bag with airflow holes and put the smaller bag of cedar or moth balls inside the larger bag holding the coveted cashmere. Seal it tight, and store.

Having done this, your sweater may still be prone to snags creating little holes.

How do I fix my cashmere sweater?

If you discover small holes in your silk cashmere sweater, you can repair it yourself by either patching it from the inside or simply sewing a stitch or two. This does not require any previous knitting or sewing experience or knowledge, but it does require patience and concentration.

– Take your sweater with you to the yarn store so you can match the yarn as closely as possible. Look for yarn that most closely matches the color and thickness, or “weight” of the yarn in your sweater. You don’t have to use cashmere yarn for mending, but it would be best.

– Sometimes a simple stitch to link the lost stitches into the linked stitches might be all that’s needed.

– If the hole is larger than a few simple stitches you may want to place a small patch on the inside of the sweater in order to create a stable foundation on which to stitch the new wool.

– If you find the repair is too big or possibly too big for you, you may need a professional to take over. It is well worth the price of a professional, compared to what you would pay for a new cashmere sweater.

Finally, love of fashion is one thing, but love of cashmere is forever so why can’t your delicious cashmere last as long as you? It can if you take good care, believe me. Recently, on a vintage shopping trip into the city, I came across a gorgeous cashmere cardigan from the 1930’s. Apart from needing a good dry clean, it was in immaculate condition. A testament to the love some one else imparted on this sweater many decades ago. It is now part of my personal collection, and will hopefully live beyond me, if I take care of it properly too.

About the Author: Visit http://www.janestaffordtextiles.com for spinning wheels and looms, wide selections of yarns and weaving patterns to choose from.

Source: isnare.com

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