https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/surprised-by-stores-quality-pilling-solutions Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 18 May 2026 23:55:34 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/surprised-by-stores-quality-pilling-solutions#post-275211 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 18:41:14 +0000 jen321 275211@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for all the great advice! I will have to give some a try! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/surprised-by-stores-quality-pilling-solutions#post-275074 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 15:23:21 +0000 Lisa 275074@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm a fan of sweater stones, I have not met a sweater that hasn't pilled on me yet. Some take longer to pill than others but it always seems to happen at some point during the season. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/surprised-by-stores-quality-pilling-solutions#post-275007 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 07:46:52 +0000 lyn* 275007@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Pilling drives me bonkers.</p> <p>I second the comment about using just a regular disposable razor - that's what I have been doing.</p> <p>Before buying; I shun anything made with rayon because it has been terrible to me. I also do the thumb rub test. If it feels kinda pilly when I'm rolling it in between my fingers in the store; no chance I'm taking it home with me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/surprised-by-stores-quality-pilling-solutions#post-275001 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 05:35:40 +0000 Rachel 275001@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I pretty much never buy anything with acrylic, which seems to be the most likely to pill, regardless of the item's price or apparent "quality." It's not the only offender, just the worst (in my experience). </p> <p>When washing sweaters, I put them inside out and then zip them in a couple of lingerie bags. When needed, the sweater shavers are great (but TIME consuming!).</p> <p>As for your shirts, I'm guessing they are a blend with some polyester...another pilling offender (though some poly blends are great!). Pilling isn't just something that happens in the washing machine. It's more likely that it is happening while you are wearing the garment, which is why you tend to see pills where there is naturally friction, such as the underarm area. That why I try to avoid fabrics that I know will break my heart later...</p> <p>I enjoy shopping at thrift stores, which is a great way to learn more about which fabrics to avoid. Whenever I see items that have a new style but look thrashed, I take note! </p> <p>By the way, did you buy the items recently? I don't know about ATL's return policy, but maybe they would provide replacements for you. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/surprised-by-stores-quality-pilling-solutions#post-274974 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 03:51:28 +0000 Megan 274974@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree with Maya about fine guage knit wear. There's an Australian store called Kookai that sells the most gorgeously soft, very fine merino wool knits and they barely pill at all- my long black cardi gets worn several times a week in winter/spring/fall and it hasn't pilled at all. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/surprised-by-stores-quality-pilling-solutions#post-274964 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 03:16:36 +0000 Maya 274964@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I did what Rae mentioned once, but it did take a lot of time and my sweater still looked rather ragged. I prefer sweater stones because they are gentler. </p> <p>Natural fibers definitely pill. Cashmere and merino wool pill horribly, although acrylic is far and away the worst. In my experience, thicker yarns tend to be much more pill prone. For some reason my fine gauge knits pill less. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/surprised-by-stores-quality-pilling-solutions#post-274934 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 02:11:50 +0000 jen321 274934@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rae- I've never thought of that, kind of nervous though. Maybe I'll try it on an old shirt first.<br /> My winter coat has horrible pilling. I saw on a website that manmade material does this, and that cotton and natural fibers don't. I may be looking at the tag for the material more often. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/surprised-by-stores-quality-pilling-solutions#post-274822 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 21:55:44 +0000 rae 274822@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't have any solutions for pilling shirts, but I take a plain old disposable razor to my pilling sweaters with great results. Just don't apply too much pressure, or you'll make holes. I skim lightly over the fabric, and it shaves the pills right off. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/surprised-by-stores-quality-pilling-solutions#post-274785 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:51:06 +0000 catgirl 274785@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think quality is totally random from store to store and within stores. I have some great items from F21 and Old Navy. Sorry to hear about your sweaters pilling - that is frustrating and I have no solutions, just sympathy! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/surprised-by-stores-quality-pilling-solutions#post-274782 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:42:24 +0000 Mo 274782@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I only purchased from ATL once, a few weeks ago, and my sweater pilled under the arms after just a several hour try on period in the house! I'm not impressed - it went back and at their prices I'm not in a hurry to try again. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/surprised-by-stores-quality-pilling-solutions#post-274777 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:36:52 +0000 AJ 274777@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If the item has a stain, then I do not put it in the pillowcase. Otherwise the pillowcase seems to work for me. Yes, put only one item in each pillowcase. I knot it at the opening to leave room for the item to move around a bit in the pillowcase. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/surprised-by-stores-quality-pilling-solutions#post-274774 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:29:57 +0000 biscuitsmom 274774@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Do they really get clean inside a pillowcase? Any hints? Must put only 1 item in?....I use a lingerie bag, which has open spaces...Ive noticed a reduction in quality from several stores-aaggh! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/surprised-by-stores-quality-pilling-solutions#post-274750 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 19:46:49 +0000 wilson 274750@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't have any preventative tips but I did buy a heavy duty Orek sweater shaver a few years ago to clean things up. It works great but it does take time to sit down and do it. I'll be trying the pillowcase idea, it seems super easy. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/surprised-by-stores-quality-pilling-solutions#post-274746 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 19:41:11 +0000 AJ 274746@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I wash my cardi/sweaters in a pillowcase on gentle cycle. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/surprised-by-stores-quality-pilling-solutions#post-274669 Tue, 04 Jan 2011 18:21:39 +0000 jen321 274669@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So recently I bought two shirts and a sweater from ATL that I really like, and after washing and wearing maybe about 4-5 times the shirts are pilling. Also one of the shirts has a small hole on the backside. I even followed the directions and laid them flat to dry. I also have things from forever 21 which is a store that seems to get a bad review around here. My stuff from there has lasted much longer than these few items. Thoughts? Also any solutions to pilling? </p>