Too bad about the sweater, Lisa p. If you did want to replace it, BR still offers in Hot Red the ribbed merino sweater you bought (in black I think) and really liked. It looks like the Hot Red is a similar orangey-red shade of the sweater you’re returning. I was looking at it the other day for myself—i love that color—wondering whether I wanted to spring for another sweater so late in the season.

I have a Boden cardigan that is pilling/fuzzing badly too. Have combed, washed, combed again, and finally trimmed...because the combing just kept making it worse. Four wears, I think. Half wool/cotton/alpaca, half polyamide. Frustrating.

How frustrating! Definitely a return! Reading through the comments — is the consensus that some poly in the mix makes the fabric more likely to pill?

The sweater that truly disappointed me was not BR but a Zella one. Below.

Soooo soft and yummy. Such a fun and easy style.

And complete and horrible pilling the first wear. I kept it. But honestly. It made me so furious. It's loungewear only now.

However, I got that Gleaner contraption. And guess what? It sort of works! For a sweater like this, it won't stop the pilling -- it will just tidy it up temporarily and it's still unacceptable. But for "normal" pills and wear, I think it may be a godsend.

I just ordered the steamery pilo fabric shaver ( I might be butchering the name) praying it works.

I'm not going to replace - in fact, I'm using this opportunity to not have to have broken my no-buying year. Karma, maybe?

I'll have to check out this gleamer thing.

Lisa, I'm going to try to take a few before and after pics today and I'll start a thread. I think my results are going to be mixed. But better than nothing and it's less than $20.

I think a sweater that pills as badly as yours is not going to be helped by something like that though.

Actually Suz and Lisa, I've had really good de-pilling results! But my word - you need elbow grease, time, patience and good light

These are the best tools. Post to follow in a few weeks. Trends posts first:

I just got back from Canadian Tire with a Gleener. Haven't tried it yet but I've got a variety of knits to try it on. My husband commented, "you sure are excited about that thing". LOL Simple pleasures.....like sweaters that don't look like crap.

Angie.....Yes, patience is a virtue when it comes to de-pilling and de-fuzzing. Looking forward to the trends report.

Ugh, that is frustrating and unacceptable. After one wear? No way.

I have one of these sweater shavers that I use mainly on merino blend sweaters that I’ve worn for years and get a little pilling over time, mainly under the arms. But that’s after many wears.

(I’ve had this gadget since college.)

Kari - I have 2 of those gadgets too .

I would not bother trying to shave that sweater. It is down to its bare bones after one light wear? Glad you are returning.

Took the offending sweater back to BR today . There was no problem at all returning it, and the store manager said that they have had "many returns" for this particular sweater because of pilling and excessive wear. Makes you wonder why the chain didn't pull it from stores when they already knew this was an issue. Well, not really, we all know what the answer is to that one . (eye roll emoji)

I did that once - returned a sweater with excessive pilling to Club Monaco - and they gave me such a hard time! They said it was 'issue cashmere' and 'expected to undergo some wear' and that they 'would return this one time' as if it was a favour to me. I informed them that one day's wear shouldn't result in such pilling, and if that was part of the garment then they should make that clear upfront, and that they weren't doing me a favour by taking back a defective garment.

And once at Lululemon, they refused to take back a pair of full-priced yoga pants - worn ONCE - because 'they were not meant to be worn at the gym or to come into contact with gym surfaces.' Honestly. I left in such a huff.

Haha, at least they were good about it Lisa ... But yes, annoying that they leave it there for others to buy!

Oh no! I just bought the blue one (like Angie's) and the bright pink...thinking of returning the latter. I hope luck is on my side. Hope it warms up for you!!

Roxanna - seriously? Yoga pants not to come in contact with "gym surfaces"?? Sometimes Lululemon is SO out to lunch. I returned (but not without a fight) a pair of Lulu yoga pants that pilled after one wear many years ago - and could not believe the attitude I got from the dude at the counter. He still works there, and I think about that situation every time I see him. And I agree Club Monaco can be stingy too - and up until recently , they didn't have a very customer friendly return policy either. Some of these retailers are lucky to have a customer base.

glad to see you returned it! irks me to no end with poor quality items...

I had a great Jcrew v neck Merino cardigan that was a top pick a few years ago. fantastic double weight, button & pockets. Even bought two colors. Well that sucker pilled almost immediately. I returned the unworn one, didnt think to take back the other. did a couple of sweater shaving sessions over the season, finally sent it to the donation bin as it made me grrr each time I saw it in the closet.

another reason I do like thrift or consignment shopping--you can see how well the garment has held up from washing, shrinkage etc.

Right?! It just sours you off the whole store. I agree that thrift shopping is great for helping identify those knits that can stand the test of time... the only problem is that there is one good quality knit for every hundred stretched out, piling, faded Joe Fresh sweaters.

That is PATHETIC service from Lulu. Makes me never want to shop there ever again, not that I shop there much.

Reallly glad you got your money back, Lisa. At least there is that!!

I've experienced this pilling with BR over the last 2 years. I must get one of those tools.

Re Lulu- can I pile on about the ATTITUDE of the SA's at that place? We go there when my son is home as he gets a military discount, and they put him through the wringer when he asks for it. I do love the yoga tights, but was noticing some pilling on my right leg the other day. My Old Navy tights hold up really well, just saying!

Glad you took it back- that's awful for one wear! And yes, if people complained about them, why keep selling?
And whaaaat?!?! Re: the Lulu leggings. Smh.