WHY OH WHY ARE THERE HOLES IN MY SWEATERS??? - YouLookFab Forum

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WHY OH WHY ARE THERE HOLES IN MY SWEATERS???

MsMary

Veteran

I was all dressed to go this morning in my floral Halogen sweater from a couple of seasons ago, when I discovered a cluster of little holes right at the belt buckle. I noticed the same thing over the weekend on a v-neck lightweight black sweater. And it happens to my tees, too.

WHAT GIVES??? Is it my belt buckle? The button on my jeans? The seatbelt in my car?

Does anybody else have this problem, and have you figured out a solution? I am so sad because the sweater isn't really salvageable. Boo hoo hoo...

Halogen 'Photo Floral' Cotton Sweater (Regular & Petite)

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35 replies

Latest reply was from Elizabeth P

Marley

Veteran

Yes - I have this problem too! On pretty much any type of top - from tanks and tees to knit tops ( haven't noticed it on woven tops.) I have no clue what it's all about!

Greyscale

Veteran

Oh no! I do think it's probably belt buckles or jeans buttons. My thinner tees all get holes right around the front waist and I read an article about how common that is. Though I also have moth holes occasionally.

Diana

Veteran

This happens to me too, and it's super annoying! For me it mostly happens on thinner tees and lightweight merino or cashmere knits (which have weaker fibers in general). My husband's theory is that it's caused by office desks, because they are largely made from crappy particle board with rough edges these days. When he wore long ties more regularly, they always got shredded around that area; he claims that's one reason he switched to bow ties!

I think it's actually a combo of the jeans button and the counter/desk (where the two basically rub together with the tee in between).

If the holes are small, I just darn them closed with some matching thread. It's not perfect but not too bad either.

ETA: I almost never wear belts, so for me at least I think I can rule that out.

Mochi

Veteran

Awww, I remember that top. I almost ordered it myself.

That's too bad. I also have trouble with lightweight items. And the pilling.....gah. Sorry for not being more helpful....

Style Fan

Veteran

I noticed this on a thin cotton T shirt where my belt buckle was. I thought it was from my belt buckle. Very sad. Would Diana's suggestion work?

citygirldc

(website)

Veteran

Same here. I think it has to do with jeans buttons. I notice them mostly on my cotton tees and tops.

Anonymous

Hmmm, I never thought of a seatbelt as a possible culprit, but that makes sense.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I think it's the bottoms rubbing. I get it as well on delicate materials. I've thought about trying to figure out some solution but in the end I just do a half- or full tuck when I wear something delicate over jeans or trousers made with harder material like denim. I've considered sticking moleskin on the spot where they rub on my top?

cindysmith

Veteran

Belts, zippers, buckles, snaps, etc... They're hell on the bottom of tops and sweaters.

rachylou

Veteran

Oh no! Sure it's not moths?

donnat

Veteran

This happens to me as well. I always thought it was the belt buckle, but I have noticed it has happened to tops i wear with yoga pants. I have often wondered about this. Im thinking it might be a combination of counters, seat belts, thin fabric, anything that is slightly abrasive. Watching this thread hoping for answers.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

It has happened to me, too. It's inconsistent but always happens with lighter weight knits, either linen tees, or lightweight merino or other sweaters. For me, I'm pretty sure the culprits are jeans buttons/ belts. It will happen right around the semi-tuck placement, so something has been rubbing or perhaps pulling. It's such a shame. I managed to repair a cashmere sweater and it hasn't happened since to that one, but the linen and merino sweaters were toast.

Shame about that sweater -- it is so pretty.

DonnaF

Veteran

Do you/did you have stone counters? My soapstone counters are not polished on the underside. DH (the cook) was always getting little holes in his t-shirts until I got him a chef's jacket. I try to wear an apron any time I'm near the kitchen and haven't had a problem with holes although I semi-tuck a lot and frequently wear belts.

MsMary

Veteran

Rachylou, they look like moth holes but it is beyond comprehension that moths would only attack the exact same place in every single garment. Also it happens to cotton tees and I don't think moths like tees.

Putting moleskin behind the spot is a good idea -- I may give that a try. And I may try repairing. It's so frustrating!! I don't think it's from cooking because I always wear an apron.

JAileen

Veteran

For me, it's the kitchen counter that wrecks things.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Check your kitchen counters (esp. granite and other stone) for rough edges where you lean up against them. I ended up putting some scotch tape on the under edge of my counters because I finally discovered that that was the culprit for me. I also started semi-tucking to avoid the issue.

donnat

Veteran

I am going to try aprons for washing dishes.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Seatbelt is often the culprit.

Lyn D.

Veteran

Marilyn

Veteran

Hmmm.......yes, it's probably from rubbing against something. It's so frustrating when clothing gets ruined.

For a while my husband was constantly tearing the elbow out of his dress shirts. Same elbow and often shirts were not lasting more than a few months. Not good! I told him to stop rubbing his elbows on his office chair. After moving to a new office building, the ripped elbows stopped so I'm convinced it was the fabric on the chair arms.

MsMary

Veteran

Angie, the seatbelt is my prime suspect. I'm going to be more careful about that in the future!

JP

Veteran

That has never happened to me, but if it did, I would be upset! I know moths will cause that on wool, cashmere and silk, but cotton!!? So, I was curious and searched online. I couldn't really find anything too helpful, but these were the best answers:
http://www.today.com/style/why.....hey-t98391

http://www.deliciousdays.com/a.....n-mistery-

Can you darn it or add decorative trims over it? something that would go with the pattern/theme of the sweater, maybe sew a few little buttons here and there. I'm thinking something like these:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/2.....ref=market

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Anonymous

Be careful, moths do eat tees and if items are stored together can eat straight through one to the underlying one, thus holes in the same folded spots.

Anonymous

Also, from my personal experience they will eat synthetic fibers when natural are not around. Only larvae eat. Whatever they are laid on or can squirm over to and they absolutely will eat cotton. Dirty or clean.

Cee

Veteran

Mafia moth drive by ?

cindysmith

Veteran

I out on a favorite AG knit top today and it had a little hole in it NOOOOOOOO why do our favorite tops have holes?

cherylm

That is one reason I normally front tuck my shirts, especially when I am cooking. I hadn't thought about the seat beat, I am sure that is part of it as well.

Debora

Veteran

Mary, I get these, too. I've also wondered about all the usual suspects - seat belts, jeans buttons and counter tops. I seem to get them, regardless. They are always at the waist. I now suspect it is due to the fabrics used. Companies using lesser quality, shorter fibers that don't hold up to friction. Only a guess...wish I knew. It's aggravating, for sure.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

not helpful, but my first thought

Why oh why did she swallow that fly?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQHmZMf6zwo

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