WIW: GAP Sweater again and again! - YouLookFab Forum

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WIW: GAP Sweater again and again!

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

What can I say! I love this cozy, warm sweater and wore it this past weekend in cooler-than-normal Palm Desert temperatures. I've been wearing the navy one so much (I also got the cream one, too), because it truly keeps the chill of winter off my always cold body, even in Southern California, and it is just so darn comfortable.

GAP navy blue turtleneck sweater (sized up one)
Ann Taylor navy and white striped long-sleeve tee
Zara orange skinnies (purchased last year at my first YLF meet-up)
Sam Edelman python booties (Angie's shoe twin)
Orange, cream, purple and ink blue striped scarf (random purchase at World Market)

But, this past weekend, for the first time, I noticed a bit of, what do you call it, pilling? How do you get rid of that as I want it to look sharp and fresh and I don't want to have to buy a second one as a backup, but I would if I had to, I like it that much. (Slow down. I'm better off waiting until next season to see what Angie has in store for us!).

Is there an implement or some tool for "jumpers" and "sweaters" that I can use to clean it up a bit? I didn't think I was so hard on it, but I must have been. Plus, I realized when I put my sweater away, it was on top of another one or two and the top of the sweater rubbed against the drawer.

Here's a question for you: Do you store your sweaters/jumpers in a dresser or hang them? I think I need to be a bit more careful when I put this one away and not be so rough. I'd love to hear how you store yours and how you handle pilling.

I also use the "Rae-recommended" Dryel 30-minute in-dryer cleaner for wool sweaters and silk blouses and it seems to work fine. Do you hand wash, dry clean or use a home product like Dryel for these winter items?

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31 replies

Latest reply was from Vicki

sarah

Veteran

Hi Vicki,

You look terrific. I find I wear mine all the time, too. I have both blue and cream - the cream one is on today, to try and beat the -11F temps outside : (.

I find that the blue one "pills" quite a bit. I know that the fabric store sells "sweater shavers", although I haven't ever bought one. Now might be the time. I've been washing mine in the washing machine on the "hand-wash" cycle, and drying flat, and that seems to work well.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

SUCH a gorgeous Urban Prince

I love your outfits, Vicki! You wear your looks to perfection.

I hang and fold knitwear - all heavy knitwear is folded. I hand-wash some of my knitwear (hand-wash setting in the machine), and take all the cashmere and merino to the cleaners.

moira

Veteran

You can buy a sweater shaver. I am not sure where, but I have seen them.

If it a sweater that I am very fond of or is quite delicate, I will fold it and hang it over a hanger. It takes up more room in the closet but it does protect them.

sarah

Veteran

See this post at Already Pretty:

http://www.alreadypretty.com/2.....ove-4.html

morethanbeige

Veteran

Vicki, you look so adorable and stylish at the same time!

Anonymous

I've used a sweater stone to remove piling. It creates a dusty little mess of its own when you're using it, but the results were satisfactory.

http://www.sweaterstone.com/

Lyn D.

Veteran

Lovely Vicki- especially the way you are wearing the scarf with the turtleneck. I haven't seen this before and like the effect.
I fold all my woollens and hand wash. They are stored in a plastic-coated wire basket on the shelf above my hanging space.

kellygirl

Veteran

You always look so polished and sassy, Vicki. Your WIW's always make me smile. You have such a great sense of style.

Anonymous

A normal disposable razor works too -- just be gentle so you are just cutting the pills off and not the fibres.

cinnamon fern

Veteran

You look fantastic! I wouldn't blame the pilling on yourself, some sweaters pill no matter how careful you are.

Anonymous

You look great too!

pil

Veteran

Vicki, the blue sweater with the orange skinnies and scarf is so fresh, I love it! Both my navy and cream sweaters have pilled, but I just pick off what I can. Guess I'm not too particular.

Sara L.

Veteran

I think the sweater looks great on you and I love the fun scarf. I fold and store all my sweaters on a shelf in my closet.

Kristin SF

Veteran

Gorgeous!

I noticed pilling on the sweaters *in the store even*! So it's not just you.

Kristin SF

Veteran

Oh this looks interesting!
http://www.jcrew.com/womens_sp...../39237.jsp

Anonymous

Vicki, your Gap sweater outfit exceeds expectations! I just bought a sweater shaver at Bed Bath and Beyond, brand Evercare. It runs on 2AA batteries. I used it today on a delicate cashmere sweater and am thrilled with the results (best if sweater is on a hard surface). I'd tried a regular razor on this with less good results.
I store most knits folded in drawers. The chunky ones like the Gap sweaters get folded and put on a shelf under my hanging clothes because they are too thick for the drawers I have.
I hand wash and dry flat on racks often laid in the bottom of the bathtub. I also use the Dryell method to refresh them.

Anonymous

Forgot to add that I love the way you wear the scarf with this. My navy sweater chafes my neck, although the ivory version does not. I'd been wearing a tissue weight turtle or shirt with collar up under it, but like your idea better.

Jjsloane

Veteran

I love mine too and have been wearing it every weekend. You look amazing in yours (so stylish). I also have the sweater stone (must ignore the sulfur smell as it goes away quickly but it does the job gently) I store my sweaters out of season in Container Store plastic bins (after washing by hand and hanging or dryelling) I keep them on my open shelves in my closet in season.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I share your love for the Gap sweaters. You look fantastic! I have used Dryel like methods on mine(woolite dry cleaner sheets). I wear a tshirt under it and that seems fine. I have noticed a bit of pilling but nothing I have dealt with yet. I fold bulky items like these.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I adore this sweater on you, Vicki! I just washed mine on delicate cycle in the washer, so far it looks unchanged.
This sweater is too heavy to hang it, I fold it on a open shelf i the closet.

krishnidoux

Veteran

... and this sweater loves you too! The orange is just brilliant with it. Sorry about the piling... hopefully you can resolve it soon and continue to adore your cute addition.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You look fantastic in this combination, Vicki! LOVE the sweater with the booties (waving to my bootie twin) the jeans, and the fun scarf.

My grey Gap sweater has also pilled a bit. ALL knits eventually will. Not much to be done about it. Better quality usually but not invariably lasts longer.

I have a sweater stone from Eddie Bauer but as Anne said it makes a mess you have to vacuum up. Also I fear it is too rough for finer knits. I used to have sweater shaver, too. Not sure where it disappeared to. I have used a disposable razor as well, but you do have to take care.

I fold most of my knits. And I wash them all (including cashmere) in the handwash setting in the washer in a lingerie bag. Block on towels to dry flat.

rae

(website)

Veteran

You look so cozy, and I envy the way you can wear a scarf atop a t-neck!

Diana

Veteran

You look great; I love the navy and orange together!

I use a sweater shaver similar to the one in the already pretty link above. Works pretty well, but it does take some time to get all the pills. I hand wash ALL my sweaters (I never dry clean them, supposedly the chemicals are bad for delicate natural fibers like cashmere.). I always block and dry flat and store them folded - these two things are essential to ensure sweaters, especially heavier ones, don't lose their shape.

Deborah

Veteran

Vicki, I adore this sweater on you. You look so stylish. Once upon a time I didn't see sweaters as fashion items, but now.... wow.

MNsara

Veteran

Adorable! I'm back to feeling sweater envy again (this one felt itchy to me

I'd fold any sweater with enough heft to pull itself down when hung. I also fold my sweaters in half (lengthwise), fold those arms under the body and drape it over the bottom bar of a velvety hanger. (does that make sense?) Arms are underneath the torso and what touches the hanger in case any little wrinkles are underneath in there.

I can get away with that for every sweater -- so they can all hang together.

Good luck with pills! I wish I'd shave or comb them, instead I pick them off (when no one is around

Carole

Veteran

You look so fantastic in those Gap sweaters! I am so sad they didn't work for me because the cozy way you describe them sounds so appealing right now! I have been known to use a regular razor to shave the pils from sweaters! Works quite well, actually.

MsMary

Veteran

You look fab, Vicki!

I have taken to rolling my knits rather than folding them. Fewer wrinkles and they take up less space.

And guess what? We watched "Downton Abbey" on the DVR last night and there were several great shots of the back of your head on the Viking commercial! Big fun!!

Amy

(website)

Veteran

I love this outfit! Great combination of colors and proportions.

Be careful of the sweater shavers. I've had some chew holes into my clothes. I much prefer a sweater comb or sweater stone.

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