You pulled your sweaters out for fall and found a hole. Then another. The damage happened over the summer, while the sweater sat folded in a drawer. October is just when you find it.
Here is how to tell if it is moths, what to do today, and what we can fix.
Is it moths?
Clothes moths do not eat your sweater. Their larvae do. They feed on protein fibers: wool, cashmere, alpaca, mohair and silk. Cotton and synthetics are mostly safe unless they are blended with wool or stained with food.
Look for:
- Small, uneven holes, often on the front of the sweater where food and skin oils land.
- Thin, see-through patches where the surface has been grazed but not eaten through.
- Fine silky webbing or tiny tubes in the folds.
- Grains like sand, the same color as the yarn. That is larvae droppings.
- Small buff-colored moths that flutter low and hide from light.
Clean, round holes along a seam are more likely wear. Moth holes have rough edges and turn up in places that do not rub.
What to do today
1. Bag it. Put every affected piece in a sealed bag so larvae cannot move to the next sweater.
2. Freeze it. Leave the bag in your freezer for at least 72 hours, a week if you can. Then let it come back to room temperature in the bag so no water forms on the wool. This kills eggs and larvae.
3. Clean the rest. Wash or dry clean the wool you plan to store. Larvae go for stains, sweat and crumbs first. Vacuum the drawer, closet floor and corners, then empty the vacuum outside.
4. Store it clean and dry. Fold sweaters into breathable cotton bags or sealed bins, only after they are clean. Cedar helps a little. Sand cedar blocks each season to wake the scent up. Pheromone traps catch male moths, so they tell you if you still have a problem, but they will not end one.
5. Wear your sweaters. Moths like dark, still places. A sweater in rotation is a sweater they leave alone.
For washing and drying, see our guide to keeping your sweaters in rotation.
What we can fix
Most moth holes are small, and small holes are the easiest to fix well. We repair holes up to 1 1/2 inches, priced per hole by size:
- Up to 1/4 inch: $42
- Up to 1/2 inch: $60
- Up to 3/4 inch: $78
- Up to 1 inch: $86
- Up to 1 1/2 inches: $115
Some fine knits are priced higher. You see the full price before you check out. A bigger hole or a lot of grazing? Email a photo to hello@thefxry.com and we will tell you what is possible.
Fix holes while they are small. A larva hole grows every time the sweater is worn and washed.
Reknit or darn? We decide.
There are two ways to close a hole in a knit. Reknitting rebuilds the loops stitch by stitch, so the knit pattern carries straight through. Darning weaves new yarn across the hole, which is strong and right for some knits and spots.
You do not have to choose. Our fixers look at the gauge, the fiber, where the hole sits and what yarn we can match, then pick the method that gives the best result. When the fiber allows, we pull yarn from a hidden seam so the repair matches exactly.
Prefer it to show? We can reknit it in a contrast color. Tell us the color in the notes when you check out.
Send it to us
From anywhere in the US: order online, count your holes, and we email a prepaid label. We mail it back within 2 weeks of arrival. Shipping is $20 each way. Freeze it first.
In Seattle: walk in on Saturdays, 11am to 4pm, or book a weekday appointment at 1414 31st Ave S, Suite 101.
See all sweater repairs and prices.
Questions
Can moth holes in a sweater be fixed?
Yes. Most moth holes are small, and we fix holes up to 1 1/2 inches. Each hole is priced by size, starting at $42.
Should I freeze a sweater with moths before repair?
Yes. Seal it in a zip bag and leave it in the freezer for at least 72 hours, a week if you can. Let it warm up in the bag before you open it. That kills eggs and larvae so nothing travels with it.
Do you reknit or darn moth holes?
We decide. We look at the knit, the fiber, where the hole sits and what yarn we can match, then choose the method that gives the best result. Reknitting rebuilds the stitches. Darning weaves new yarn across the hole.
How much does sweater moth hole repair cost?
Each hole is priced by size: $42 up to 1/4 inch, $60 up to 1/2 inch, $78 up to 3/4 inch, $86 up to 1 inch and $115 up to 1 1/2 inches. Some fine knits are priced higher. You see the price before you check out.
Can I mail my sweater in for repair?
Yes. Order online, we send a prepaid label, and we mail it back within 2 weeks of arrival. Shipping is $20 each way. In Seattle you can also walk in on Saturdays, 11am to 4pm.
