How do I get bobbles off a jumper?

Bobbles are short broken fibres that have worked loose and tangled. Removing them is straightforward; what matters is doing it without pulling more fibre out of the fabric.

Safety

What you'll need

• Fabric shaver, or a sweater comb
• Disposable razor (optional)
• Flat surface

Step by step

1. Lay the garment flat on a firm surface.A table, not your lap or a bed. A soft surface lets the fabric bunch under the tool, and that is how holes get cut.
2. Use a fabric shaver for most things.Battery-powered, inexpensive, and the safest option. It cuts the bobbles at the surface without pulling. Empty the chamber regularly.
3. Keep the fabric taut but not stretched.Smooth it flat with your other hand. Stretched fabric can be cut through; bunched fabric catches.
4. Use light pressure and small areas.Let the tool do the work. Pressing harder is what cuts holes. Work in small sections systematically.
5. Use a sweater comb for delicate knitwear.Cashmere and fine wool. Slower and gentler, and it lifts bobbles without any blade near the fabric.
6. Use a razor carefully if that is what you have.A fresh disposable razor, fabric flat and taut, very light strokes in one direction. It works and it is the easiest way to cut a hole, so go gently.
7. Never pull bobbles off by hand.It takes fibre with it and thins the fabric, which produces more bobbles. This is the most common mistake.
8. Reduce the friction that causes it.Wash inside out, on a gentle cycle, in a mesh bag. Bobbling is caused by abrasion, and most of it happens in the machine and under a bag strap.

Tips

• Bobbling is not a sign of poor quality on its own — some natural fibres pill more, and it often settles after the first few wears and removals.
• A mesh laundry bag for knitwear substantially reduces pilling and costs very little.
• Do it before it gets bad. A lightly pilled jumper takes five minutes; a badly pilled one takes half an hour and looks thinner afterwards.

Questions people ask