Our Best Tips for Working With Sweaters to Sell on Poshmark

It's sweata weatha! Let's talk best tips for caring for and working with knit items for resale.

How to Remove Snags from Sweaters

Let's get nit-picky 💁 do you have a "knit picker" or snag removal tool yet? GET ONE. They're just under two bucks at sewing supplies stores like Joann's or Michaels, and I use mine constantly. You can also get away with using a very small crochet hook for chunky sweaters. But I recommend just springing for a good one. I own two--one to keep in my packing area when I do final inspections before putting stuff away in my inventory, and one in my photo area. The lights reveal everything! And bonus: I use the side of mine to clear fuzz/lint out of velcro. It's incredibly fast. Here's a quick guide to snag-removing to get you started. And re: any other issues you might encounter with sweaters, check out our guide to properly disclosing flaws for buyers when selling on Poshmark.

How to Unshrink a Sweater

First, know when not to bother: matted or "felted" sweaters are likely beyond hope. You'll be able to tell these by giving them a gentle stretch and noticing they have no give. Then, check the fabric content: sweaters that are 100% of a given fiber are much easier and predictable to work with. All clear? Fill your sink with cold water and a little Woolite or delicate wash of your choice. Soak and gently squeeze suds through as usual, and as the fabric relaxes, give a gentle tug at the areas that are too small (usually sleeves, chest, and torso length. Repeat a few times as you soak and rinse, squeeze out the water, and gentle stretch one more time before wrapping in a a towel like a fruit roll-up to dry. For extra help: try steaming the sweater while it's still a little damp. Then check your results and repeat if necessary.

Still too small? Try the corkboard technique. But be careful!

Sweater Shaving Tips

1. Did you know double headed sweater shavers exist??? This massively speed up big jobs. I have this one and highly recommend with one caveat: always use it with the USB-C plugged in (even if that means letting it dangle), to make sure lint doesn't get in there and mess up the connection. Otherwise, it's a  TANK, I love it, and I own two.

Stuff I've used sweater shavers on successfully that might surprise you: fleece (!), wash-worn cotton, flannel, knitted blankets, and a pair of sweatpants while I was wearing them. #classy . Think outside the wool!3. Never, ever press a sweater shaver into your garment, even if you're getting impatient. 4. Be incredibly careful with thin items. I like to put something smooth with a lot of give under my work, like a large pillow, to avoid catches.5. Have a contingency plan if you cut your fabric. I generally only sweater shave wash wear as a list ditch effort for items in my own closet, or low value items I don't mind having to toss or list as repaired.

How to Find Holes Before You Buy Sweaters

Hold the sweater up to the light, preferably with your head in it (yes this looks crazy, do we care? no). And know your hole hotspots: armpits and seams are hotspots.

Caring for Your Sweaters While They Wait to be Sold

1. Protect them from moths by storing them in bags. I have a collection of ziplock bags that I reuse over and over to store folded sweaters in.

2. Don't leave 'em hanging. This stresses the shoulder area, especially on delicate or heavy pieces, and can stretch out the garment.

3. Clean and inspect before putting away. Moths *love* little bits of food on clothes, and stains will set in on sealed clothes. Make sure to do any spot cleaning, steaming, or handwashing (and thorough drying) before storing.

4. Cedar is your friend. I keep some satchels in every storage area as extra pest protection.

5. Sort like with like, before it gets confusing. Digging through a box of black sweaters in Ziplock bags is a nightmare. I sort my pieces by  weight, neckline, and closure type to limit the amount of rummaging I'll have to do. (Ex: fine knit v-necks/crew necks vs. chunky turtle/mock neck pullovers vs. fine knit cardigans).

So there you have it! Are you ready for sweater weather, or mourning summer? There's nothing like a few fantastic cashmere and wool sales to help with that!

Wishing you love, magic, and an end to summer slowdown,

Cathy @ClosetWitch

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