An inquiry re: moth holes...

Leisa

Leisa

VFG Member
I went to the dentist this a.m. & so I HAD to stop at the thrift store on my way home to feel better. :clueless:

I found a really fabulous cashmere 3/4 sleeve coat with rhinestone set buttons. (they may be bakelite, but I'm betting on plastic.)

It's in exceptional condition with one caveat. There is one moth hole - on the small side - on the back of the coat. Where do I take it to have it fixed? Or should I just sell it as is?

WWYD? and, once again - many thanks!
 
If you google reweaving, you'll find information - I know there are some companies that will do it by mail order. Two problems -
1. It's expensive. I'm recalling $40 to 50 per hole.
2. There may be more moth holes than you can see right now, being held together by moth spit (gross thought, I know). Dry cleaning will reveal them if they exist.

I haven't had a wool garment special enough yet to be willing to go that extra mile.
 
While you are deciding what to do - pop the sweater in the freezer to stop any more damage. I once spent $60 for a great cashmere sweater with appliqued swans and swan buttons. I hung it up in the greenhouse and it fell apart, so many holes appeared.
 
I would sell as is - after a good freezing to make sure there are no live bugs in it.

Many of us are happy to do the work or pay someone else if it's a nice piece. Personally, I'd fix it and put it in my shop and it's sure to go for a nice price to a good home :)
 
I would repair the largest of the holes, and leave any that are just "bites" or "nibbles" alone. It isn't difficult to do, unless the hole is quite large. But if it's even, say, 1/4" diameter, I'd give it a go, if you're handy with needle & thread. Especially on cashmere, as it has the longish nap and that sort of "double" layering to it, and repairs generally blend in well....

Geez, never heard of the refrigerator trick--will have to keep this in mind next time I see some moth holes.
 
yes as said already, like with wood worm, you gotta stop the rot..and much is out of sight, so small to start..

FREEZE< DEEP FREEZE

then decide based upon the results..
 
I remember reading somewhere (maybe it was on this site?) that you can also kill moths by wrapping clothes in black plastic and leaving them in the hot sun for several hours.
 
Hmmm interesting idea.

As I understand it, it's not the extreme cold of the freezer that kills them, but the changes in temperature. You're supposed to put it in the freezer, take it out, and put it back. I suppose for a couple days at a time?

But maybe leaving it in a SUPER hot plastic bag and then taking it out and then putting it back in for another day might do just as well.
 
Thanks Hollis - what an amazing resource! I've bookmarked it for future reference - most of it backs up my own knowledge and experience, which is nice to see, but it covers and explains many others.

In particular - I've been using drycleaning as a protection against moths. The other day I found an active moth casing on a jacket that was drycleaned only a few weeks ago - I couldn't understand how it got there. Now I'm wondering if it had eggs in the wool when it went to the drycleaner (it's true that there were a few nibbles) and the cleaning hadn't managed to kill them. I think I need to get a nice big chest freezer but in the hotter months I'll be trying the roll up in black plastic and put in the sun.
 
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