So, It Keeps Its Shape, Year After Year
Here is how to store wool, cashmere, and alpaca knitwear, including how to store sweaters so pieces keep their shape, avoid stretching, and return fresh between seasons.
Knitwear doesn’t end when it’s folded away. In many ways, that’s where its integrity is preserved. Natural fibres relax, breathe, and respond to their surroundings. They take shape around the body, then return slowly to themselves. Thoughtful storage supports that cycle, so a garment comes back with the same line, the same ease, the same composure.
Not fuss. Just care, done well.
A Living Form
A knit is built to move. That is what makes it feel intimate, its softness, its responsiveness, the way it settles into your rhythm. But the same qualities that make knitwear beautiful also make it sensitive to pressure, humidity, and time.
Storage isn’t about freezing a garment in place. It’s about giving it the right conditions to recover, so the fibre keeps its character and the silhouette stays true.
Folding, Not Hanging
Hanging knitwear can feel harmless, until gravity does what it always does. Over time, it pulls at the shoulders, lengthens the torso, and softens structure in ways that rarely return on their own.
For most knitwear, folding is the cleanest decision, especially for alpaca, cashmere, and other soft natural fibres.
A safe fold, done once and done properly:
Lay the garment flat and smooth it gently (never tug). Fold sleeves inward at the shoulder seam, then fold the body in halves or thirds depending on length. Keep folds soft. The aim is calm structure, not sharp creasing.
If you truly need to hang a knit, treat it as an exception: use a wide, padded hanger and fold the garment over the bar rather than suspending it from the shoulders.
Space
Knitwear loses its freshness when it is pressed into tight stacks. Compression flattens fibres, dulls hand-feel, and encourages permanent fold lines, especially at elbows, cuffs, and waistbands.
Let storage feel unforced. Drawers should close easily. Shelves should leave room for air. Keep stacks low, place heavier knits below lighter ones, and rotate occasionally so no single garment carries the same weight all season.
If a piece has developed pilling in high-friction zones, remove it gently with a knit comb before storing. It’s a small detail, but it prevents fibres from matting over time.
Air
Best conditions: cool, dry, dark, breathable.
Natural fibres benefit from breathability. A clean, dry drawer is often ideal. Cotton or linen garment bags work beautifully, as do fabric storage boxes that allow airflow. What you want to avoid is long-term storage in environments that trap moisture and stale air, particularly in humid climates.
If you live somewhere damp, a small moisture absorber in the wardrobe (or a dehumidifier in the room) can quietly make a meaningful difference. Never store knitwear near radiators or on sun-warmed shelves.
A Note on Plastic
Plastic has its uses, especially for short transport, or controlled, temporary storage. But over long periods, plastic can trap residual moisture and stale air, which may dull natural fibres and encourage mustiness.
If plastic is necessary: store only garments that are perfectly clean and completely dry, avoid warm and humid cupboards, and air the pieces occasionally. When possible, breathable storage remains the more fibre-friendly choice.
Before Rest
Moths aren’t drawn to wool itself. They’re drawn to what lingers on it, skin oils, perspiration, food traces, fragrance. The damage is typically caused by larvae, not the moth you notice later. Cleanliness, therefore, is not “extra.” It’s the foundation.
You don’t need to wash knitwear after every wear. But before storing for months, ensure the garment is clean enough for rest. That might mean a gentle wash, a professional clean where appropriate, or simple spot-cleaning combined with airing and light steaming.
If you steam before storage, allow the piece to fully dry down and cool before folding. Warmth without dry time is one of the easiest ways to invite mustiness.
Against Moths
Cedar and lavender are useful, but they are not magic. The real protection comes from three steady habits: storing clean garments, keeping the space dry, and inspecting occasionally.
Place cedar blocks or lavender sachets nearby (not pressed directly into delicate fibres). Cedar works best when it’s refreshed from time to time, lightly sanding the surface helps reactivate its natural oils. If you use scented deterrents of any kind, keep them near the garment, not against the fibre.
During storage months, check your knits every six to eight weeks, especially pieces stored in darker, less-used areas. A brief inspection prevents months of unseen damage.
Seasonal Return
Knitwear benefits from a reset when the season shifts, not because it’s fragile, but because pressure points build over time.
Once or twice during a long storage period, refold the garments so fold lines don’t become permanent. Air the wardrobe. Refresh cedar or lavender if needed. In humid climates, check the space itself for any hint of dampness.
This takes minutes, and it changes the way a garment returns.
The Five-Minute Ritual
If you want a repeatable method that stays effortless, let it be this:
- Air the garment for 30–60 minutes away from sunlight.
- Check contact zones, collar, cuffs, underarms, where residue collects first.
- Spot-clean or steam lightly if needed, then let it settle completely dry.
- Fold softly on a flat surface, avoiding sharp creases.
- Store with space in breathable conditions.
- Add cedar or lavender nearby and note a refold moment (6–8 weeks).
Small, calm, effective.
The Quiet Reward of Longevity
There’s a particular satisfaction in returning to a knit years after its first season and finding it still composed, the neckline clean, the sleeves fluid, the hand-feel unchanged.
That is the elegance of storage: a garment returning as it was meant to be, ready, calm, and unmistakably itself.
In the Same Spirit
- How to care for knitwear between wears
- Pilling: what it is, what it isn’t, and how to handle it
- Seasonless dressing: building a wardrobe that rests well
FAQs
Should I hang alpaca or cashmere?
Usually not. Soft fibres can stretch over time, particularly at the shoulders. Folding is safer for preserving shape and proportion.
Can I vacuum-seal knitwear?
Vacuum sealing saves space, but it increases compression and removes airflow. If you use it, store only perfectly clean, completely dry garments, keep the duration short, and allow the knit to rest and recover once opened.
How often should I refold stored knitwear?
Every 6–8 weeks is a good rhythm for long storage. It relieves pressure points and prevents fold lines from becoming permanent, especially at elbows, cuffs, and waistbands.
Cedar blocks or lavender, what’s better?
Both are useful. Cedar tends to last longer; lavender is gentler in scent and easy to refresh. Consistency matters more than the choice.
How do I prevent moth damage most reliably?
Start with clean garments, keep the space dry, use a deterrent like cedar or lavender, and inspect periodically. Clean, checked knitwear is far less at risk.
as FAQ