Tips for Dealing with (and Preventing) Clothes Moths in Your Stash

Once upon a time we had an infestation of moths in our house, but thank goodness they weren’t clothes moths. These are the moths that eat natural fibers, including our knit sweaters and unused yarn if they can get to it.

Knit Darling has dealt with an infestation in the past, and she has some great tips for how to store yarn and knit items so that you hopefully won’t attract moths in the first place (short version: store everything clean and sealed in plastic) and how to get rid of the moths and their eggs if you do get them.

This is a horrible problem I don’t wish on anyone, and I know I have been really lucky with my haphazard yarn storage methods (read: storing yarn in cardboard boxes in the attic for years) to not have had a problem. As I’m going through my stash and trying to use more of it, I’m definitely planning to store what I keep in better ways.

What about you? Any moth horror stories to inspire the rest of us?

[Image via Knit Darling.]

Next Pattern:

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

Comments

maura hagarty bannon says
May 12, 2015 at 12:14 pm
After finding moths, larvae etc I did alot of research. I froze my yarn for 2 days bagged it in ziploc vac bags ( although half didnt work) I looked a long time for a product safe enough to use on clothing and everything I read recommended at least 0.5% Permethrin but no cleaning?spray product had it. Finally found a name-Sawyer’s Insect Repellent at some forum for campers to use on clothng and tents!
i found it in the Camping dept of Walmart and used it to spray all my containers rugs, floor cupboards etc. Hasn’t been that long so fingers still crossed. Have read they will get thru sealed plastic it needs to be taped as well

Next Pattern:

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