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

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moth infestationOnce 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.]

Comments

  1. 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

Have you read?

Pencil Knitting Patterns

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns! 

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil. 

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn. 

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point. 

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up. 

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.