Karma writes: …”Do you have any words of wisdom on choosing a sweater shaver or on how to use one? Or is it as simple as just buying one and doing it? :)”.
Funny you should ask!
On my way home last night, upon contemplating another very long winter storm (um, THUNDERSNOW!!!)
Winter storm warning. Rain/sleet south, snow/sleet Chicago and north and west, becoming all snow, turning heavy. Worst conditions mid- to late morning into afternoon. Strengthening northeast winds, 35-50 m.p.h. gusts. Drifting snow. Possible thundersnow with whiteout conditions. 8-14 inches Chicago, and north and west. 1-3 inches far south.
I popped into the corner Walgreen’s Pharmacy.
To my delight, I found another supersize shaver, which is called the Fuzz Wizard!
You can see it above with my little shaver (called a Precision) and a pencil, for scale. [The Pencil also smells like Root Beer! Hmm. Cabin Fever, anyone?!?]
I’ve always just bought these things right off the shelf. However, it wasn’t until I draped the sweater over a padded chair seat that I got really great results. Their instructions basically say: Lay the Fabric on a flat surface, straighten the fabric you are shaving, use a gentle motion without excessive pressure, and clean the head often.
I found that if the shaver seems to slow down, it could be that there is a pile-up of fuzz in the head chamber. Unscrew the ring and blow the chunks out over a trash bin! (Keep your eyes closed.)
Finish up your shaving by going over the sweater lightly with one of those velcro-like surfaced lint brushes to pick up any stray fibers.
I just revived a very old black Bartlett yarns favorite Ribby! Squeeeee….
Happy Shaving!
I ordered my shaver yesterday. Your sweater so impressed me that I knew I just had to have a shaver of my own. I have a favorite shrug that is in great need of a good shave.
Thanks for inspiring me yet again.
Have you ever used the Sweater Stone, or whatever it’s called? It’s sort of like a block of sandpaper for depiliating les tricots.
I’m happy to say I have one of these, and love it! Stay safe and warm!
I’ve used the stone; I think it is really a harsh method. You really have to pull on the fabric to get rid of the pills so IMHO it leaves the surface distressed and maybe ready to pill some more.
It’s also made out of some kind of substance (pumice?) that leaves sharp powdery stuff all over the place. As you rub it loses its surface.
Aw, shucks… ask and you shall receive! Thanks, Bonne Marie, I’ll jump in with both feet and just DO IT! :)
Just curious. Have you ever tried a sweater stone? I was debating on buy one with my next knitpicks order.
Oh for patience….I just purchased the little shaver and have been happily using it for about 2 weeks. Last night I whipped it out to give a trim to a newly felted hat. I distractedly ran it for about 5 minutes, and [finally] noticed that I wasn’t getting any fuzz in the catch area. I took the blade off to see if I had “clogged” it up.
Umm….I had forgotten to take the clear plastic protective cap off the blade and had been happily running the darned thing with a cap.
About a week ago I procured one of these little shavers. Now every morning I shave my sweater. I too found that I needed to clean out the head chamber from time to time.
Thanks for mentioning your sweater shaver. I bought one previously but it didn’t seem to work. I bought one a couple of years ago at Wal-Mart and never felt like it worked, but I found out that I too had left the clear protective cap on the blade! I tried it since then but felt my success was minimal. I pulled out the shaver again this week on a sweater where the sleeves pilled heavily and a shave on one arm makes it look clean and pill-free again. Yay! Now I’m not ashamed to wear my sweater again! :-)
Okay, you got me! when I saw what a wonderful job that shaver did, I had to have one! I went to Walgreens and purchased one and the batteries to run it. I went home and shaved and shaved, sweater after sweater. I was so thrilled to have my old sweaters look like new. But the battery thing got me down. So I went on line and found a shaver that is run on AC power too. Now it is on the way to my door! I can’t wait to get it and continue on my shaving jag….
Thanks for the tutorial on how to use one properly!
I have an ongoing love affair with my own sweater shaver, so I completely understand! :D
I have a couple of sweater shavers (one that looks like your little one and one that is HUGE and worth it’s weight in fuzz)! But for felted bags I still prefer just using a basic double bladed razor, which gets right down to the business of removing all the fuzz. Not so good on something non-felted though. Could be messy…