Lessons from the moths

Vintage dresses in a wardrobe
It was too hot to go out much over the weekend, but that was okay because I found one of my moth traps had caught loads of the blighters last week, so I spent Saturday committing insecticide. I went through everything – not just my wardrobe and jumper cupboard, but the places I've stashed clothes I've outgrown but can't bear to get rid of, and the boxes of yarn I keep in the bedroom. I eventually found the little gits in part of my yarn store, and it was the place where I keep ball-ends from completed projects, so all in all it could have been much, much worse. Because I caught them early, most of it was salvageable.

I don't think I have more of a moth problem than other people, but my experience has taught me that you need to mothproof everything, because the bit you don't do because you think it will be safe probably won't be. I'm absolutely gung-ho for proofing wardrobe, coat cupboard and jumper cupboard, with the result that those are always fine. But I'd not been as rigid about renewing the Zensect balls in the yarn stash, and paid the price. Thank goodness the sticky trap alerted me to the problem.

The good thing about the faff of mothproofing is that it makes me look long and hard at what I've got, both clothes and yarn. I found a lovely green chenille suit that I'd forgotten about and will be perfect in the autumn, and a few tops I've had since the 1990s and can probably now bear to part with. They're just silk vest tops, but I've been reluctant to get rid of them. Sometimes putting stuff aside makes me realise I'm not that attached to it, because it's been replaced by other things in my affections. Other bits, like my beloved green floral pannƩ velvet babydoll (so 90s!) and tie-dye 'fairy' dress are never, ever going anywhere.

I've nearly finished my friend's cardigan, so inspired by rummaging through thr yarn boxes I also dug through my knitting patterns. I have some gorgeous pale grey cotton DK with a silver thread running through it, and it's proving hard to find a pattern I want to knit with it. It's not going to have a massive amount of drape, being a thick cotton, and the colour makes me lean towards something space age. You'd think there'd be an appropriate 60s pattern somewhere in my collection, but the best I've found is an edge-to-edge cardi/jacket with a fab bobble edging all the way round. I'm in no rush to start knitting, so I'll keep looking around in case something more suitable comes up.

I hope the heat's not getting to you too much.

Comments

  1. We are being parboiled here on the Subcontinent.
    I've never owned that many woolies so I've not mothproofed much.We had a cedar chest in our home as a child- but that's it. Guess that goes with being a native Californicator?
    The edge-to-edge cardi/jacket with a fab bobble edging all the way round sounds like it would be gorgeous in that gray cotton!

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    1. Has the monsoon hit yet?

      I think moths are especially bad in my town as it was a producer of wool cloth, so they've had a couple of centuries with ample food. But according to the newspapers they're getting to be more of a problem as people move back away from synthetic fabrics, but don't have the cigarettes of yesteryear (apparently moths aren't keen on smoke).

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  2. I find it satisfying to sing as I mothproof. To the tune of Homicide:
    I believe...in Pesticide. Get out of my cupboard...dead or alive. Pesitcide. Pesticide. Pestoicide. PestiiiiiCide...

    Or whatever works for you. Glad you caught it in time. Gawd, I hate moths.

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    1. Me too. This is the first time I've caught many on a pheromone trap; I guess it's a good early warning system. I'll deffo be renewing that, as well as keeping on top of the other repellents.

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  3. Touch wood, but so far I've been spared of any moth problems. Ok, I know, it must be all the polyester, but I do have some woolly and furry things as well. It's good to hear the problem was contained to your yarn stash, and that you were able to nip it in the bud. I'm hopeless at getting rid of things, but I'm learning. xxx

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    1. Yup, SO glad to have caught it early, and that it wasn't in something like my jumper cupboard.

      I do always feel relieved when I look at my polyester and think, "Well, I know THAT'S safe!"

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  4. That's a lovely peep at your wardrobe! I've never had a moth problem but my brother, who has a penchant for expensive designer clothing, is always battling with them.
    Loving the sound of your space age knitting project. Not that I hope we'll be needing cardis for a while yet. I'm absolutely loving this weather - it can't get too hot for me! xxx

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    Replies
    1. That's only a little bit. It's crammed full again now - though I suspect I have fewer clothes than most bloggers I know.

      I don't mind the heat so much during the day, but it is too hot at night for me. I stuck a hot water bottle in the freezer yesterday and took it, frozen solid, to bed!

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  5. You are very vigilant, Mim! I've noticed a lot of moths flying around so it spurred me on to change all my cedarwood balls and mothballs for fresh ones. I also cut lots of lavender from the garden and put some in every room containing clothing - the bedrooms mainly BUT I did put some in the room where I keep my wool...

    Hope inspiration strikes soon re the knitting project!

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  6. What a lovely rail of dresses!
    My wardrobe is due a de-mothing again, I use Mrs White's Moth-off spray. We are on moth patrol most nights too, leaping suddenly to our feet with a slipper raised above our heads!

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