Moths!
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Moths
One of the worst enemies to gain access to your yarn stash is moths, or to be precise, the larvae. Whilst they will munch in synthetic fabrics they have expensive tastes and will always target natural fibres such as wool, cashmere, silk and alpaca.
What do they look like?
The adult moth is small and a light brownish-grey in colour. The larvae are white, and similar in appearance to a grain of rice.
Can they be kept away?
There are a number of commercially available products ranging from sachets to wooden cubes that can be placed in wardrobes and drawers as appropriate.
You can also make the environment generally less moth friendly. For instance they like quiet, dark and dusty places so vacuum regularly and place dirty laundry, which attracts them, into a basket until it can be washed. Don’t ignore upholstery and furnishings either — rugs and cushions can harbour eggs, so give them a good brush/vacuum and, when possible, hang them on the washing line in the sun.
For your yarn stash, and precious finished pieces – make sure you sort through it every month or so and if possible keep it in plastic containers or sealed cardboard boxes.
Above all - be vigilant. A clean environment, with light and regular disturbance is what moths and their larvae hate most.
