The Cashmere Connoisseur

Restoration Hardware Cashmere

2011-12-12T12:33:00.000-08:00

Ok people... some great deals are awaiting for you! Restoration Hardware is having some specials on their cashmere gifts for the season. Might seem weird to buy cashmere from them, but the quality is pretty dang good! I was gifted a bunch of their stuff last year and I was impressed.

Anywho! Cashmere hand warmers are only $10 right now!!! Seriously! Cashmere scarves are $89 and throw blankets for $199. Not bad... Here's a link!

Restoration Hardware

TJ Maxx Cashmere

2011-12-12T12:30:00.000-08:00

So, my sister and I were shopping at TJMaxx the other night because we had some gift cards to use up (b-day presents! woo!) and they have some BEAUTIFUL cashmere sweaters out right now! I know TJMaxx is hit or miss, but I was very impressed. Bought a beautiful dusty rose colored cardigan with a lace pattern in it... Just beautiful! And for $80 I have no hard feelings if I only use it one season! Discount stores are my faves, so I'm betting once Christmas is over, mark downs will be happening! Can't wait!

The cashmere has arrived!

2011-10-04T18:47:00.001-07:00

So, I was perusing Marshalls the other day and their cashmere sweaters have arrived!! I will post a pic of the ghastly pile of sweaters that was their "display" next time I go... But they had a couple cute pieces I might keep my eye on! Prices were $49.99-$99.99. Not bad for a one-season wonder!

On a side note, they had a freakishly amazing clearance sale a few weeks ago and I got a damaged cashmere sweater (huge hole!) for $3. Lucky for me, I repurpose damaged cashmere... If you have any sweaters that need a new life, let me know!

Another app for this...

2011-08-08T22:27:00.001-07:00

Haha! Found one with photo capabilities! And it was free... Always out for a good deal. Let's test this thing:

Looks like I have to use Picasa but I think I can handle it... Ok cashmere people, I'm ready to go for my winter cashmere blogging extravaganza!

There's an app for this!

2011-08-08T22:09:00.001-07:00

Ok... Testing out the blogging app. Doesn't look like I can add pictures... So this one may not work for me just yet. But there is hope!

Wowza!

2011-08-08T18:22:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted (and therefore haven't gotten many comments until just now- yikes!) in a long time. Basically, my life was turned upside down, and I've since started my life all over again. So, for the record, if you want a question to be noticed and answered, send me an email through my website: www.cashmerecreations.com. I see those and will respond, I promise! If you don't hear from me- try again. I always respond!

On another topic: I need to start gleaning some of my collection. So, anybody out there looking for something in particular? Lemme know and I'll let you know if I have something you're interested in taking off my hands. For a fair price of course... ;o) I'm always out for a bargain and I'll give you a deal!

I'm looking forward to the new styles out this winter. I'll try and do a better job posting deals and sales this winter now that my life is relatively back to normal. Is there an app for that? I must find out... Apps help me. Oh, how my life has changed since the iPhone! Totally posting from my iPhone right now... My DH would be so proud!

Anyways, sorry for being so MIA the last few years. I will be (or try to be... Lol) better! Much love to all you cashmere lovers! And future connoisseurs... xoxo!

Some FAQ's about shrinking and stretching

2010-12-28T20:14:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a marvelous Christmas! I got a couple new cashmere things to add to my collection (given to me, of course, because buying more for myself would be ABSURD).

I have received a bunch of e-mails from people curious if you can shrink or stretch cashmere safely. The answer is: yes! But only to a point... You can probably go about a size up or a size down if the sweater is in good shape to start with. If it's already been felted by going in the dryer by accident, then I'm sorry to say, you're stuck. Best to cut your losses and make a pillow.

To SHRINK:
1) Hand wash your cashmere sweater as you normally would, only change the temperature of the wash water to hot (as hot as you can stand) and rinse with cold water.
2) Leave the sweater to dry, without stretching it back to it's normal size and...
3) TAH DAH!

Shrinking is easier and less risky than stretching...

To STRETCH:
1) Hand wash your cashmere sweater as you normally would, with cold wash water and cold rinse water.
2) Lay out your sweater on a flat surface and (this is where it gets tricky, so be gentle)
3) With the sweater still laying flat, put both of your arms inside the sweater with your hands in fists, with your fists where your shoulders would go and your arms following the line of the seams, with your elbows at the hem of the sweater.
4) Slowly move your arms away from each other, GENTLY, and stretch the sweater in small little bits at a time. In other words, pulse a bit so the fibers can relax and then be stretched again.
***DISCLAIMER: If you are not gentle enough, or your sweater is of poor quality, you run the risk of stretching a hole in your sweater so PLEASE BE GENTLE and don't expect miracles ;o)***
5) Gently stretch out the arm sleeves, cuffs, and hem in a similar manner.
6) Try to stretch large sections at a time. If you just grab two opposite sides of the sweater with just a couple fingers, you'll stretch smaller sections at a time, leaving the sweater rather wonky looking...
7) Once it's all stretched out, leave it to dry.
8) TAH DAH!
P.S. You can also stuff your sweater with a carefully folded towel and leave it to dry that way- I've done this with pesky sweaters that are ribbed and INSIST on going back to half their original size. But, be careful for wrinkles in the towel! For very minimal stretching, you can also use a steamer and slowly pull on the sweater in sections directly after steaming (while the sweater is still warm).

So, remember: large sections and gentle pulsing! Remember: Gentle!!!!!

Best of luck to everyone!!!

Long time no post

2010-12-16T11:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays, cashmere lovers!

I have been MIA from this blog for quite some time- been going through some personal craziness... Anyways, I've appreciated everyone's questions and comments!

I have received a large number of people asking if they can shrink or stretch their cashmere, safely. I will be writing a post about this a little bit later (when I have more time) so keep an eye out!

Merry Christmas and happy Cashmere shopping!!

P.S. J CREW is having an extra 30% off of their sale stuff right now, which includes cashmere sweaters!!!!!!

Cheap cashmere at Neiman Marcus!

2009-03-29T22:10:00.000-07:00

I just checked out one of my favorite stores for buying cashmere, Neiman Marcus and found that a BUNCH of their cashmere sweaters are on sale. Some are only $44-$51!!! Here's the secret:

You have to click on the "Sales and Values" tab first before you search otherwise, your search won't bring up the cheap stuff. If you search on the home page, it doesn't bring up ALL the sale stuff... Sneaky eh??

ENJOY!!

Extra 20% off Final Sale at J Crew!

2009-03-20T15:12:00.000-07:00

Spotted some cashmere at JCrew lately?? Well, there's now an additional 20% off of their sale stuff (INCLUDING CASHMERE!) until March 21st (TOMROROW!) Use code: EXTRA 20 at checkout and score some cashmere at an extra discount!

J. Crew Cashmere Sale

2009-02-22T22:20:00.000-08:00

J. Crew has some great cashmere on sale right now that I thought was worth mentioning.

In particular, there's a black, beaded cashmere dress that's down to $59.99 from $268. It's adorable! They have Sm, Med, and Large still available.

They have a number of other cute styles at a great discount, so check it out!

After Christmas Sales!!!

2008-12-26T11:16:00.001-08:00

Ok, so I couldn't escape on my trip before telling you of some of the great sales going on right now on cashmere!!

Macys:
Ivory, long, belted sweater coat, L
For $134.99

Boatneck sweater, two colors, most sizes
For $39.99

They also have crew neck, turtle neck, and other neck lines, all for $39.99. They also have some cashmere scarves and accessories in the $30-$40 range.

Bloomingdales:
Grey chunky sweater jacket with fur trim, L
For $150 - Although I don't normally buy fur, I think this is really cool looking.

A bunch of their other cashmere is an additional 50-60% the lowest price!!

Neiman Marcus:
TSE sweater jacket/coat, big billowy, Med only
For $359

Other sale items an additional 40% off. I think they could do better...

Saks:
Cool, chunky, grey, short-sleeved, sweater jacket, L-XL
For $109.56

Boatneck type, banded hem, very flattering sweater, lots of sizes
For $104

Puff sleeves, with bow, short sleeve, feminine sweater
For $78.36

Plus, a lot of other great deals! Up to 75% off. Chunky blankets down to $320 from $800.

Have fun taking advantage of these sales!!

Out for the holidays!

2008-12-21T20:39:00.000-08:00

Well, I am one lucky lady and will be on a fantastic trip to celebrate my marriage of 5 years, from December 27th through January 15th. SO, any questions or comments will not be answered until I get back! Enjoy your cashmere!

Cashmere finds of the week! 10/10

2008-10-10T18:41:00.000-07:00

So, I've decided to try something new on my blog for a bit. We will see how long this lasts... I'm going to give you my cashmere finds of the week. Basically, great deals, things I would buy if I had the spare $$, etc. As I find great deals online, I'll post em. This week, I have found a few gorgeous things on ebay and Neiman Marcus. Had I not just bought another Louis Vuitton, I'd be all over a few of these. Here we go:

1) Ebay: AGNONA sweater jacket w/ removable collar. BIN at $199!!!

2) Ebay: CELINE cashmere outfit. BIN $575 OBO.

3) Neiman Marcus: Cashmere slippers, 2 colors, sizes 7-9. $40 I own these and they are very snuggly! Great Christmas gifts!

4) Neiman Marcus: Long cable sweater- super thick! $295

If any of you get any of these things, let me know! I'm telling you... that Agnona is an absolute steal!

Results of the Cashmere Stain Test

2008-09-16T22:23:00.000-07:00

First off, I must apologize for not getting these posted sooner. However, I think they are worth the wait!!

I decided to stain the cashmere with wine and two colors of lipstick/lipgloss. I used the same, poor sweater that I used in the rain experiment... So, it has served us well. The stain treatments I tried were: Stain Remover from The Laundress, Zout, Shout Advanced, and WD-40. Yes, WD-40!

Here we go!! Stained pieces:

Naturally, I blotted all the stains before trying any stain treatments. This is what the wine looked like after blotting:

Here's the line-up of products along with the wine peices soaking in their treatments. I let them soak for about 5 minutes before rinsing. The wine pieces seemed to do just fine without any additional blotting, once the treatments were applied.

Upon first glance, I thought that Zout would work the best. Notice how it almost "removed" the wine in the places where I drizzled it directly.

With the lipstick pieces, I started by soaking everything, same as the wine. However, I was too excited to test the WD-40 myth so I started with that one differently. I sprayed it on, then blotted as much as I could, then repeated. Look at how much it took out on my first treatment!!

Here's what they all looked like after a final rinsing. Notice how the WD-40 is the only sample that removed the lipstick. Also, notice how it did absolutely nothing to the wine... Very interesting, don't you think?? Now, take a look at the wine samples. The Laundress' stain treatment didn't work as well as I had anticipated, and I coated the wine with a LOT of product. So, I was rather disappointed with that one. The middle two turned out about the same. No real trace of the wine, however, in sunlight against my white sink, the Zout left a yellowish residue not visible in other lighting. The SHOUT left it all perfectly clean! So, my initial guess was NOT accurate!

After the samples dried, I decided to give the WD-40 a shot at the stains that the Shout didn't get out. And look how it did after one treatment! At this point, I started to label things...

Finally, the group photo!

I tried to take a picture outside, however, the wind caught the foil and threw all the pieces everywhere. So, I gave up on that. Hope you enjoyed this little experiment of mine!

Crazy Cashmere Stains

2008-08-29T15:39:00.000-07:00

I am going to do something horrific: sacrifice a piece of cashmere for the sake of science. I am going to cut a sweater up in many pieces, stain each one of them, and do my darndest to get them out!

But, I need your help in deciding what to stain them with... I'm taking suggestions and votes. I've added a poll to the right where you can send me your vote for your favorite thing. If there's something else you would like to see, add a comment to this post.

I'll pick the best ones at the end of next week and get started with my stains! I'll post pictures of how it all turns out and list my processes the following week, so stay tuned!

The Cashmere Connoisseur's Collection

2008-06-29T16:57:00.000-07:00

Many of you have been wondering about my personal cashmere collection. Well, I can tell you that I have way too much (I've stopped counting the number of pieces), but love it anyway! I decided to show you how I store and display my cashmere. Although it isn't air-tight, I haven't had a single problem with moths (*knock on wood*). I think this is probably because I keep my cashmere nice and clean! So, as I sink my head in shame and sign up for "Cashmere Collector's Anonymous", enjoy the pictures! P.S. All the pieces in the pictures are 100% cashmere, no blends.

Here is a picture of my main collection. This is the "everyday" cashmere stuff. The boxes are devoted mainly to cashmere accessories- gloves, scarves, etc.

This is the top left cabinet portion. It basically holds the really bulky cashmere pieces.

This is the bottom left cabinet. I obviously have a shortage of green cashmere! I have an adorable Pekingese named Kuzco making an appearance...

Here is the top right cabinet. It contains basically the neutral cashmere, including some chunky pieces.

Finally, there's the bottom right cabinet. The black stack sort of disappears, but it's there.

I keep my super special pieces in smaller, fabric boxes. These include some designer, rare, or vintage pieces.

Yes, I color-coordinate the rest of my closet. It's something I've done as long as I can remember. I'm not sure when I started doing that, but it's stuck!

Well, there you have it! My entire personal collection- minus the pieces that need to be washed. I didn't feel like waiting to include those. Also, this doesn't include the 30+ pieces I have set aside for my crafting endeavors. If you have any questions or nice comments (I already know I have a problem, ha!) please let me know!

Cashmere + RAIN = ???

2008-01-31T19:53:00.001-08:00

Well, it finally rained. And it rained hard... for three days. So, what did I do? I hung a cashmere sweater outside the WHOLE TIME! Yes, like 50+ hours! I took some before pictures and during pictures. I didn't take an after picture, because it looked the same as the before pictures.

So, the good news: CASHMERE + RAIN = HARMLESS!! (Unless it's acid rain or something) If you don't let it hang on a hanger (one of the cardinal rules about cashmere!!) then you should make it out OK. Apparently, cashmere is not damaged by rain like the vachetta on your Louis Vuitton. Leave that inside.

Before

Right after I hung it outside. Look at the shoulders.

The next morning. Here you can see how the weight of the water has pulled at the shoulders.

Detail.

More details.

And even more.

I hope this helps those of you who live in rainy climates!

Cashmere Teddy Bears for the Holidays

2007-11-10T13:21:00.000-08:00

Time for a shameless holiday gift plug:

As you may know, besides being known as the "Cashmere Connoisseur," I am also the founder and designer of Cashmere Creations- my website where you can design your own custom cashmere teddy bear from recycled cashmere fabrics!

Our teddy bears make fantastic gifts for new moms, children, or any other cashmere lover. We only use recycled cashmere and make each teddy bear by hand to your color specifications. Every bear is one-of-a-kind and will be a treasure for you (or someone you love) to own. We offer different sizes and will work with you to make that perfect holiday gift.

Here is an example of our smallest bears:

So, please stop by my site and take a look around! You might find something you just have to have...

Link to the site:
Cashmere Creations

Cashmere in the Rain

2007-09-22T19:42:00.000-07:00

Well, since the weather has been a bit drizzly outside, I thought it might be nice to talk about wearing cashmere in the rain!!

Most important point: Cashmere is not harmed by water. It's what you do after it's wet that causes damage. For example, if you get completely soaked through, take off your sweater and hang it by the shoulders, it will stretch out of shape. If you wash your cashmere in cold water and rinse it in hot water, it will shrink. Just use your common sense and the tips I have for you and you should make it out OK.

Imagine, if you will, a sweet little cashmere goat in the chilly climate of Inner Mongolia. Do you think that wonderful little goat never saw a spot of rain? I highly doubt it. Now, they don't sit out in the rain if they have to- they'll go find shelter if they can. Anyway, if you wear your cashmere in the rain, it's not the first time it's been wet.

I think the main issue to think about here is whether or not you want to be wearing wet cashmere. You probably don't. Cashmere smells like wet dog and gets very heavy when wet. So, I wouldn't suggest letting yourself get soaked while only in a sweater. Just do your best to keep out of the rain! Use an umbrella if you have one.

I have worn cashmere in the rain and have not had any problems. If you're worried about it shrinking, keep the sweater on until it dries. It can't get any smaller than you while you're wearing it, right??

If you are soaked through, just wash your sweater as normal right away. Reshape it and let it dry away from direct sun or heat.

I hope this helps all of you in rainy climates. Please let me know if you have any questions! Enjoy the rain in your cashmere!!

Cashmere Sweater Coats for Fall

2007-09-09T11:14:00.000-07:00

Sweater coats have been a staple in my cashmere wardrobe for a few years now. I cannot tell you how much use I get out of those things!! They are wonderful when you are wanting to snuggle up and read a book and are perfect for going out shopping in the middle of winter. I have even performed in one and was photographed wearing it! (I have a music degree, but I have this secret obsession with cashmere for some reason...)

When shopping for a sweater coat I have a few things for you to consider:

Brand- This may seem judgmental, but brand, in this case, can make or break the purchase of a sweater coat. The best cashmere brands (Loro Piana, Malo, TSE, etc.) all use premium cashmere fibers. They are longer and thinner so they pill less. Cashmere sweater coats are often made from 8-12ply cashmere so the knitting is "wider". When each stitch has a larger surface area, the smaller fibers will pill up more easily than with a tighter-knit sweater. With a tight-knit sweater, the smaller fibers can be spread across 3 stitches. In a thick sweater coat, they might just barely spread over 1 stitch if at all.
Knit Style- When looking for a thick and warm sweater coat, pay attention to the way the sweater was knit. When a sweater is knit with a cable pattern, they use more yarn. Therefore, you get a warmer sweater! A simple stockinette stitch (like you find on normal knit sweaters) will have less yarn per square inch. Also, a tighter knit will last longer. A sweater that is knit loosely may look neat, but you are asking for trouble with pilling and washing.
Color- If you are going to spend upwards of $1000 or more on a new sweater coat of great quality, pick a color that is timeless. A pink sweater coat may be tempting, but in a year, it will be very dated. You are better off spending the "beaucoup bucks" on something classic that will last you 10 years.

Here are some examples of current sweater coats for sale that I think would be great investments:

From Neiman Marcus:Brown Sweater Coat $695
From Neiman Marcus Sale:Rust Sweater Coat $495
From Nordstrom Sale:White Todd and Duncan Sweater Coat $769
From Neiman Marcus:Loro Piana Navy Sweater Coat $2650
From Ralph Lauren:Brown Toggle Sweater Coat $1298
From Neiman Marcus - same as Ralph Lauren but in dark grey:Grey Toggle Sweater Coat $1298
From Kinross:Hand Knit Cable Coat (Boutiques only)
From Neiman Marcus (I own this in black and LOVE it!):Cable Coat $695

So, those are my picks for now! I have the last coat listed from Neiman Marcus (thought it was only for sale last season, but there it is again!), a Ralph Lauren coat, and a Kinross coat. They are so delicious! I must say that my two favorites from the list above are the brown sweater coat from Neiman Marcus and the Ralph Lauren toggle sweater coat. If I could afford the Loro Piana, I would buy that in a heart beat!! You should already know by now how I feel about their cashmere... nothing better!

Well, enjoy the hunt for the next staple in your wardrobe! If I find any others I love, I'll post them. If you know of any others, let me know!!

Loro Piana store in Las Vegas

2007-08-08T08:51:00.000-07:00

Well, my fellow cashmere lovers, I went to the Loro Piana store (yes, that's right, a WHOLE STORE of Loro Piana Cashmere....) in Caesar's Palace's Forum Shops in Las Vegas last week and oh my!

I chatted with Bernard, who was very helpful, despite the fact that he knew I wasn't going to buy anything! HA! I told him about my ridiculous collection and how I took care of everything. I just received my first piece of Loro Piana cashmere and I was very excited to tell him how much I loved it. I also told him of my cashmere stuffed animals and he said "Well, that's one I've never heard!" Maybe he doesn't get out much. Ralph Lauren has cashmere stuffed animals for crying out loud. Jay Strongwater and Banana Republic do, too.

Anyway, I was interested to see Loro Piana's new line of Baby Cashmere. It's basically, the finest cashmere you can physically get. It's just that: baby cashmere. It's the cashmere off of a baby/young cashmere goat that is even finer than the finest adult cashmere. The glory of this cashmere is that you only get it once in a goat's life. That's it. So, it's a very precious product. OH MY GOODNESS was it incredibly soft. The pieces were very pricey and I would be horrified to spill something on it or to find a blasted moth hole. Now, I take very good care of my cashmere, but I swear, I'd become a moth hunter with this one. I'd be neurotic.

They also had "Waterproof" cashmere. If you have ever spilled water on yourself (or even soda, sshhhhh) then you know that good cashmere is "waterproof" for a good 5 seconds. I've spilled soda and soaked it up before it could soak in. However, this new cashmere boasts that it is 100% waterproof. No soaking in whatsoever. So, I guess that's nice if it's raining. But, honestly, who would wear their Loro Piana cashmere in the rain? Not me. I'd go with one of my cheaper pieces for sure. Cashmere isn't harmed by water, but man, I still wouldn't do it. It feels wrong or something.

Also, Bernard showed me a purse made from Elephant leather. That's one I'VE never heard before. It was really neat to touch but was waaaaaaay out of my price range. Plus, I want their cashmere, not their purses, sheesh.

Their other newish venture is luxury cashmere goods for the home. They've done it for luxury private planes, etc. but now they offer it to exclusive Interior Designers. They make carpet. GAH! Carpet. As wonderful as that would feel... come on. Granted, if I could afford it, I would totally buy it and make my cashmere closet complete, but who comes up with this stuff? They once made a cashmere jump rope and now have cashmere roll-up board games... I should work for them. They need me. (I wish)

Last thing, I'm on the catalog mailing list! WOOOOHHOOOOO! I couldn't find evidence of a catalog online before I went and I'm so glad I asked about it. I will jump for joy when I get one. I had to fill out a customer card where they leave space for your credit card number. That way, you can walk in next time, say "I want one of everything" and leave. Bernard told me that people do it all the time. Some people have multiple cards for their multiple homes and say, "send it to the house in Paris, not the New York apartment please." Lifestyles of the rich and famous...

So, that was my trip. It was so fun! Someday I'll go in there and clear them out... some day.

How to take apart a sweater for the yarn... with no mess!

2007-06-27T17:08:00.000-07:00

As I promised, here are the instructions to take apart a sweater for the yarn!! I do this with many of my cashmere sweaters to re-knit them into beautiful sweaters custom made for me. The process is much easier than it seems and I hope you can use it! I tried to add a video but had no luck. We will have to deal with pictures instead! 1) Locate seams. I started with the collar because you can see the thread clearly. Look on either side of the seam. One side will have a little thread line (side A), the other side will look like this (side B):

If you look closely, the threads form a little V as they go along the seam. When you are at the final step and are pulling the thread out, you will go in the direction of the V's. Imagine them as little arrows that point which direction the thread will go: 2) Use your seam ripper to rip through one of the little V's. You want to rip through the V that is closest to the beginning of the thread you will tear out. In the particular sweater I used, the line of V's started at the center of the collar. For illustrated purposes, I picked a random V to cut. You will want to pick one at the end of the thread line. For example: On the sweater I used, another line of V's started at the cuff of the sweater, ran up the arm, down the chest, and ended at the hem. To separate those pieces, I would cut the V at the cuff and "follow the arrows" all the way to the hem.

3) Once you cut a V, flip to the opposite side of the seam and locate the corresponding thread. Pull up on the thread with your seam ripper to bring the end of the thread to side A.

4) The fun part. PULL THAT THREAD!!! The seam will come undone and TAH-DAH! Two pieces successfuly taken apart with no mess!

Note: The pictures above are of a collar seam. A normal seam will have the V's on one side and a little line of threads on the other side that look like this:

5) After your pieces are separated, you are ready to start the unraveling process. At the top of one of the sleeves I found ANOTHER line of V's to take out. Before (look carefuly): After: From here you can start to unravel the sweater pieces. Most sweaters are knit from the bottom up so you will start unraveling at the shoulders/neck and work your way down.

Hopefully, I will have more pictures for you soon!

Dogs and Cashmere

2007-06-02T19:04:00.000-07:00

Well, my husband and I got a puppy a few weeks ago, so I have been busy! The cashmere in my house has remained undamaged... so far. One day, he'll escape from his puppy pen and BAM! all will be lost. My theory on dogs and cashmere is that THEY LOVE IT!!

I sell cashmere stuffed animals at http://CashmereCreations.ETSY.com which are often given to children as new toys. I have had to create replacement animals because family pets have destroyed the stuffed animals. Dogs, for whatever reason, are drawn to cashmere and will EAT it!!

Here's my theory:
1) A dog will go up to the toy because is LOOKS like something they would be allowed to play with.
2) They start to bite/chew said toy.
3) The toy starts to smell like a "friend." (If you have ever washed cashmere by hand- it smells like wet dog!!!)
4) Dog thinks, "Hey! I know you! You smell like me!" and continues to destroy said toy.

The end.

Point of the story: If you value your cashmere toys and sweaters, keep them away from your canine family members! Moths are NOT the only enemies of your cashmere collection...

Tips on shopping for CASHMERE

2007-05-01T09:30:00.000-07:00

Today's marketplace has seen an ever-increasing demand for cashmere products. In order to help meet demand, some manufacturers have been "padding" their cashmere percentages listed on the garment tags, while some others use the coarser, thicker, and shorter hairs from the Kashmir goats and call it "cashmere." Pretty much any hair from the Kashmir goat can be called "cashmere," but there are great differences in quality.

The finest cashmere is the thinnest (diameter) and longest of the fibers. Longer, thinner fibers make for a much stronger and softer yarn. When spun into yarn, the longer fibers are much less likely to become separated from the yarn and pill. Pilling is basically the smaller strands of cashmere separating from the knit and bundling together.

ALL cashmere will pill, but the best quality will pill considerably less and practically STOP pilling after the first few wears. It's like the sweater is getting its "pilling" out of its system.

Alright, things to look for in shopping for CASHMERE:

The label- Even department stores can be duped into buying lesser-quality cashmere so ALWAYS check the tag. People like to claim "cashmere sweaters on sale" or whatever. Then, you look at the tag and it's 5% cashmere... By law, all cashmere sweaters are required to be labeled with the percentage of cashmere, country of origin, and the name of manufacturer.
Price- If a "100% Cashmere" sweater is retailed less than $200, it is probably a lesser quality. On SALE for $200 is great!
Feel- Cashmere will be extraordinarily soft and should not feel rough at all. Lower quality can feel slightly prickly or rough. Most people who are allergic to wool (like myself) can wear cashmere with NO problem. Sometimes it doesn't feel rough to your hand, but try it on. Your stomach is more sensitive than your fingers.
Look- If a sweater looks too "poofy" or extra fuzzy, don't buy it. Poofy=pilling. Cashmere should be tightly knit and look smooth. Even when it looks smooth, cashmere should be soft, light, and feel like you are wearing air.
Look- Is it shiny? Yes? Don't buy it. More often than not, it is a cashmere blend. Usually, silk.
Seams- Look inside the sweater and see how the seams have been done. If the seams have been serged, walk away. Serged seams is when the shape of a sweater has been cookie-cut from a large piece of cashmere and then sewn together on the edges to hide the raw edges. Knit cashmere sweaters will be put together as individual sections that were knit individually.
Stretch- Cashmere should give a BIT, like all knit fabrics. If you pull from side to side and your sweater stays stretched in that shape, it is poor quality. Cashmere should rebound directly and quickly into its original shape.

I hope this helps you in your search for the best cashmere! If I think of more things to consider, I will add it!

Acrylic or Cashmere? The test.

2007-03-31T10:05:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been in a thrift store or discount shop of some kind, found a really soft sweater with no tag, and wondered what fabric is is? I've been there many times and have found a simple test that will tell you whether or not it is acrylic.

Acrylic is a really good impersonator of cashmere- it is soft, fuzzy, and tends to look like cashmere at first glance. If there is no tag on an acrylic sweater, to the beginner, it can be hard to tell if it is or not.

What you do:

Take your thumb on the outside of the sweater and your pointer finger on the inside of the sweater, press your fingers together with the sweater in between and wiggle your fingers back and forth.
If the sweater "squiggles" around or feels slippery, it is ACRYLIC!!
Cashmere does NOT squiggle or move around when you do this. It keeps its shape.

Other points:

This test will only tell you if the sweater is Acrylic or Not Acrylic. Cashmere blends pass this test, as do some other wools.
Once you get used to identifying cashmere, you will be able to tell just by touching something and looking at how it catches the light.
Point of this is that you look at a sweater that LOOKS like cashmere and want to know if it is an impostor.
You should be able to tell angora and mohair from a mile away- it is WAY too fuzzy and out of control.

Practice makes perfect! Test yourself the next time you are in a store. Feel a sweater before looking at the tag and decide if it is Acrylic or not. This will help you feel confident in identifying something without a tag.

Have fun!!

TSE Cashmere - Wonderful Investment

2007-03-26T11:54:00.000-07:00

Well, it is overcast today and that put me in the mood to wear more cashmere!! Even though it's still about 80 degrees... it's gloomy looking. So, I'm going to review the cashmere brand: TSE.

Alright, if you buy TSE at retail prices, it's a decent investment. You will be spending hundreds on a wardrobe basic and much more for trendy, elaborated pieces. TSE, which is pronounced "say" has made a name for itself with its cashmere, but also makes luxurious blends and garments in other fabrics. Of course, I love their cashmere. TSE cashmere is sold in many department stores and boutiques. Saks Fifth Avenue has a great selection online at: www.Saks.com

For detailed information on TSE's production methods, history, and FAQ's, visit: www.TSECashmere.com

At their website, you can view their collection and look up retailers in your state. What they will not tell you on their website is that they have an OUTLET (yes, outlet!!) in Cabazon, CA at the Desert Hill Premium Outlets. I have visited their outlet and it is wonderful. Their prices are anywhere from 15%-70% off. They are always busy in there so expect a line.

They sell their traditional TSE line, but they also have a lower-end, more affordable line called TSESay. So it's, "say say"! Very cute! Today, I will be reviewing the brand as a whole instead of garment by garment. I will do that another time as I have many of their pieces.

TSE Cashmere Brand
Quality 9
Style 9
Comfort 10
Price 4-5

Overall Value- Superior A

By superior, I mean that if you take care of your TSE cashmere pieces, they WILL last a lifetime. I would suggest buying their more classic designs as they will likely not go out of style. Some of their more trendy designs are beautiful, but are very pricey for one season's use. They will pill less than other brands because they use the best quality cashmere in their manufacturing.

Care For Your Cashmere Sweaters

2007-03-22T14:15:00.000-07:00

Alright, here is some information about how to clean and care for your cashmere collection. The following applies to KNIT fabrics, not WOVEN fabrics found in many suits and blankets.

Wearing:

Wait for your deodorant to dry before putting on your sweater. This will help keep the deodorant from building up on the inside of the sweater.
Do not wear perfume. It may stain your sweater and attract moths.
Do not wear the same sweater more than once in a four/five day period.
Try to keep your sweater away from rough items, purses, jewelry, etc. These items can cause pilling, a snag, or even a hole!

Cleaning:

I do not recommend dry-cleaning your cashmere sweaters unless you need specific stain removal treatments.
Wash your garments in your CLEANED sink or a large Tupperware bin. Please don't wash your cashmere after you have just washed dishes. Sanitize first.
Be cautious with bulky, large pieces. They become extremely heavy when they are filled with water.
Do not hold up a wet piece of cashmere by the shoulders, this will stretch your sweater. Keep your sweater in a lump when you go to pick it up when wet, fully supported by your hands.
Wash you cashmere in cold water. NEVER use hot water, it will cause your sweaters to shrink.
Use hair shampoo (after all, cashmere is goat hair...) or a mild detergent made for fine fabrics. Personally, I use Woolite (tm).
Agitate the water and detergent before you put the sweater in. You want it to be evenly distributed.
Press and squish the soapy water through your sweater. Do not wring, twist, or rub. SQUISH!!
Drain the sink and rinse with the same temperature of water that you used for washing. A sudden change in temperature will cause your cashmere to shrink.
After rinsing, squish and squeeze as much water as you can out of your sweater. DO NOT wring or twist. I keep my sweaters in a ball and press it in between my hands. Imagine checking a basketball for air pressure.
Lay out your semi-wet sweater onto a towel and roll it up. Press out the excess water with the towel.
Remove the sweater and lay it out on a fresh towel or drying rack, making sure to put the sweater back into its original shape. It will dry however you place it, believe me.
Keep your sweaters away from heat sources and windows. Air dry away from these.

Stain Removal:

If you don't feel comfortable removing stains yourself, take to a dry cleaner.
Treat stains IMMEDIATELY with cold water and a stain remover. I use Zout(TM).
After your stain remover has penetrated, wash your sweater as normal. Do NOT rub or give much special attention to the stained areas.
I do not suggest this because I do not want to be responsible for mistakes, BUT: a relative of mine got a beauty oil on her cashmere sweater when a container opened in her suitcase while traveling. As far as she was concerned, the sweater was ruined so she let me fiddle with it. I used a wool carpet stain remover and it worked! I placed a towel inside the sweater, under the stain, and applied the remover. I let the remover soak into the sweater, then pressed it out with another towel. I did this over and over, pressing out the stain to the towel underneath. After it looked OK, I washed it as normal and it was as good as new.

Storage:

Clean your sweaters before you store them. Moths are attracted to natural fibers, especially when they are dirty or stained.
When you store your pieces, fold them around a piece of tissue paper to help prevent wrinkles.
Do not store your sweaters in plastic. I suggest using sweater bags that are breathable, but keep critters out.
DO NOT HANG YOUR SWEATERS, period.

Other:

Use a sweater shaver to remove pilling. Do not press hard or you will shave a hole into your sweater.
You may iron your sweaters on low, while inside out to remove wrinkles.

Well, there you have it. Don't be overwhelmed. You will get the hang of it as soon as you try it out. If you are nervous, try out these techniques on a junky sweater or one you don't mind getting ruined (just in case).

Ask questions if you need help!

Neiman Marcus Exclusives Cashmere- Excellent Value

2007-03-21T09:58:00.000-07:00

Well, it's raining. It's been 90 degrees here for the last couple of weeks so this is a refreshing change. Good thing I always have a great cashmere sweater handy. This time, I'm wearing an uber-thick, grey, open-front, HAND-KNIT cardigan from Neiman Marcus Exclusives. Thus, I will be talking about this sweater and brand today. My number totals refer to the sweater, specifically. The Brand's Overall Value refers to the brand as a whole.

Over the years, Neiman Marcus has put out some beautiful cashmere sweaters from their Exclusives collection. I was disappointed this year but that hasn't stopped me from loving their stuff. Their Exclusives are made in a variety of places, but still have top-of-the-line quality. These pieces aren't as expensive as your Eskandar, Loro Piano, and Brunello Cuccinelli pieces, but are just as nice. This grey sweater rivals my hand-knit, pink Brunello Cuccinelli piece any day.

This NM sweater has become one of my favorites, so I have had to take care of it. This sweater wears extremely well. It does not pill nearly as bad as one would expect of such a thick knit sweater. This sweater is at least 10-ply and is as thick as it sounds. It is my perfect, lay around the house sweater. I've used it for traveling and for staying warm in 26-degree weather. It is lightweight, but warm. It is very comfortable, but can be tricky if you are moving around a lot, as it has no closure. This piece retailed at around the $400-$500 range. The style of this piece is GREAT. It is not trendy, but classic in style. It is hand knit, which gives it a one-of-a-kind feel. This has been and will be one of my favorites for a long time.

Neiman Marcus Exclusives Grey Cardigan:
Quality 8-9
Style 8
Comfort 10
Price 6

Brand's Overall Value: Excellent B+/A-

To see some of their pieces that are now ON SALE!! go to: www.neimanmarcus.com and look in their sale section. If you search on the home page, it won't bring the good ones up! SO, go to the sales and values section, then search with the keyword "cashmere."

Quality: Evaluates construction, quality of materials, and lifespan.
Style: Trendy gets less points because you are less likely to wear it long-term. We want you to have some pieces that will last you a lifetime.
Comfort: Wearability and maneuverability while in it.
Price (retail):
$1,000+ 0 Points
$900-$1,000 1
$800-$900 2
$700-$800 3
$600-$700 4
$500-$600 5
$400-$500 6
$300-$400 7
$200-$300 8
$100-$200 9
Less than $100 10

Brand's Overall Value: Does not apply to any specific sweater. This is my opinion of the brand as a whole.

Keep in mind: Just because a sweater is cheap, doesn't mean it is quality... A piece of cashmere that is over $1,000 may get no points for price because it is plain expensive, but it doesn't mean that it's not worth it.

Tomorrow, I will talk about caring for your collection! Have a great day!

Indroduction

2007-03-20T21:14:00.000-07:00

Like most women, I have acquired an unquenchable appetite for cashmere. I am a self-educated cashmere connoisseur of sorts. I love everything related to cashmere- especially the end product. But, I don't stop there! I enjoy taking apart cashmere items (mostly sweaters) to learn about how they were constructed, often to recycle them into treasured possessions. I knit and crochet new things from the recycled yarn and create stuffed animals from the fabric itself. My goal with this blog is to pass on my years of knowledge to people like you! I have an embarrassing collection of cashmere totaling over 200 pieces. My collection includes priceless one-of-a-kind treasures, the perfect basic sweater, and more!

I am going to give my opinions on every cashmere brand I am familiar with. I'm talking about hundreds here so we have a lot to get through! I will also show you how to take apart a sweater to salvage the yarn or to create something else out of it. I will give you my opinions on quality, the cashmere market, how to clean and store your collection, and current events related to cashmere production. You will find a bit of everything here.

I would love to answer any questions you may have! If I don't know the answer, I will find out for you so we can learn together!

To see some of my current creations, please visit: www.CashmereCreations.ETSY.com