I've got this really nice merino wool sweater from last winter that's started pilling like crazy after just a few months of wear. I've tried those fabric shavers but I'm worried I'm gonna damage it permanently. What's the safest way to deal with this without making it worse?
Fabric shavers can work fine on merino, but you need to be gentle and use a light hand - that's really the key. The issue isn't the tool itself, it's pressing too hard or going over the same spot repeatedly. If you want to use one, hold it at a shallow angle and move it slowly across the pilled areas without applying much pressure. You're basically just catching the little balls of fiber and cutting them off, not shaving down into the weave. Test it on an inconspicuous spot first, like the inside of a cuff or somewhere you won't see if something goes wrong.
The even safer alternative is a fine-tooth comb or a dedicated fabric brush designed for this. You can run it gently over the pilled areas and it'll catch and pull off a lot of those little balls without any risk of cutting into the actual fabric. Some people also swear by a pumice stone (the really fine ones, not the rough foot kind) used very lightly. It takes longer than a shaver, but it's basically impossible to damage your sweater with a soft pumice if you're patient.
Before you do any of this, make sure the sweater is laid flat and secure - don't try working on it while you're wearing it. And honestly, once you get the pilling under control, you can minimize it in the future by washing in cold water with a gentle cycle, turning it inside out, and avoiding dryer heat. Merino doesn't pill quite as bad if you're not creating friction during washing and drying.
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