The Best Way to Fold a Cashmere Sweater

Why Folding Matters: Cashmere and Care Go Hand in Hand

If you’ve ever wondered how to fold cashmere so it stays looking as inviting as the day you brought it home, you’re in good company. We reach for these sweaters because there’s really nothing else that feels quite the same against the skin, not scratchy or clingy, but something you remember wearing long after you take it off. At Monticelli, we’ve watched Italian artisans handle cashmere with a kind of quiet skill, confident but never showy. There is a gentle logic to why we fold rather than hang. It’s not only about preventing stretched-out shoulders, though that’s part of it; it’s about respecting the work that went into each stitch. Let’s get to the small details that make a big difference.

How to Fold Cashmere: The Method That Respects the Fiber

For those of us who might be guilty of half-folding or a little balled-up tuck, the right way is not complicated. Lay the sweater flat on a table, smoothing it gently. Bring each sleeve in across the back, following the seam, no need for hospital corners or origami. Fold the body in thirds if storage is tight, in half if there is more room. Lightly press the folded sweater so air sits between the layers, which keeps it from becoming crushed. This works especially well with pieces like the women’s pure cashmere V-neck sweater in brown, since lighter knits tend to hold their shape without bulk. At home, we reach for tissue paper between pieces for a little extra care, though it’s not required. The trick is patience, not pressure. It’s the sort of ritual our grandmothers would appreciate; sturdy, predictable, and never hurried.

Why Not to Hang: The Secret to Longevity

Most of us have experimented with hanging cashmere sweaters, at least once. Those odd lumps at the shoulders or stretched necklines are pretty telling. Cashmere is lighter than most fibers but also less elastic, especially the kind you find in our Italian knitwear. Hanging can misshape the garment over time. By folding instead, you respect the work of the hands that spun and knit the yarn, and you’re less likely to find those awkward pokes at the sleeves. If you place pieces on a high shelf, try not to overstack or cram, let each one breathe, a little bit like an old book on a quiet wooden shelf. You can browse the full range of our pure and neutral sweaters, all designed for gentle handling, on our neutral cashmere knitwear collection page.

Travel and Storage: Portable Italian Calm

Packing cashmere, especially for a trip, can bring a hint of worry. We like to gently fold a piece onto itself, as you would for home, and add a cloth bag or pillowcase to keep it clean in a suitcase. This works for layering pieces like the women’s cashmere fringe wrap in night blue, which holds up to travel and returns looking fresh, not wrinkled. If you’re storing through summer, choose a drawer lined with natural cotton rather than plastic. Lavender pouches, if you use them, keep the scent soft and natural, something you’ll remember every time you open the wardrobe.

Preserving More Than Fabric: The Last Word on How to Fold Cashmere

When we talk about how to fold cashmere, we’re rarely just talking about technique. These sweaters, scarves, and wraps carry stories, long walks in cool air, or quiet nights at home. Folding them is a small act, but it says we care about the texture and the memory woven into each garment. If you do it right, you’ll pick up your sweater next season and find it as soft and inviting as it was last winter, no unnecessary creases, just the feeling of something made for keeps.

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