Snags and pulls
Also: pulled threads · snagged yarn · loops
Snags and pulls are loops of yarn dragged out of a weave or knit by a sharp object, leaving raised threads or puckered dimples without an actual hole. Common on sweaters, tights, and silky fabrics, they read as cosmetic when few but signal fragile fabric-condition when widespread across a piece.
How to detect it
- Angle the garment under light to catch raised loops casting shadows
- Look for puckered dimples where a pull has tightened the surrounding weave
- Run a hand over knits and delicate wovens to feel snags you can't see
Grade impact
Snags are weighed under Fabric Condition (30%). A stray snag or two is cosmetic and keeps an item near Excellent (8); many snags, or a large pull that distorts the weave, drop it toward Good (6) or Fair (5).
Fixability
Often improvable. A snag tool or crochet hook can draw a pulled loop back to the wrong side, smoothing the surface, though a pull that has already puckered the weave may not fully relax.
How to disclose it
Note quantity and location ('a few small snags on the left sleeve'). Snags photograph poorly, so a raking-light close-up prevents the 'more than expected' complaint on delicate knits.
Snags and pulls — frequently asked
- Can a snag be fixed without leaving a mark?
- Usually. A snag tool or crochet hook pulls the loose loop through to the inside, which smooths the surface for most knits and wovens. A pull that has already puckered the surrounding weave may relax only partway and stay faintly visible.
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