How to Sell Damaged Knitwear

Damaged knitwear is still worth selling — typically £2 to £11 at For Parts, against £10 to £45 undamaged.

Can you sell knitwear that is damaged?

Yes. Damaged stock has its own buyers: people who repair and restore, people who want the material rather than the object, and people who want a cheaper one and do not mind a flaw. Nobody should be surprised when it arrives.

The damage buyers look for on knitwear

These are the flaws that move knitwear down the grades, and the ones a buyer will check first:

Moth holes, common in stored natural fibres
Felting and shrinkage from hot washing
Bobbling on the front and under the arms
Stretched necklines

Grading it honestly

Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £4 to £20. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £2 to £11. Grades are seller-declared and nobody inspects them for you, so grading up does not raise what you get — it produces a buyer who arrives expecting something else. All five grades explained.

Working out what you actually have

Establish the flaw properly rather than guessing at it:

Hold the garment up to the light to reveal holes
Lay it flat and measure chest, length and sleeve
De-pill before photographing

Photographing the flaw

Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:

The full bundle laid out so every piece is visible
The composition labels grouped together
The best two or three pieces individually
Any hole, pill or stain, photographed honestly

What to state in the listing

Alongside the flaw itself, buyers of damaged knitwear want these confirmed:

Number of pieces and the exact sizes
Fibre composition of each piece
Any recognisable brands included
Condition of each item, listing all holes and pilling

Fibre, count and size: “Wool Knitwear Bundle, 5 Pieces, Size M, All Natural Fibre”. Saying all natural fibre is a genuine differentiator in a bundle listing. Keep bundles to a single size — mixed sizes are much less useful to any one buyer.

What buyers will ask

Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:

“What are the fibres?”

List them per item. A bundle described as knitwear could be all cashmere or all acrylic, and the price difference is enormous.

“Are they all the same size?”

Keep bundles to one size and say so. Mixed-size bundles attract lowball offers because most of the contents are useless to the buyer.

“Any moth damage?”

Check every piece against a window and disclose everything. Moths move between garments, so buyers ask about the bundle as a whole.

Is it worth repairing first?

Only where it is cheap and visibly well done — a clumsy repair costs more than the flaw it hides. What lifts the price:

Natural fibres with real weight
Even, unstretched shape across the shoulders
No moth damage or thinning
Recognised knitwear labels

If the work would cost more than the gap between £11 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is damaged and let the buyer decide.

When to list it

Autumn and winter. Natural fibre bundles sell within days in season; acrylic bundles sell cheaply whenever listed.

Getting it to the buyer

Light but bulky in quantity. A vacuum bag reduces the parcel considerably and keeps postage sensible.

WishThrift does not process payments, arrange delivery or hold funds. Confirm the money has cleared before the item leaves your hands, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed.

Ready to list it? Free to list, no commission, and neither side pays a buyer-protection fee — create a free account, or read the full knitwear selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.

Frequently asked questions

Can you sell damaged knitwear?

Yes. Damaged knitwear typically is worth £2 to £11 against £10 to £45 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Moth holes, common in stored natural fibres

Is it worth repairing first?

Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is natural fibres with real weight — a repair that draws attention to the flaw can leave you worse off.

How should I describe the damage?

Precisely, with a photograph of the flaw itself. List them per item. A bundle described as knitwear could be all cashmere or all acrylic, and the price difference is enormous. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.