How to Break In and Care for a Hill City Howlers Pom Beanie

Quick answer

Wear the beanie a few times to let the knit relax to your head, then hand wash it in cool water with a gentle detergent, squeeze rather than wring, and air dry it flat away from heat. Brush the pom gently and use a small fabric shaver on pills so the hat stays soft and the pom stays fluffy.

Start with a cold-weather hat that fits before you break it in

A beanie only breaks in well if the starting fit is close. The Hill City Howlers Luchadores Pom Beanie is a cap-style knit with a pom top and a unisex design, so it works for men, women, and kids. Because it is a knit, it will relax slightly with wear, but it will not shrink back to a smaller size after washing. If it feels loose on day one, it will feel looser later, so start with a beanie that sits snug but not tight across your forehead.

The Luchadores Pom Beanie is part of the Luchadores collection and is made by Bimm Ridder. The pom is the part most likely to look worn first, so treat the pom as a separate care item from the knit crown.

Wash by hand, not in the machine

Fill a sink or basin with cool water and a small amount of gentle detergent. Submerge the beanie and press it down a few times so the water moves through the knit. Let it soak for about five minutes, then squeeze the water through the fabric instead of scrubbing it. Rubbing the knit against itself is what creates pills and fuzz.

Rinse with cool water until no suds remain. Do not twist or wring the beanie, because that distorts the crown and can pull the pom loose. If you are washing more than one hat, wash the Luchadores Pom Beanie on its own the first time so you can see whether any dye releases.

Dry flat and reshape while damp

Lay the beanie flat on a clean towel and roll the towel to press out excess water. Then reshape the crown with your hands and let it air dry flat. Hanging a wet knit beanie can stretch the ribbing, and a hot dryer can shrink it or make the pom frizzy.

Keep the beanie away from radiators, space heaters, and direct sun while it dries. If the pom looks flattened, fluff it with your fingers while the hat is still slightly damp, then let it finish drying.

Fix pilling without damaging the knit

Pilling is normal on knit hats, especially where the beanie rubs against a coat collar or hood. Use a small fabric shaver or a fine-tooth comb and work in one direction with light pressure. Do not pull pills off with your fingers, because that can tug loose fibers and create a bigger fuzzy patch.

After de-pilling, brush the surface with a soft garment brush to lift the nap. If the pom has matted, gently tease it apart with your fingers rather than cutting it.

Store the beanie so it keeps its shape

Fold the beanie loosely and store it in a drawer or bin instead of hanging it on a hook. Hanging stretches the ribbing over time. Keep it away from heavy items that can crush the pom, and give the hat a day to air out between wears if you have been sweating in it.

If you rotate between a beanie and a cap, the Hill City Howlers Poison Apples Glow-in-the-Dark New Era 59FIFTY is a fitted cap with a structured crown and glow-in-the-dark details, so it needs different storage than a knit beanie. Keep the beanie folded and the fitted cap on a shelf or in a cap case so neither one loses its shape.

Beanie care steps

1. 1. Check the fit before breaking it in: Put the beanie on and make sure it sits snug but not tight. Knit relaxes with wear, so a beanie that starts loose will only get looser. If it slides down over your eyes, size or style is the problem, not break-in.
2. 2. Wear it in short sessions first: Wear the beanie for an hour or two at a time over the first few days. This lets the knit soften to your head shape without over-stretching the ribbing. Avoid stuffing it into a tight pocket, which stretches the crown unevenly.
3. 3. Hand wash in cool water: Use cool water and a gentle detergent, soak for about five minutes, and squeeze the water through the knit instead of scrubbing. Never wring or twist the beanie, and never put a pom beanie in a hot machine cycle.
4. 4. Rinse and press out water: Rinse until the water runs clear, then press the beanie between towels to remove excess moisture. Squeezing is safe; wringing is what distorts the shape.
5. 5. Air dry flat and reshape: Lay the beanie flat away from heat and direct sun. Reshape the crown and fluff the pom with your fingers while it is still damp. A dryer or a radiator can shrink the knit and frizz the pom.
6. 6. De-pill gently when needed: Use a fabric shaver or fine comb in one direction with light pressure, then brush the surface smooth. Do not pull pills off by hand, because that loosens more fibers.

Product facts for this care routine

• Hill City Howlers Luchadores Pom Beanie: Cap-style beanie with a pom top, unisex design, part of the Luchadores collection, made by Bimm Ridder. The pom is the most delicate part, so hand washing and flat drying protect both the knit crown and the pom shape.
• Hill City Howlers Poison Apples Glow-in-the-Dark New Era 59FIFTY: Fitted New Era 59FIFTY with a structured crown, glow-in-the-dark details, and fitted sizes from 7 to 8 including half sizes. A structured fitted cap should not be washed or stored like a knit beanie, so keep the two care routines separate.