Once you buy a sweater, proper care will minimize pilling. Hand-wash garments, and lay them flat to dry. If any pills do form, remove them at the first sign. The simplest method is to skim them off gently with a fine-toothed hair comb. Specially designed fabric combs and battery-operated sweater shavers are also available — just be certain to inspect your garment for snags and tiny holes, problems these devices can worsen.

Dear Martha: I would like to force some bulbs this winter. What's the easiest way for me to get started?

Answer: Forcing bulbs is a great way to maintain fresh flower displays inside your home throughout the winter months. But keep in mind that many bulbs — including tulips, hyacinths, crocus and narcissus — require a cold treatment in order to flower. This involves keeping the bulbs at a temperature of 35 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 17 weeks. Expect flowering to occur two to six weeks after that.

Certain bulbs, however, do not require this treatment. Paperwhites are one of the easiest to work with. These bulbs will still need to be kept in a dim, cool location (55 F to 60 F); a basement might approximate these conditions.

To begin the process, fill a shallow, nondraining pot about two-thirds full with a suitable substrate, such as marbles, pebbles or gravel. Place the paperwhite bulbs on the surface of the substrate, tips up and shoulder to shoulder. Add a bit more substrate to stabilize them, and then pour in tepid water until it just reaches the base of the bulbs. Store in your designated location for at least two weeks or until the green shoots that appear at the tips of the bulbs reach 3 inches to 4 inches. The bulbs can then be moved to a brighter location in your home. Flowering may ensue as soon as two weeks later (although the process may take longer, depending on your bulbs).

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Questions should be addressed to Ask Martha, care of Letters Department, Martha Stewart Living, 11 W. 42nd Street, New York, N.Y. 10036. Questions may also be sent by electronic mail to: mslletters

@marthastewart.com. Please include your name, address and daytime telephone number. Questions of general interest will be answered in this column; Martha Stewart regrets that unpublished letters cannot be answered individually. For more information on the topics covered in the Ask Martha column, visit www.marthastewart.com © Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

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