The Technique You Should Know To Fix A Shrunk Sweater At Home

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Finding that your sweater has shrunk two sizes when you take it out of the washer or dryer can be sobering. But before you get on a new diet to fit your favorite jumper or shed a tear or two while giving it away, try the hand-stretching method, which involves gently pulling the ends of your wet garment to get it back to its original size.

This doesn't mean that you should put the shrunken piece underwater and start pulling. First you must prepare a bath for the high-maintenance garment using fabric softener or baby shampoo and soak it in the solution. If you don't have either handy, grab some hair conditioner (one of the surprising ways you can use it). This will relax the fibers and make them more responsive to all your hand stretching. So, get a large bucket or tub (a plugged sink works, too) to dunk the sweater in and your chosen softening medium. You'll also need a large bath towel, a large blocking mat (or foam or cork bulletin board), and a few T-shaped pins. If you don't have any left at home, consider Sunenlyst's 1.5-inch Stainless Steel Pins.

Once you have the listed supplies, fill the container (or your sink) with lukewarm or cold water. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of fabric conditioner to the water and mix them well. Now, fold your sweater neatly and place it inside. Let the fibers soak in the solution for 10 minutes to two hours, depending on how much the garment has shrunk. You can even leave it overnight if you want. When the time is up, take out your jumper and squeeze it with a soft hand to get rid of the excess water. Don't wring it or press down with all your might, or it'll worsen matters. Also, avoid washing it again to get rid of the residual softening medium.

Then, lay your sweater flat on the bath towel and roll it up tight so it's no longer soaking wet. Remember, you want it damp to stretch it out (you might want to roll it in another dry bath towel again if it's still dripping water). Now, for the interesting part: Stretching your shrunken jumper. Lay out the damp garment on a large blocking mat and stretch its arms, sides, and edges to their original size. Be gentle and don't exert too much pressure or you might end up disfiguring it. After you're satisfied, push in T-pins at a distance of 2 inches from each other. This will keep your sweater in place and prevent it from shrinking back. Finally, let it air dry before trying it back on. In case your jumper isn't fully restored, repeat the steps again.

Although the hand-stretch technique works like a charm and will help fix your shrunken sweater's shape, keep a few things in mind for best results. For starters, avoid using hot water to soak the garment. You don't want to accidentally worsen matters. Further, after you pin your jumper to the blocking mat, don't put it under sunlight or near any sources of heat. While you may want to do this to speed up the drying process, you don't want the exposed fibers to shrink further or fade. So, give the garment appropriate time to air dry (approximately two days) before checking if your efforts were worth it. Additionally, ensure the T-pins you're using aren't rusted or crooked. In case you're worried about stretching it more than necessary, measure a sweater that fits you well and stick to the noted measurements.

You must also be aware of the technique's limitations. It works best on sweaters made of natural materials, including wool, mohair, cashmere, or cotton (unfelted). It won't work as desired on synthetic blends, such as polyester or acrylic. Another thing you should remember is that even with natural fibers, the process will yield satisfactory results only if the fabric isn't felted. The difference between shrunken and felted laundry is that the latter have fiber barbs, hooks, or scales that are linked together. These tangles are impossible to work through even if you soak your felted jumper for a long while. So if your sweater has shrunk dramatically, it's time to bid it goodbye.