Can I reshrink this sweater?
December 23, 2011 11:10 AM Subscribe
I had a have a sweater that was very fitted in the sleeves. Without thinking, I spent the day with the sleeves rolled up (I had a dress shirt underneath it). Now the sleeves are all stretched out. Is the sweater permanently this way, or will running it through the dryer shrink it? It is 60% cotton / 30% viscose / 10% wool.
Best answer: This happens to all of my sweaters. Running them through the wash always returns them to their original state; it doesn't matter whether I lay them flat to dry or run them through the dryer (depending on their laundering instructions).
posted by enlarged to show texture at 11:26 AM on December 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by enlarged to show texture at 11:26 AM on December 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
The sweater is mostly cotton, so the dryer should work. I would try blocking for items with more than 50% wool.
posted by Stephanie Duy at 11:27 AM on December 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Stephanie Duy at 11:27 AM on December 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Cotton knit always gets stretched out so with 60% cotton you're probably always going to have that proble. Usually washing and laying flat as PJMoore suggests will reshape it but my guess is that it's going to keep happening.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 11:29 AM on December 23, 2011
posted by otherwordlyglow at 11:29 AM on December 23, 2011
Just washing it according to the washing instructions will probably fix it most of the way. Knits stretch out when you wear them. Cotton especially.
posted by mskyle at 11:43 AM on December 23, 2011
posted by mskyle at 11:43 AM on December 23, 2011
Response by poster: Sweater saved! It was a more expensive sweater and I didn't want to take any chances.
posted by geoff. at 1:13 PM on December 23, 2011
posted by geoff. at 1:13 PM on December 23, 2011
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While its damp put it on a couple of towels on top of a table, etc. and push the sweater back into the shape it started. My mother called this blocking a sweater. You may have to turn it over and work on it again so it will dry more thoroughly. I've had good luck with all wool sweaters this way especially in the cuff areas where I push the sleeves up.
posted by PJMoore at 11:20 AM on December 23, 2011 [2 favorites]