Can I save this unevenly shrunk/stretched skirt?
August 7, 2013 11:49 PM Subscribe
I bought a bias-cut skirt made of t-shirt type fabric from Muji last week. It fit perfectly and draped beautifully and I was in love with it. Now I have washed it (40 degrees C, gentle setting) and it shrank really unevenly. It (just) still fits, but the hemline is dorky and uneven, and the skirt bulges weirdly at the seams. Is there anything I can do to save this? Rewashing and stretching? I can't return it to the store as I was travelling and there's no Muji here.
How disappointing for you. You'll probably never get it back as it was but stretching when wet will probably improve the situation. I had a dress of a similar fabric that a roommate had to help me stretch out evenly after every wash. It worked but was such a hassle that I only wore it a handful of times after that.
posted by Dorothia at 12:38 AM on August 8, 2013
posted by Dorothia at 12:38 AM on August 8, 2013
If it's natural fiber, it might stretch out while wet. My favorite trick is to put damp, shrunken items on a drying rack and use clothespins to stretch and attach the sides to the rack. It works about half the time. Also, a professional drycleaner might have a solution.
posted by Occam's Aftershave at 1:38 AM on August 8, 2013
posted by Occam's Aftershave at 1:38 AM on August 8, 2013
You could bring it to a local dressmaker who might be able to let the seams out a little and maybe even up the hemline. Although it would end up a bit shorter. Bummer - it's always the pieces you fall in love with, never the stuff you couldn't care less about!
posted by billiebee at 4:38 AM on August 8, 2013
posted by billiebee at 4:38 AM on August 8, 2013
You won't be able to let out the seams on a manufactured cotton jersey skirt, they're serged, there's no seam allowance.
You can try washing it in even cooler water, I usually do anything jersey at 30C (cotton jersey can take 40C, but seems to behave better at 30), and stretch it out by hand as evenly as you can while putting it out to line-dry.
But I'm afraid it won't ever be the same. It's one of the big risks buying low- and even mid-priced jersey clothing, even from the same brand. Sometimes it holds up fine, sometimes it just doesn't. Have had it happen too.
posted by fraula at 4:47 AM on August 8, 2013
You can try washing it in even cooler water, I usually do anything jersey at 30C (cotton jersey can take 40C, but seems to behave better at 30), and stretch it out by hand as evenly as you can while putting it out to line-dry.
But I'm afraid it won't ever be the same. It's one of the big risks buying low- and even mid-priced jersey clothing, even from the same brand. Sometimes it holds up fine, sometimes it just doesn't. Have had it happen too.
posted by fraula at 4:47 AM on August 8, 2013
Bias cut is particularly difficult to launder because it's got inherently uneven tension on the fibers. Re-washing by hand in very cool water and blotting and shaping and then drying flat might improve the fit. The safest way to launder is without water - dry cleaning. I know, it's just a jersey skirt and that's an expensive pain, but for a bias-cut knit, it's probably safest.
posted by citygirl at 5:21 AM on August 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by citygirl at 5:21 AM on August 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
If you followed the wash instructions precisely and it still shrank, exchange it. Call up the store you bought it at, and they might be able to help, even if that means mailing things. Maybe not, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
posted by aimedwander at 5:41 AM on August 8, 2013
posted by aimedwander at 5:41 AM on August 8, 2013
Just email them using their form. Tell them "I bought the Blah Blah skirt on XY date while on a trip to City and loved it. Tragically, after one wash per the instructions, it has shrunk and distorted. Unfortunately, I live in Town and there is no Muji; please tell me how I can arrange to mail this item back to you for a refund."
They'll accommodate you.
posted by DarlingBri at 5:46 AM on August 8, 2013 [9 favorites]
They'll accommodate you.
posted by DarlingBri at 5:46 AM on August 8, 2013 [9 favorites]
Response by poster: Well I don't want to exchange it because the new one would have the same issues. And store credit won't help. I guess a refund would be nice but is rather see if I can save the skirt. I'll try cool water as suggested. Thanks.
posted by lollusc at 6:04 AM on August 8, 2013
posted by lollusc at 6:04 AM on August 8, 2013
Washing in a white vinegar solution might also help loosen the fibers a bit so you can stretch the fabric more easily. I'd just add 1/4c-1c to the water depending on the size of the basin.
posted by sunshinesky at 6:13 AM on August 8, 2013
posted by sunshinesky at 6:13 AM on August 8, 2013
+1 on the return idea, but if you do wash it again -- iron it while it's damp, stretching as you go. Lay it how you want it to be on your ironing board, hold it taught, press until reasonably dry; move on to next section, repeat.
posted by kmennie at 6:27 AM on August 8, 2013
posted by kmennie at 6:27 AM on August 8, 2013
I agree with the washing by hand in cold water & gently stretching over towels. I've used that method with limited success (the garments did not go back to their former selves, really) in a similar situation.
A side comment, but perhaps helpful in future: as an American who lived in Europe for a number of years, I was perplexed as to why 30 Celsius was the lowest temperature any washing machine I saw over there offered. Delicate items (I'd include any bias-cut or flimsy/trendy jersey cotton items) often need a cool or cold wash, which translates to about 15-25 Celsius. Once I'd ruined a number of pretty garments in washing machines, I took to hand-washing most of my favorite clothes. So I'm not sure what the labeling on Muji's clothing says, but although 30 Celsius may be the coolest temperature on your washing machine (it may not be - I generally used laundrettes, and perhaps their equipment was not as modern as they could have been), it is likely not cool enough to qualify as "wash in cold/cool water" if that's what it says.
posted by pammeke at 7:14 AM on August 8, 2013
A side comment, but perhaps helpful in future: as an American who lived in Europe for a number of years, I was perplexed as to why 30 Celsius was the lowest temperature any washing machine I saw over there offered. Delicate items (I'd include any bias-cut or flimsy/trendy jersey cotton items) often need a cool or cold wash, which translates to about 15-25 Celsius. Once I'd ruined a number of pretty garments in washing machines, I took to hand-washing most of my favorite clothes. So I'm not sure what the labeling on Muji's clothing says, but although 30 Celsius may be the coolest temperature on your washing machine (it may not be - I generally used laundrettes, and perhaps their equipment was not as modern as they could have been), it is likely not cool enough to qualify as "wash in cold/cool water" if that's what it says.
posted by pammeke at 7:14 AM on August 8, 2013
I don't want to exchange it because the new one would have the same issues.
Exchange it, and don't wash it in hot water.
Washing it in cold water now isn't going to unshrink it.
Cotton shrinks, bias cuts shrink unevenly.
posted by yohko at 2:12 PM on August 8, 2013 [2 favorites]
Exchange it, and don't wash it in hot water.
Washing it in cold water now isn't going to unshrink it.
Cotton shrinks, bias cuts shrink unevenly.
posted by yohko at 2:12 PM on August 8, 2013 [2 favorites]
Hand wash it with plain hair conditioner. Rinse. Air dry then tumble with no heat. May or may not help.
posted by HMSSM at 9:18 PM on August 8, 2013
posted by HMSSM at 9:18 PM on August 8, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks, everyone. I contacted the address DarlingBri linked to, but they said they are only responsible for US Muji. Then I contacted the corresponding European address, and they said they can only deal with online purchases, so I need to take the skirt back to the original store I bought it from, which obviously isn't happening.
I rewashed it in cold water and stretched over towels and it seems a little better, but I guess it won't ever be quite the same again :(
The labelling on the skirt does say wash at 40 C max, so I thought it would be safe. The washing machine in the hotel I was staying in had 40 as the lowest setting. I wash everything on cold at home myself, so I wasn't aware that 40 might be a problem, especially as the label said it was ok.
Gah.
The one good thing is that it's quite easy to see how the skirt was constructed, and I think I could replicate it myself with new fabric, so I might try that. And then be very careful about washing the new version!
posted by lollusc at 2:13 AM on August 15, 2013
I rewashed it in cold water and stretched over towels and it seems a little better, but I guess it won't ever be quite the same again :(
The labelling on the skirt does say wash at 40 C max, so I thought it would be safe. The washing machine in the hotel I was staying in had 40 as the lowest setting. I wash everything on cold at home myself, so I wasn't aware that 40 might be a problem, especially as the label said it was ok.
Gah.
The one good thing is that it's quite easy to see how the skirt was constructed, and I think I could replicate it myself with new fabric, so I might try that. And then be very careful about washing the new version!
posted by lollusc at 2:13 AM on August 15, 2013
For replicating it, hang it up by the waist with the lower edge hanging free before you hem it, you want the bias to stretch before you neaten up the hem edge.
posted by yohko at 9:57 PM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by yohko at 9:57 PM on August 15, 2013 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by gingerest at 12:14 AM on August 8, 2013