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Laundry & dry cleaning experts show how to make wool items bigger
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Nothing’s worse than taking your laundry out of the wash to discover your favorite wool sweater has shrunk! There’s no need to stress, however, as many wool items can easily be restored to their original size. For this article, we interviewed laundry specialist Rani Gorgis and dry cleaner Safir Ali to teach you how to stretch a wool sweater. Plus, learn whether all sweaters can be stretched and how to prevent them from shrinking in the first place.
How do you stretch a wool sweater?
Laundry specialist Rani Gorgis suggests soaking the garment for half an hour in a mixture of warm water and gentle detergent. Pull the item out of the soak and squeeze gently to remove excess water. Lay the item flat and use both hands to stretch it out in each direction. Lay it flat to air dry.
Steps
Section 1 of 5:
Softening the Sweater Fibers
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Fill your sink with warm water and stir in 2 tbsp (30 mL) of conditioner. Measure the hair conditioner into the sink and then gently stir the water with your hand until it’s completely dispersed. The conditioner helps to soften the wool fibers in your sweater, making it easier to stretch. [1] X Research source
- If you don't have any hair conditioner, use fabric softener or baby shampoo instead. Gorgis also recommends using “Tide Free & Gentle detergent because it is delicate on clothes.”
- This method can be used for other woolen garments such as shirts, coats, and pants.
- These steps are appropriate for all types of wool.
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Soak your wool sweater in the sink for 20-30 minutes. Make sure that the entire sweater is submerged in the water to soak. This allows time for the water and conditioner to thoroughly saturate and soften the fibers in your garment. If your sweater is particularly large or heavy, leave it to soak for up to 2 hours. [2] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Squeeze out the excess liquid. When time is up, lift the sweater out of the sink. Allow the bulk of the water to drip off the fabric, then gently squeeze out the rest of the drips. Avoid wringing the sweater, as this can damage the fibers. [3] X Research source
- Don't rinse your sweater, as this will remove the conditioner from the fibers and make it more difficult to stretch.
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Section 2 of 5:
Stretching the Sweater by Hand
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Lay the sweater flat on a towel. Drape a towel across a hard surface and place the damp sweater on it. Ensure that the sweater lies flat so that it doesn’t become wrinkled. Adjust the sleeves as needed so that they fit on the towel. [4] X Research source
- If possible, use a white towel, as this removes the risk of any dye from the towel staining your sweater.
- Use an absorbent towel rather than a light cotton towel for the best results.
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Place another towel on top of the sweater and gently press down on it. Cover your wool sweater with another (preferably white and absorbent) towel. Press down on the towel and sweater gently, starting from the shoulders and working your way down. [5] X Research source
- Remove the top towel from the sweater once you have pressed the entire garment.
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Stretch the sweater back to its original shape. Gently pull the shoulders of the jersey apart to stretch them back to their original width, and tug on the sleeves to make them longer. Pull the body material widthways and lengthways to stretch out the fibers, and continue to adjust the sweater until it reaches your desired shape and size. [6] X Research source
- Hold the jersey up to your body to ensure you're stretching it in the right places.
- If you’re worried about distorting the sweater or stretching it too much, lay a sweater that fits on top of it. Stretch your wool sweater no larger than the sweater that fits.
- Gorgis warns, “Be cautious not to pull too hard, as it may damage the fabric.”
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Dry the sweater flat on a towel for 24 hours. Gorgis instructs, “Do not use a dryer” to dry your wool sweater. Dryers use heat to dry clothes, which could cause your sweater to shrink again. Instead, place the sweater on a clean, dry towel in a dust-free area to air dry. If the sweater is still damp after 24 hours, flip it over, place it on another dry towel, and wait a further 24 hours for it to dry completely.
- If the sweater is still too small, repeat the softening and stretching process to make it larger.
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Section 3 of 5:
Pinning the Sweater in Place
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Roll the wool sweater up in a towel. After squeezing out the excess water after a soak, place your damp sweater flat on a dry towel. Ensure that both arms of the sweater are lying on the towel and that the sweater is free of wrinkles. Roll the towel and sweater up tightly to absorb as much of the moisture from the sweater as possible. [7] X Research source
- For best results, use a fluffy, absorbent towel.
- White towels work best, as the dye from colored towels may stain your sweater.
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Stretch and pin your sweater to a corkboard. Hold your sweater in front of your body and gently stretch it to the width of your shoulders. Keep the sweater in this stretched position and pin it onto a corkboard. Pull the bottom hem downward to lengthen the body of the sweater, then pin it in place. Stretch the arms out to the appropriate length and pin them as well. [8] X Research source
- Use steel pins to prevent rusting.
- Use extra pins to make any other necessary adjustments to the size of the sweater.
- If you don’t have a corkboard, use weights (like hand weights, paperweights, or books) to pin the stretched sweater to a flat surface.
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Check your sweater in an hour and restretch it, if necessary. Check on your sweater after an hour, as the wool may shrink a little as it dries. If the sweater isn’t back to its original size yet, simply stretch it out a little wider and longer, and then pin it in place again. Continue to stretch and pin the sweater until it is the correct size. [9] X Research source
- If stretching and repinning doesn’t work, you may need to soak the sweater in the water and conditioner mixture and repeat the entire stretching process.
- If you stretch your sweater too much, it’s possible to shrink it again by washing it with hot water and tossing it in the dryer. Be aware that it may shrink too much.
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Section 5 of 5:
Preventing Shrinkage From Washing
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1Read the clothing care label. Your wool sweater (or any other garment) should have a care label that explains how to wash, dry, and care for it. Follow these instructions exactly to keep your wool in the best shape. [11] X Research source
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2Wash your wool in cold water. Whether you hand wash your wool or toss it in the washing machine, always use cold water because, as Ali explains, “Heat is the number one reason” that clothes shrink. Use a mild detergent or a soap specifically made for washing woolens. If you choose to machine wash, consider putting your wool items in a delicates bag to keep them in the best shape possible. [12] X Research source
- Some wool garments may be dry clean only. Even if you can hand or machine wash them, dry cleaning is a great way to prevent shrinkage.
- Spot cleaning your wool can also keep it in better shape, as you won’t be completely submerging it in water.
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3Allow the wool to air dry. Because heat causes shrinkage, avoid putting your wool items in the dryer. Instead, place your freshly washed garment flat on a clean, dry towel. Keep it away from sunlight and direct heat, and allow it to air dry completely. [13] X Research source
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Join the Discussion...
Asking for a friend here....I accidentally put one of my favorite shirts through the dryer when it's supposed to air-dry, and it totally shrunk. I'd really love to wear it again, but it just doesn't fit right anymore. Do I have to give this shirt up and get a new one, or is there some way I can unshrink it again without it looking weird?
I like to use lukewarm water and Tide Free & Gentle detergent because it is delicate on clothes. Soak the item for about half an hour. Pull the item out of the soak and squeeze it gently to remove excess water. Lay the item down flat on a surface and with both hands stretch it out in each direction as much as you can. Be cautious not to pull too hard so you don't damage the fabric. Lay the fabric out to air-dry completely and do not use a dryer.
I agree with the strategy to soak your clothes in lukewarm water and then slowly stretch them, but I've had success with hair conditioner. Haven't tried detergent. You can also put your clothes on after stretching them, and then while they dry on your body you you'll get a custom-fitted shirt!
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Tips
- Wash wool in cold water and let it air dry to prevent the fibers from shrinking. Apply this principle to any wool garment or product, from sweaters to socks to rugs.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/how-to-unshrink-clothes-7564308
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/how-to-stretch-a-shrunken-sweater-11699403
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/how-to-stretch-a-shrunken-sweater-11699403
- ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/fashion/style/how-to/a38143/here-is-a-seriously-simple-way-to-un-shrink-your-clothes/
- ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/fashion/style/how-to/a38143/here-is-a-seriously-simple-way-to-un-shrink-your-clothes/
- ↑ https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/fashion/style/a38143/un-shrink-your-clothes/
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/how-to-stretch-a-shrunken-sweater-11699403
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/how-to-stretch-a-shrunken-sweater-11699403
- ↑ https://www.realsimple.com/how-to-stretch-a-shrunken-sweater-11699403
- ↑ https://www.southernliving.com/how-to-unshrink-clothes-7564308
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/clothing-care/how-to-unshrink-wool-and-how-to-shrink-it.html
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/clothing-care/how-to-unshrink-wool-and-how-to-shrink-it.html
- ↑ https://www.cleanipedia.com/gb/clothing-care/how-to-unshrink-wool-and-how-to-shrink-it.html
About This Article
Article Summary
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Did your favorite wool sweater shrink? To stretch it back to its original size, start by softening the fibers. Fill a sink or tub with warm water and stir in 2 tbsp (30 mL) of hair conditioner. Soak the sweater in the mixture for 20 minutes, then lift it out and gently squeeze it to remove excess liquid. Put a towel down on a flat surface and lay the sweater out on top of it. Then, cover the sweater with a second towel. Gently press the sweater between the two towels to soak up the remaining water. Next, carefully tug on the sweater to stretch it out to its original shape. Make sure to pull both horizontally and vertically. Work in sections until you’ve stretched the entire sweater out. When you’re done, lay the sweater out to dry on a towel and smooth out any wrinkles with your hands. If it’s still damp after 24 hours, flip it over and let it dry for a few more hours. For more tips on how to stretch out a wool sweater, read on!
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