Sugar... !! I've shrunk the jumper !!!

stilernin

Flippin' 'eck.

I've put a Merino wool jumper in a 40degree wash and it's gone very 'tight'. I've pulled it as far as I can in all directions and now it is hanging well away from any radiator to dry.

Is there anything I can do?

Toxic_Lemon

I've never been able to rescue a shrunk jumper. If it's new, and the instructions say 40c wash, I'd take it back to the shop for a refund or replacement.

Sarahsaver

You cannot do anything.
We have between us lambswool, angora, cashmere mix and all sorts of posh knitwear which goes int he washing machine on the special wool programme. It is not so much the temperature as the agitation. Wool has tiny scales on the surface which lock together if it is agitated a lot, therefore causing it to shrink.
You could make it into a cushion cover :eek:

stilernin

I thought as much..........boo hoo...........I put it in by mistake.

Thanks for your replies though.

squeaky

You could try this one...

Add hair conditioner - that's hair not fabric conditioner - to a bowl of hand warm water. Gently wash, and then rinse again in warm water.

Hair conditioner helps sort out tangles, and since your jumper is wool this might just help.

Do the usual lay it out flat thing when drying instead of hanging.

Can you let us know if it works? Or makes a bit of improvement, please?

Good luck

skim

Take it back to the shop you bought it from.
If it's the likes of M&S then all they do is send it straight back to the manufacturer for a refund & so they'll give you a refund straight away even if it's a year old

Very few people take clothes back due to shrinkage because they always think they have done something wrong whereas it is really poor shrink resisting from the dyer that causes the problem.

Spud_2

Hello, I guess this isn't strictly money-saving but I bought a £50 wool jumper which after only 2 washes shrunk. I did a handwash cycle on the washing machine as the label stated hand-wash only.

The problem I have is that I didn't keep the receipt as I loved the jumper so much I didn't think I'd need it. After it shrunk I just left it in the wardrobe and didn't do anything about it so I've actually had it like this for over a year now.

Having a clearout of my wardrobe today I've found it and I really just wanted to ask if anyone knows if there is any way I can 'unshrink' it?! Are there any washing tips or anything at all I can do? I have tried stretching it already to no avail!

Thanks in advance for any advice! I'm not in the habit of buying jumpers costing £50 so I'm really gutted this has happened.

[Deleted User]

You might be successful if you stretch it when it is wet but you will find it very difficult to do a neat stretch. Perhaps try on a towel with a tape measure handy. You don`t have anything to lose. You will need something to hold it down

Seakay

Perhaps if you have some sort of pin board you could drape a towel over it and stretch the wet jumper onto it, putting pins in at the edges.

hardpressed

It's likely that once it's shrunk it's shrunk for good. Could you make a cushion out of it, knitted cushions are very trendy.