Shrinking knitted and crocheted sweaters back down to size is almost always possible, even though they stretch out.Whether you need to fix a whole sweater or just a portion of the garment, you can do it through a variety of methods.There are many measures you can take in order to prevent future shrinking once you get it back down to the best fit.
Step 1: How much of a sweater needs to be changed.
If you want to shrink it completely, you only need to soak an entire sweater.Sometimes, this isn't necessary.Some parts of your sweater, like the neck or sleeves, have stretched out.You can make the sweater by hand.
Step 2: Remove excess water from the sweater.
The tub should have slightly warm water.Put your sweater in the water.The sweater is in the water.Put excess water into the sink.Water can cause damage if you wring or squeeze the sweater.
Step 3: Reshape the sweater
The sweater should be placed between a towel.You can mold the sweater using your hands.Set the sweater aside to dry.
Step 4: Carefully dry.
You shouldn't hang the sweater to dry.There can be bumps on the sweater's shoulders.Pin the sweater to the towel.Put it in a safe place to dry.The sweater should be kept out of the reach of children or pets.
Step 5: Wet the sweater.
Extreme action needs to be taken if you want to change the whole sweater.Use the tap water to get your sweater wet.The sweater shrinks when you get wet.Don't forget to soak the sweater prior to drying.The sweater can be misted using a spray bottle.
Step 6: Put the sweater in the dryer.
You can shrink a sweater using a machine dryer.Place the sweater in the dryer.If you want to shrink your sweater a lot, use the highest heat setting possible.Put the sweater in the dryer.This will shrink your sweater.
Step 7: Prepare a basin of water.
If only the neck and sleeves are stretched out, you can shrink sections of a sweater.The color of your sweater may be affected by either the boiling water or blow-drying.Bring the pot of water to a boil.The water should be poured into a bowl.
Step 8: You want to change the areas.
The sleeves, cuffs, and neck of the sweater can be dipped into the water.If the water is still steaming, use protective gloves.You don't want to be burned in the process.
Step 9: Remold the sweater.
You can squeeze the portion of the sweater you're shrinking with your fingers.The sweater should be at your desired size and shape.It's a good idea to hold the cuff chest level as you remold it.Pulling the cuff closer will allow you to see what you're doing.When remolding a larger area, like the neck of a sweater, try laying the sweater down on a flat surface as you work.If your sweater is wet, you may want to remold it over a towel.
Step 10: It is a good idea to dry your hair with a hair dryer.
Take a hairdryer and blow the sweater dry.The hot air and hot water work together to shrink a portion of a sweater back to its original size.You don't want to use the cool setting on your hair dryer as the method requires hot air to work.The low heat setting is what you should start with.If the sweater isn't drying fast enough, switch to high heat.
Step 11: Hang sweaters rather than fold them.
You should store your sweaters in drawers instead of hanging them.The sweater can be stretched out.There are small humps at the shoulders.If you can, fold your sweaters instead of hanging them.
Step 12: If you have to hang sweaters, take precautions.
Take precautions if you need to hang your sweaters.More support can be provided by using thick, padded hangers.This can help prevent stretching.You can hang your sweater from the bottom bar of a hanger if you fold it over.The bottom bar may prevent stretching.You can fit the empty paper towel tube over the bottom bar of the hanger by cutting it open.This may help keep it from happening.
Step 13: You should hand wash your sweaters.
You should always wash your sweaters.They can be washed with a small amount of detergent and fabric softener.Make sure to rinse thoroughly and get all the suds out.Press the sweater to remove excess water.Don't wring or squeeze it.To dry the sweater, fold it in half and hang it over the bottom bar of a drying rack.