Generally, you try to take care of your knitted or crocheted sweaters, but there is always a risk that they will stretch or warp. However, there are methods to remedy this. You can make the whole sweater or certain parts smaller. You should also take certain precautions to prevent it from happening again in the future.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Shrinking an Entire Sweater
Step 1. Determine how many parts of the sweater need to be shrunk
You only need to treat the entire garment if you want to shrink it completely, but sometimes this isn't necessary. Maybe only certain parts have widened, like the collar or the sleeves. In this case, you can recreate the shape by hand.
Step 2. Wet the sweater and remove excess water
Fill a basin with slightly warm water. Dip the sweater until it soaks well. Remove it from the water. Eliminate excess in the sink by pressing the fibers. Do not twist or squeeze it, as this can damage it.
Step 3. Recreate the lost shape
Wrap the sweater with a double towel. With your hands, gently shape it into the desired shape, then set it to dry.
Step 4. Let it dry carefully
You shouldn't hang it, as this can cause bumps and other irregularities to form in the shoulder area. Instead, attach it to the towel you used previously. Then, lay it out in a safe place to dry. Keep it out of the reach of children or pets, as it should not be touched while drying.
Step 5. Wet the sweater
If you want to reshape the entire sweater, more elaborate steps are required. To get started, wet it using lukewarm tap water. The amount of water used affects the final result. To make it smaller, wet it completely before drying it. To make it squeeze less, spray water with a spray bottle until it is moist.
Step 6. Put it in the dryer
If you want to make an entire sweater smaller, you can use the dryer. After getting it wet, let it dry at a high temperature. You should use the highest one possible, especially if you want it to shrink significantly. Wait for the drying cycle to finish. This method should help you make it smaller by a couple of sizes.
Method 2 of 3: Shrink Some Sections of a Sweater
Step 1. Prepare a basin of water
You can make certain parts of the sweater smaller, such as the collar or sleeves, if they are the only ones that have widened. To do this, bring water to a boil after pouring it into a medium-sized saucepan. Then, pour it into a bowl.
Step 2. Moisten the parts you want to reshape
You can immerse the sleeves, cuffs or collar in the water. If it is still hot, use gloves to protect your hands and not burn yourself.
Step 3. Reshape the sweater
With your fingers, pinch and gently squeeze the part of the sweater you want to shrink. Work it until you get the size and shape you want.
- If you need to reshape your cuffs, you may want to keep them at chest height during the process. Since they are small, bringing them closer to you will allow you to better see what you are doing. When reshaping a larger area, such as the collar, try laying the sweater out on a flat surface to work on.
- If the sweater is quite wet, you may want to reshape it on a towel, which will absorb the water.
Step 4. Dry it with a hairdryer
After reshaping it, take a hair dryer and dry it. The jet of hot air will work closely with the water to fix the new shape, shrinking the affected area and making it acquire its original size again.
Since this method is only effective with a blast of hot air, you don't have to use the cool setting on your hair dryer. Start by setting it to the lowest available temperature. If it doesn't dry fast enough, turn it up
Method 3 of 3: Prevent It From Spreading
Step 1. Fold the sweaters instead of hanging them
Keep them in the drawers. Hanging them in the closet can enlarge extended sections. It can also leave bumps on the shoulders. In short, try to bend them.
Step 2. If you need to hang them, take the right precautions
Use thick, padded hangers for better support. This can prevent sweaters from stretching. You could also fold them up and hang them on the bottom bar of a hanger. This part offers better support, preventing them from deforming.
You can cut a roll of cardboard (such as paper towels) and fit it onto the bottom bar of a hanger. This can help prevent the sweater from creasing or leaving marks
Step 3. If possible, hand wash the sweaters
Hand washing should be done with cold water, a small amount of detergent and fabric softener. Rinse carefully, making sure to get rid of the foam well. Before drying, remove excess water by pressing the sweater. Don't twist or squeeze it. Fold it in half and hang it on the bottom bar of a hanger to dry.
