Fall is just around the corner, so it’s time to start getting those sweaters out and ready to wear. And then…..Oops! You realize the last time you washed it, you accidentally shrunk your favorite sweater in the dryer! Thankfully, it is possible to unshrink that sweater that is now small enough for a small child to wear.
- Soak the item in warm water and a few squirts of baby shampoo.
Start the resizing process by soaking the shrunken item in a sink or bucket full of warm water and about two tablespoons of baby shampoo.
Gently work the shampoo into the fibers by hand, taking care not to stretch any of the fibers during the softening-up process.
About 15 minutes should allow enough time for the shampoo to relax the garment’s fibers enough so that you may begin the letting-out process.
- Remove sweater from the soapy water and rinse.
Rinse in cool water to remove the baby shampoo. Gently press or squeeze the garment to remove any remaining moisture. Don’t wring – this can damage and even break the fibers you’re trying to stretch.
- Roll the sweater in a towel to remove remaining moisture.
Roll in a clean, dry towel to remove any lingering moisture. It’s important that the clothing’s fibers contain as little moisture as possible when you begin the resizing process.
- Gently stretch and pin the sweater to a cork board.
Stretching the neck, arms, and sides as taut as possible without damaging the fibers. Let it be for at least an hour.
- Re-stretch and re-pin every couple hours.
Re-stretch and re-pin your garment every few hours. It will take several stretching and re-pinning sessions to unshrink the garment, and ease it back to its original size.
If you adore that sweater, you’ll be glad you took the time!
