regaining /maintaining tightness of sweater cuffs/waistbands?

Anyone got advice for this? After a few wears, most wool and cashmere sweaters I own just get all baggy and stretched on the cuff and waistband. It seems like the more expensive ("higher end&quot the brand, the less likely it will hold up. Annoying as hell.

Give the cuffs and waist area a quick soak in hot water and then let them air dry.

I asked the same question a few months ago because I usually wear my long-sleeves pulled up on my arms

Just like Robin said, bearing any special washing requirements for unusual fabrics, I hot soak the stretched spots and let them air dry or run the hairdryer on low.

Depends on the fabric.

Merino and regular wool: Wool usually rebounds pretty well with warm/semi-hot water. But if you do soak DO NOT hang dry or you will stretch the fabric irreparably in the shape of the hanger or clips. Just lay it on a screen. Bad way to ruin an expensive piece of clothing.

Cashmere and silky blends: Kind of in a cache 22 (I hate that adage!) with cashmere as it tends to be very brittle and not hold up to repeated washing but will return to form with a warm soak or quick spin. Never wash cashmere with velcro, small buttons or anything else that can catch either (like an Army uniform!) or you will be out a $130 sweater! As with merino or wool, do not hang it. Trust me I speak from experience on all these points.

Tips on not stretching: Seems like common sense but take them on and off carefully. I have torn a few sweaters by ripping them off over my head without removing my arms first (and the reverse). Dumb! Also, as with the same logic above, do not hang them in your closet. Fold them. The creases (which fall out in minutes anyway) look better than ridiculous stretch bumps on your shoulders.

Tips on maintaining material: Again common sense do not over-wash, do not machine dry and don't wash if you wear a sweater for a few hours and come home. If it doesn't stink like a bar or have food on it then just leave it. This goes for all clothing but it is more amplified with sweaters because of the delicacy of the material.

Originally Posted by BrettChaotix

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I asked the same question a few months ago because I usually wear my long-sleeves pulled up on my arms

I do the same and it ruins the sleeves....

Don't let dentists push up the sleeves

Originally Posted by WayneGibbous

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I do the same and it ruins the sleeves....

I know, I know - drives me crazy but I can't stand having the sleeves down most of the time!

Originally Posted by chronoaug

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Don't let dentists push up the sleeves
You beat me to it

i'm assuming that the water doesnt damage the wool in any way, except for causing shrinkage (which is what we're trying to accomplish anyway).

is it possible to shrink an entire sweater by soaking the whole thing???

If you mean shrinking a sweater from its original size, I tried this with a lambswool sweater and it worked at first. But after wearing a couple of times, it returned to its original dimensions. That's gravity for you.

Originally Posted by WayneGibbous

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Tips on not stretching: Seems like common sense but take them on and off carefully.

+1

I'm careful with the hems of my finer gauge sweaters and they've all held up for years.

Another solution is to buy some of the newer styles that don't have tight waistbands (straight fit thru the body). Then you'll never have this dilemma, since they're "stretched" from the get-go. Many younger guys might prefer this look, too.

i've noticed when i drean clean my sweaters, they usually shrink back to original form...at least the merino, cotton/cashmere blends...

i've never put that much stress on it, however, such as pulling the sleeves up towards my elbow, but i have seen stretchin in the cuff and waist areas, and they have gone back to normal size after dry cleaning