Anybody Shrinks Their Sweaters??

irbe · Nov 21, 2007

Just wondering if anybody does this on purpose. I don't fit into BR sizes due their cuts getting bigger season after season. I use to be a MEDIUM, then now im a SMALL. I bought two sweater vest from them last year in a SMALL and I hand washed it and threw them in the dryer. I know some people probably think this is bad since it wears down the wool and I should just buy my size. But since They don't make XS in their sweater vest and the price point is relatively cheap I figure what the hell. Comtemplating if i should try to do this again this wear witha merino wool I want to get.

alliswell · Nov 21, 2007

I used the hot wash / hot dry approach, and have restored the fit to a number of older sweaters, including a thick DK wool turtleneck that now fits like a vice. Sure it wears the wool a little, but you weren't planning on keeping a BR sweater forever.

Originally Posted by irbe

Just wondering if anybody does this on purpose. I don't fit into BR sizes due their cuts getting bigger season after season. I use to be a MEDIUM, then now im a SMALL. I bought two sweater vest from them last year in a SMALL and I hand washed it and threw them in the dryer. I know some people probably think this is bad since it wears down the wool and I should just buy my size. But since They don't make XS in their sweater vest and the price point is relatively cheap I figure what the hell. Comtemplating if i should try to do this again this wear witha merino wool I want to get.

Tangfastic · Nov 21, 2007

I have done a few times through lazyness, but am loathe to try it to specifically improve a fit, as I'm not sure if the shrinkage can be even throughout the garment ruining (or perhaps improving?) the proportions of the original garment. Also, I can never tell exactly to what degree the jumper will shrink. Its a game of chance!

I'd definitely only try drying for 10 - 20 minutes at first in case you end up with an action man jumper (or GI Joe sweater)..

irbe · Nov 21, 2007

Yeah i've shrank lambs wool sweaters before which worked out fine. And they are kinda coarse to the touch so it never made a difference to me. Thinking of trying it with a 100 percent merino vest.

DNW · Nov 21, 2007

I've shrunk a few sweaters before. For the wool ones, the wool became coarser and started to pill afterward. The process does weaken the wool, but it should be fine since one time should be enough to shrink the sweater.

stickonatree · Nov 21, 2007

does this work on cashmere as well?

FLMountainMan · Nov 21, 2007

Originally Posted by stickonatree

does this work on cashmere as well?

irbe · Nov 21, 2007

Can't say i've ever tried cashmere, ha... anybody care to comment?

alliswell · Nov 21, 2007

I shrank the neck on a cheap Bloomingdales cashmere turtleneck, by soaking it in water from the hot faucet and drying flat on a towel. The neck tightened up for maybe 10-15 wearings and then started loosening again. I didn't notice any pilling, but the neck's not the place for that.

Originally Posted by irbe

Can't say i've ever tried cashmere, ha... anybody care to comment?

DNW · Nov 21, 2007

Originally Posted by stickonatree

does this work on cashmere as well?

Yes.

Originally Posted by FLMountainMan

Where's your sense of adventure?

amirrorcrackd · Nov 21, 2007

Any recommendations for not cheap sweaters? Will hand washing and flat drying actually cause a sweater to shrink? Has anybody ever successfully blocked a sweater to a smaller size? What method did you use?

Thanks,
Dan

irbe · Nov 22, 2007

I've hand washed my cashmere sweater and it feels a bit smaller afterwards. For my lambs wool, i threw it in a dry for a bit and took them out. I've never thrown cashmere in the dry though, too chicken...

stickonatree · Nov 22, 2007

thanks for the help guys.

i have a cheap old cashmere sweater that needs some shrinking, i may just wash it by hand tonight and chuck it in the dryer for the heck of it to see if it shrinks

irbe · Nov 22, 2007

Unchartered territory.... Make sure you tell us how it turns out.

Stylin-1 · Nov 22, 2007

I've dried a wool/cashmere blend with no problems. Just don't overdo it.

Anybody Shrinks Their Sweaters??

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