shrinking dress shirts

[johnnynorman3]

Surprised that I want to know how to shrink a dress shirt? In the past, I've doused the areas I've wanted to shrink in hot water, they thrown the thing in the dryer alone on high heat. Not sure if the shrinkage occurs in the parts that I didn't wet.

But is there a better way to do it? What areas of the shirt are particularly shrinkable? Do armholes tend to get smaller? When I need a shirt to slim down, shrinking it seems preferable to going to the tailor, at least so long as the arms and collar won't get too short/tight.

 

[Fabienne]

Surprised that I want to know how to shrink a dress shirt?  In the past, I've doused the areas I've wanted to shrink in hot water, they thrown the thing in the dryer alone on high heat.  Not sure if the shrinkage occurs in the parts that I didn't wet.  

But is there a better way to do it?  What areas of the shirt are particularly shrinkable?  Do armholes tend to get smaller?  When I need a shirt to slim down, shrinking it seems preferable to going to the tailor, at least so long as the arms and collar won't get too short/tight.

This is the queen of all shrinkers speaking. My advice is: if you are emotionally attached to a particular shirt, DON'T EVEN TRY, as you never know how a garment is going to react. We're talking abuse, here.

From experience, I have noticed: 1) on better garments, the shrinkage is usually fairly even. 2) the fabric often loses some of its quality due to the fibers "collapsing". 3) many trips to make deposits at Goodwill.

 

[johnnynorman3]

I'm talking about doing this one single time -- it wouldn't be a practice. Once shrunken, I've found it will never unshrink unless you pull it while it's wet. I've done the "selectively wet, dry on high heat" thing before, and I've selectively shrunk the armholes, torso, and shoulder, leaving the collar and (for the most part) sleeves unshrunk and/or still perfectly fitting. I was just wondering if there is a better way or any tricks I'm missing.

 

[Fabienne]

Not to my knowledge, if we're talking "selective shrinking". This is already pretty inventive of you. In France, we call it Systeme D. Ask Ernest what the D stands for.

 

[Alexander Kabbaz]

Wash hot. Plunge the hot shirt into a pot full of ice water. Turn your dryer on high. Let the empty dryer get as hot as possible. Open the door, throw in the freezing cold shirt, close the door and restart the dryer. Let it dry for at least an hour. Now ... give it to your youngest child.

 

[amirrorcrackd]

Wash hot. Plunge the hot shirt into a pot full of ice water. Turn your dryer on high. Let the empty dryer get as hot as possible. Open the door, throw in the freezing cold shirt, close the door and restart the dryer. Let it dry for at least an hour. Now ... give it to your youngest child.

How much shrinkage will this actual result in, and will it be universal throughout the garment, or will the shirt actually become disproportioned as a result?

Thanks,

Dan

 

[tiger02]

Johnnynorman, have you had success in targeted shrinkage with new shirts, or with shirts that have already had their natural shrinkage washed out of them?

Tom

 

[Alexander Kabbaz]

Kabbaz

Wash hot. Plunge the hot shirt into a pot full of ice water. Turn your dryer on high. Let the empty dryer get as hot as possible. Open the door, throw in the freezing cold shirt, close the door and restart the dryer. Let it dry for at least an hour. Now ... give it to your youngest child.

amirrorcrackd

How much shrinkage will this actual result in, and will it be universal throughout the garment, or will the shirt actually become disproportioned as a result?

That is a Hellishly difficult question to answer, even for one who works with textiles every day. However, most of you know by now that I went to school for engineering prior to becoming a shirtmaker sooo ... before answering your tripartate inquiry, I shall don my white (Swiss cotton) lab coat & horn-rimmed glasses, take out my Pentel .03 lead pencil & draughting paper, open my copy of the Technical Textile Reference Handbook to page 1024 and offer you the following: How much shrinkage will this actual result in? A Helluva Lot Will it be universal throughout the garment? Who In Hell Knows Will the shirt actually become disproportioned as a result? Hell, Yes.

 

[SmartDresser]

How much shrinkage will this actual result in? Â Â A Helluva Lot Will it be universal throughout the garment? Â Â Who In Hell Knows Will the shirt actually become disproportioned as a result? Â Â Hell, Yes.

ROFL.. Darting the shirt may be a better idea, do you think?

 

[Espresso]

How about the length.

 

[abrocketsfan]

I've got a few shirts that are size 15.5/39 and I typically wear a 15/38; the sleeves are about an inch long, naturally, as well

Washing on hot and drying on medium heat for a bit longer than necessary; is it worth a try?

The shirts haven't been washed, and I only need them to get a bit smaller... nothing dramatic

 

[Shirtmaven]

wash the shirt as you normally do.
either at home or with your local cleaner

do not put them in a hot dryer as there is a good chance the shirts might shrink more then you want them to