I'm doing a science project, and I need to know, what's the BEST way to shrink cotton?

Question

I need these like, QUICK!

Answer 1

boiling hot water with soap enzymes, then rapid heat for drying... you should know that the structure of the fabric defines how mush it will shrink...

i.e. cotton jersey (teeshirt fabric) is knitted tight or loosely, so will shrink one way.

Cotton Drill (jean denim - sail clothe etc) is woven, and can also be woven tight or loose... but will behave differently to knitted.

In industry it is important to know exactly what shrinkage a fabric has. When the fabric comes off the large rolls, to be cut into the pieces that make for example a teeshirt they may have a print design put onto them... this involves heat, so the pieces could shrink - so a front wont match a none printed back panel for example.

But also that same teeshirt when it is sewn together, could go to a garment dyers, where the shirt is put into a large industrial washing machine type device with chemicals and dyes to be dyed to a specific colour. This involves heat so when it comes out it will have shrunk - and so, when it is cut out in the first place must be cut out a specific percentage larger.

Also to note, is that the fabric will shrink differently left to right as it will do top to bottom (weft & warp) so a fabric may shrink 7% in warp and 4% in weft.

just so you know!!!

Answer 2

a cotton ball? If so, let cotton abosorb water then squeeze it out, it will decrese as you squeeze.