Shrunken Sweater?

Question

I accidentally put my favorite sweater (Hollister hoodie) into the dryer... it didn't exactly shrink in size but the bottom which used to be stretchy seems to be stretched out so that it is too big at the bottom; same with the sleeves. Is there any way to fix this?

Answer 1

soak the sweater in cold water and softener for a while, then rinse but don't wring it let it drip ,the weight of the water will pull the sweater , hang to dry.

Answer 2

you may never get the hem or cuffs to streach back to ormal but you can do somethingf else so that you can still wear it. Buy some braod elastic and make an opening at one seem, thread the elastic through, stitch at the beginning so that you don't loose the end. when it's stitched in place pull gently to the tighness you want for your cuffs and stitch that in place ( use pins to keep steady while you sew it. do the same for the hem. and you'll never have to worry about that problem happening again. :)

Answer 3

How to reshape a shrunken or stretched sweater:

1. Get a nylon mesh screen available near the ironing boards in your local store.  

2. Run the sweater in the rinse cycle in cold water.  

3. When it comes out "block" the sweater on the screen.  Blocking is placing the sweater on the screen in the proportions that it was originally.  Gently pull to stretch where needed and place and pat to reduce size where it is stretched out.

4. Let the sweater dry on the screen until dry.  Fold sweater to place on shelf or in drawer until ready to use.

Do not place a wet sweater on a hanger or the water will pull on the shoulder area and leave hanger marks and dents where the weight of the sweater pulled on the fabric.

Answer 4

I brought a wool sweater to the dry cleaner that had shrunk in the dryer and they were able to stretch it out for me.  They told me they could shrink and stretch some sweaters so they were back in their original shape.