shrunken wool sweater

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I have a sweater my husband shrunk in the washer. It was an accident and he feels terrible. I read somewhere that epsom salt will undo the damage it is soaking in epsom salt right now doesn't seem to be helping much, so I added some thermasilk conditioner I think I can save it by laying it out and tugging back and forth inch by inch. What I was wondering was since these are natural fibers and when they are washed and dried in hot water they cork screw would a straightening solution like women use on curly hair work for this I have never used this stuff can you give any input. Or should I just make a beautiful pair of mittens with the sweater.

-- ronda (thejohnsons@localaccess.com), January 18, 2002

Answers

or a pillow case for a square sofa pillow, or even a nice tea cosy!

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 18, 2002.

ronda-how much did it shrink? Some times you can tease them out- though its more like quarter inch, by quarter inch. I had great luck with one-I worked lots of hair conditioner into it-I didn't try the straighting solution though. It was a gorgous Icelandic throw, that some one gave me because she had shrunk it. it took several sesions and its still kind of felty but its usable. Unless its near and dear to you, I'd go the mitten route.

-- Kelly (homearts2002@yahoo.com), January 18, 2002.

ronda-the other thing I wanted to tell you-I got distraacted with kids and dogs charging in here-is that for something to felt, which is what they call that shrinking, you need-moisture, heat, and agitation-the wool fibers expand with the heat and water and lock together with the agitation-so a sweater washed on gentle cycle warm/cool wouldn't be as bad as something tossed in hot regular cycle. Thats why often wool socks get think on the bottom. Its very difficult to impossible to undo felting.

-- Kelly (homearts2002@yahoo.com), January 18, 2002.

Years ago, my oldest daughter tried her hand at doing a wash for me as a surprise....she surprised me by washing my $$$$$$ angora sweater in the hottest water known to man, along with a nice pair of 100% wool slacks, AND a matching scarf and tam...needless to say, I ended up using all these items as pillow stuffing and she learned two things.......everybody deserves a break when they do something out of good intentions and..how to sort soiled clothing properly...I know of nothing that will "unshrink" wool which has been subjected to hot water plus agitation.....sorry.

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), January 18, 2002.

Ronda, In a cookbook my mother in law gave me, there is a notation of how to unshrink shrunken woolen clothing. Mind you, I HAVE NOT used this, and can't swear it works, but for what it's worth, here it is: "Make a solution of 2 Tablespoons of synthetic detergent shampoo and 1 gallon of lukewarm water. Read the shampoo label to be sure it contains detergent and not soap and avoid dandruff and beauty salon formulas. Dip the clean woolen garment in the solution. Then squeeze (gently) out the excess moisture. Do not rinse it. Place the garment on a flat surface and gently pat it back into its' original shap. Let it dry, turning it over once." If you find something that works, please us know, and good luck! Jan

-- Jan in CO (Janice12@aol.com), January 18, 2002.


Talked to a lady at the Canfield fair in Ohio once, who was spinning wool and had articles for sale. She said that it's not the dryer that shrinks most woolens; it's the change in water temp from wash to rinse.

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), January 19, 2002.

Looks like this has happened to many of us...I gave mine to alittle girl!

-- DW (djwallace@sotc.net), January 19, 2002.

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