I carelessly tossed my beloved knitted sweater into the dryer. Now it's a bit too short. Is there any thing I can do to lengthen it again?
2007-01-08 04:27:02 · 7 answers · asked by pathanChe 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Cleaning & Laundry
It may take some time but most likely it can be done. Soak your sweater in cool water with hair conditioner in it. Use a lot. The hair conditioner helps the fibers slip by each other. What has happened is that the heat and agitation from the dryer caused the fibers to lock together and you want them to release each other. Soak your sweater for about 30 minutes. Carefully lift it out of the water in a big bunch, not by its edges to avoid distorting the shape. Squeeze as much water out as you can but do not wring it, again to avoid distorting it. Lay it out on a couple of towels, shape it to its natural shape and roll it in the towels. Press as much water out as you can, avoiding wringing. Unroll and place it on a couple more dry towels. NOW you can begin to pull GENTLY to the former shape it had before you put it in the dryer. Gently is the key here because you don't want to distort it. Don't get in a hurry, you may have to repeat this process several times before you get this beloved sweater back to its original shape and size. Let the sweater dry completely laying flat on dry towels or on a sweater drying screen out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources. If the size and shape are not where you want them repeat this process until you get it right. Patience is key here. It can be done because I did it. But it was not a quick fix.
2007-01-09 02:35:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
You know, my mom was a seamstress and she used to have this one thing that had a series of hooks in it, I'm talking like 100 or so. And it was slightly weighted down to help stretch fabrics, or weigh down knitted things she was making. It looked somewhat like a mechanical loom?? Hey she was the seamstress, not me. But I remember her using this same thing for fixing a shrunken sweater. But if I recall, you had to wash it first, I guess since its wool, you'd have to wash it on the delicate cycle, etc... But anyways, you let it air dry on this thing while it son a hanger and it stretches it out. I have a nice sweater that I dont know how but it got tossed in the hamper. And today at lunch I gotta try and figure something out.
Gimme a few minutes and I'll try to find you a link for this sorta thing....
Oh NM, I just emailed her and she said it was an old knitting machine she had used to stretch sweaters or skirts out. But she said if you took a 2x4and nailed wire brads about 1/4" apart, and hook the bottom in there and laid it out flat while its wet, you could get it somewhat stretched out enough. But if its finely knitted, dont bother cause she said its ruined. And you'll have to get a new one. Hopefully that helps...
2007-01-08 04:36:48 · answer #2 · answered by jeff the drunk 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have done the same thing with my wives sweaters and got in big trouble. Try washing again and stretch out and let dry naturally. Good luck.
2007-01-08 04:35:46 · answer #3 · answered by Chuck C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont know of anything other than stretching when the sweater is still wet and laying it out to dry, but you can always use the remains for a quilt or purse.
2007-01-08 04:42:42 · answer #4 · answered by Terra054 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure. Wash it on cold, delicate. Take out wet and gently tug the bottom of it to strech it out. Get some help if the fabric is delicate. Over stretch it just a bit and hang it up to dry. You might need to iron it just a bit when dry.
2007-01-08 04:29:25 · answer #5 · answered by texascrazyhorse 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sweater is a loss - Repurpose the material. make the sweater into a purse or pillow.
2007-01-08 04:51:07 · answer #6 · answered by Marjery B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yep-buy a new one-it's ruined buddy-there's no going back. hate to be the bearer of bad news.
2007-01-08 04:29:19 · answer #7 · answered by crystaal 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋