Is there a way to shrink a wool sweater without felting it?

Question

I just knit myself a sweater and tried it on (I'm 90% done with it) and it seems a bit big (I think this may be because I lost 5-10 pounds between starting the sweater...when I picked a size to knit...and now).

I don't want to frog and re-knit it. I'd like it to shrink but I don't want it to be felted as I'd still like the individual stitches to be distinct. Is there a way to shrink my sweater without it turning into a big block of felt? It's knit from Patons classic merino wool. (a 100% wool yarn)

**please only serious answers from people who know what they're talking about...not suggestions from people who are just hypothesising....I don't want to ruin my sweater trying something someone simply thought might be a good idea but who has no wool/shrinking/knitting experience, etc**

Answer 1

Washing a wool sweater to shrink it is going to felt it, that's how felting works and makes the knitting smaller. Depending on how much bigger it is than you want it to be you may be able to shape it when you block it, but if it is now two or three sizes too big you should rip it out and reknit it because it isn't going to reshape itself that much smaller.

Now to wash it to block it, put it in a lingerie bag, fill your washer with warm water (yes, you really can do this in the washer if you do what I tell you exactly), add some wool wash like Mountain Meadows of Eucalan (neither of these has to be rinsed out) NOT WOOLITE, which is bad for your handknits. Put the bag into the washer and push it under the water. Turn the machine on just long enough to let the sweater get thoroughly wet (about 30 seconds) and turn the machine off. Let the sweater soak for about half an hour. Then advance the machine cycle to spin and spin the water out for about a minute, or until the major portion of the water is out of the machine. Take the sweater out of the bag, lay it on a towel covered flat surface, and shape it to size, patting any wrinkles out and let it dry. It may take a day or two with a change of towels after the first day and turning it over to have it dry completely. DO NOT run the sweater through the entire wash cycle. If this scares you, fill the sink with warm water, add the wool wash, put the sweater in to soak, drain the water out of the sink, push as much water as you can out of the sweater but don't twist it, put it in a pillowcase and take it outdoors. Swing the closed pillowcase around for several minutes to get as much water as you can out of the sweater and then put it out flat to dry as above.

Answer 2

Felting A Wool Sweater

Answer 3

It depends on how much smaller you need it. A good blocking job may do the trick but it may stretch out again with regular wear.

I had a similar problem with a cotton sweater I knit and then lost some weight. I wore if for a while then frogged and reknit it because the yarn was expensive and I felt it was worth the effort.

You may want to consider frogging it to get a better fit or it may end up not getting worn because you will be unhappy with it.

Answer 4

If you wash it, it will felt. Depending on how much smaller you need it, you can try blocking like the above person said. Otherwise, frog it, I know it is frustrating, but at least then you would wear it as opposed to having it just sit in your closet. You could also gift it to someone who it would fit and buy more yarn to make another one for yourself. I know this probably isn't the answer you wanted, sorry.

Good luck!