How much will wool shrink?

[mountain lion]

I have 3 asbell wool pullovers that are 2x and they were a little roomy when I was bigger. We'll I've lost 40 pounds and now they are pretty big and baggy more than I like so I was wandering if I could wash them and shrink them down or is that a bad idea? Thanks

[ChuckC]

I guess that depends upon the wool, how much it was pre shrunk and a few other things.  Might work well for you.  Might work well for you kid !

ChuckC

[Jerry Jeffer]

I once shrank an expensive wool sweater from a man large to an toddler 3.

[MCS]

I wouldn't do it.

[mountain lion]

I'm sorry jerry jeffer but that's kinda funny! I guess I won't be trying it then! Thanks!

[MR BILL SHORTY]

You got three try one?  

[Yellow Dog]

Originally posted by Jerry Jeffer:
I once shrank an expensive wool sweater from a man large to an toddler 3.

Yup, had an expensive sleeveless V-neck Alpaca sweater that my wife threw in the washer and dryer by mistake. Came out like a sports bra! In my experience trying to shrink wool I've learned two things. #1 it'll shrink #2 never the way you want it to.

[shag08]

Like MR BILL said...you've got 3. I'd try it on one of em.

I shrank a sweater just right one time by throwing it in the washer and then putting it in the dryer for just a few mins. I let it air dry completely after that and went from an XL to a medium...just what I was after.

I'd try washing in warm water first then air dry and see what it happens. If it doesn't shrink then wash it again and try the dryer for a few mins. Repeat as necessary with a longer dry time until you get it where it needs to be.

Just my two cents. If it works it'd be a lot cheaper than buying new wool. If it doesn't, you aren't gonna wear it like it is so you aren't really out anything.

[McDave]

If you wash wool, it isn't going to shrink anymore than you want it to, IF you have some kind of form to put it on when it's wet to stop it from shrinking anymore than the size of the form as it dries.  I'm thinking about a manikin or something like that.  Of course, by the time you get a manikin of the right size, it could be more trouble than it's worth.

[RAGHORN 3]

Probably easier to just put the 40 pounds back on.....   :D  Seriously though... Congrats on loosing the weight...  

[mountain lion]

Raghorn3 it would be easier and a lot funner probably! I guess I'll probably try and call Teresa asbell tomorrow and ask her what she thinks.

[Pete McMiller]

Ditto, call Teresa and ask her.

[The Whittler]

If you wash Wool in warm or hot water it will shrink and there is nothing you can do to stop it or control it. What JJ said is true. My wife knitts with wool.

[monkeyball]

You can probably have them altered for a reasonable price. I am having that done with a 2xl Woolrich Shirt-Jac right now.


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[Hoyt]

I shrunk one of my asbell pullovers from too big to too small with a very careful cold water wash.

I had a Norwegian sweater that was a little baggy.  I made it wet, tossed it in the drier, took it out and it fit my son perfectly.  He was 7 at the time, he wore it for his winter coat. It was probably the warmest winter coat that he ever had. I shrunk one of those 80/20 wool xl shirts down when he was 12, again a perfect fit for him.

[ranger 3]

How about washing it and the wear it til it's dry?

[GoBow]

I washed a pair of wool LL Bean bibs in hot water and ran them through the clothes dryer on hot one time.  They shrank quite a bit; but, the material got very thick and soft.  Worst part was that the house smelled like wet dog for a loooong time.

[rainman]

Take to a tailor and get them altered probably $20 for all three.

[TRAP]

I have done some controlled shrinking with KOM wool.  The wash cycle was never a problem but leave them in the dryer 5 minutes too long and you'll have incentive to lose more weight.  

Sleeve length will be the biggest challenge.  With the KOM stuff I would stretch the sleeves every time I'd take it out of the dryer and then 5 or 10 min later do it again.

Controlled shrinks are kinda like controlled burns.  Sometimes you get the results you want.  Sometimes they get away from you.