Shrinking handknit garment on purpose!

KATANN

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Oct 26, 1994, 5:02:04 PM10/26/94

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Hello.
Could anyone advise me on a reliable technique for purposely shrinking a
handknit ( wool ) garment. I need to downsize it about 2 sizes. Thanks!

Chris West

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Oct 26, 1994, 9:08:25 PM10/26/94

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In article <38mg4c$g...@newsbf01.news.aol.com>, kat...@aol.com (KATANN) says:
>
>Could anyone advise me on a reliable technique for purposely shrinking a
>handknit ( wool ) garment. I need to downsize it about 2 sizes. Thanks!

I heard once that if you want to shrink down your stretched-out wool sleeve
cuffs on your sweater, that you could dip them in water and dry them with
a hair dryer. Maybe doing this in an ordinary dryer, checking frequently,
and stopping when it gets shrunk enough?? Just a thought.

--Chris

Susan Stoen

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Oct 27, 1994, 2:17:00 AM10/27/94

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KATANN (kat...@aol.com) wrote:
: Hello.

: Could anyone advise me on a reliable technique for purposely shrinking a
: handknit ( wool ) garment. I need to downsize it about 2 sizes. Thanks!

You can put the sweater in the dryer with a load of damp clothes. Let it
spin for 4-5 minutes in the dryer and then take it out to check the
shrinkage. To start you might let it go a little less time (like 2-3
minutes) if you're nervous or aren't sure how fast it will shrink.
Repeat the process until the sweater is the size you want. But be
forewarned that if you shrink it too far, you will not be able to
stretch it out. If you attempt this, you do so at YOUR OWN RISK.

Best of luck.

--Sue Stoen
sas...@lamar.colostate.edu

Manny Olds

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Oct 31, 1994, 2:43:13 PM10/31/94

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Regarding shrinking a woolen sweater in the drier: Consider putting the
sweater in a protective sack (like a lingerie bag) to minimize the felting
effect. Maybe a pillow case basted shut would work for a larger item.

--
Manny Olds
(old...@iia.org)

Susan Grabowski

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Nov 3, 1994, 10:38:00 AM11/3/94

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>Could anyone advise me on a reliable technique for purposely shrinking a
>handknit ( wool ) garment. I need to downsize it about 2 sizes. Thanks!

Give it to your husband to wash (GD&R!!)?

Sue

* OLX 2.1 TD * Tigger of Borg: "Assimilatin' is what Tiggers do best!"

Beverly S. Shank

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Nov 4, 1994, 5:10:10 PM11/4/94

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susan.g...@bnb.com writes:
> >Could anyone advise me on a reliable technique for purposely shrinking a
> >handknit ( wool ) garment. I need to downsize it about 2 sizes. Thanks!
>

I recently, and unfortunately, put a wool dress in the washer,
hot water and delicate cycle. It shrunk more than 50%. But
you want some shrinkage, right? Perhaps only warm water.

I since read that boiled wool (same method and shrinkage, I
believe) sells for $80/yard. So maybe I have enough "dress"
left for a vest.

Beverly
--
bs...@galen.med.virginia.edu *** "Mood? What has *mood* to do with
(My opinions, not my employer's) * it?...Mood's a thing for cattle or
"Where everyone thinks alike, * making love or playing the baliset.
no one thinks very much". *** -Gurney Halleck, "Dune"

KATANN

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Nov 9, 1994, 2:05:06 AM11/9/94

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In article <11e.276.15...@bnb.com>, susan.g...@bnb.com (Susan
Grabowski) writes:

LOL That would definately work, Sue!