How to Shrink a Sweatshirt? The Most Comprehensive Tutorials
In our daily lives, we may have encountered such a situation: shop oversized sweatshirt, whether it is the style, color, or pattern is perfectly suited to our aesthetic, but after trying it on, we find that the size is on the large side, wearing a loose, both ill-fitting and affect the overall wearing effect. Faced with such a situation, many people may choose to return or exchange the goods, but in some cases, such as when discounted goods do not return, limited editions are difficult to find, or simply lazy, shrinking sweatshirt becomes a solution worth trying.
In this article, we'll cover a few common ways to shrink a sweatshirt and provide practical exercises to help make it fit better.
Understanding How Sweatshirt Shrinking Works:
Before trying to shrink a sweatshirt, you first need to understand how sweatshirts shrink. Sweatshirts are usually made of materials such as cotton, polyester fiber, wool, etc.; these materials undergo certain deformation when heated, wet, stretched, or rubbed. Cotton materials are particularly susceptible to shrinking in hot water or high-temperature environments, while wool and synthetic fibers shrink to a relatively small degree. Knowing these basic principles, we can choose the right method to avoid damaging the sweatshirt.
How to Shrink a Sweatshirt - Hot Water Shrinkage Method
Water temperature is an important factor in shrinking a sweatshirt. Different water temperatures will have different effects on the fabric. You can adjust the water temperature to achieve the shrinking effect when using a washing machine or hand washing a sweatshirt. Here are a few ways to shrink at different water temperatures.
Hot water is one of the most common ways to shrink sweatshirts. Hot water causes the fibers to expand, which causes the gaps between the fibers to become smaller, resulting in shrinkage. If you want your sweatshirt to shrink slightly, you can soak it in hot water. The steps to do this are as follows:
Step 1: Place the jumper in the sink and make sure it is completely soaked.
Step 2: Warm the water to between 40 and 60 degrees Celsius. Be careful not to let the water get too hot, as this could damage the cloth.
Step 3: Soak the jumper in hot water for 15-20 minutes, preferably scrubbing gently to help the fibers relax and create contraction.
Step 4: Remove the sweatshirt, rinse it with clean water, and then air dry it.
By soaking in hot water, the sweatshirt's fibers undergo some changes, leading to the shrinkage effect. It should be noted that if the water temperature is too high, it is easy to damage the fabric's structure, leading to the sweater's deformation or discoloration. Therefore, the water temperature should be strictly controlled when shrinking in hot water.
How to Shrink a Sweatshirt-Hand Wash or Machine Wash at Low Temperature
If you don't want the water temperature to be too high, use low-temperature water for hand washing or machine washing. Compared to hot water, low-temperature water will have less of a shrinking effect on sweatshirts, but some shrinkage can still be achieved. The specific way it works is as follows:
Step 1: Turn the sweatshirt inside out to minimize direct friction.
Step 2: Wash in warm water (around 30°C). When using a washing machine, choose delicate wash mode.
Step 3: After completing the wash, rinse thoroughly with water.
This method is suitable for those who don't want their sweatshirts to shrink too much or who don't want to risk using hot water. It has a gentler shrinking effect and is more suitable for hoodies made of more delicate materials.
How to Shrink a Sweatshirt- Shrinking with a Dryer
In addition to shrinking a sweatshirt by using hot water, a dryer can also be an effective tool. The dryer uses hot air to dry out the sweatshirt's threads, which makes it shrink. These things are important to remember when you use a dryer:
1. High-temperature drying method
If you wish to shrink sweatshirts quickly, you can use the high-temperature setting of the dryer. The operation steps are as follows:
Step 1: Place the hoodie in the dryer.
Step 2: Select the high-temperature mode for drying. Depending on the material of the bodysuit, the drying time will be approximately 30-45 minutes.
Step 3: Check if the hoodie has reached the desired size. If it is still not tight enough, you can do another drying.
Note that the high temperature of the dryer may cause the sweatshirt's color to fade or the material to warp, so be extra careful when using it. For sweatshirts made of more sensitive materials, choosing the medium-low temperature gear is recommended.
2. Low-temperature drying method
If you don't want the hoodie to shrink too much, you can use the dryer's low-temperature mode. This will prevent the sweater from shrinking too fast and improve its fit. The operation is similar to high-temperature drying, but the time is relatively long; you usually need 1-2 hours.
How to Shrink a Sweatshirt - Shrinking by Steam Ironing
Steam ironing is a gentle and non-damaging way to shrink a sweatshirt. Through the action of steam, the fibers of the sweatshirt become softer, which encourages it to shrink. The following is the precise way of operation:
Step 1: Make sure there is enough steam when you set the iron to steam.
Step 2: Hang the hoodie on the hanger and use the steam iron to iron its surface. Keep a distance between the iron and the sweater to avoid direct contact.
Step 3: Iron the hoodie with steam for 5-10 minutes to allow the fibers to relax and contract.
Step 4: After ironing, gently stretch the jumper to ensure its shape is not damaged.
Steam ironing is ideal for those who don't want their hoodie to shrink too much, as it avoids the risk of direct heat contact with the fabric.
How to Shrink a Sweatshirt- Hand Sewing Adjustments
Hand sewing is a more delicate way of adjusting the fit of a partially unfitted sweatshirt, such as cuffs or hems that are too large. Adding elastic, sewing pleats, or adjusting the seam allowance can give a partial fit without changing the garment's overall length or width.
The steps of manual adjustment are briefly described:
Measure and Mark: Accurately measure the area to be adjusted and mark lightly with a pencil or tailor's chalk.
Cutting and Sewing: Cut excess fabric or add auxiliary materials (e.g., elastic) as needed, then sew carefully.
Trying and Fine-tuning: After completing the initial adjustments, try on the garment and make any necessary fine-tuning according to the actual results.
Advantages of manual adjustment:
Highly flexible and can be adjusted precisely according to individual needs.
Good for a lot of different materials, but especially for expensive or carefully designed clothes.
Where Was the First Sweatshirt Made?
The first sweatshirt dates back to the early 1900s and was originally designed and produced by the American sportswear brand Champion. Champion was founded in 1919 as a sportswear brand for college sports teams and athletes. One of its founders, Walter and William Champion, first designed sweatshirts in the 1920s, originally made to help athletes stay warm and dry during training.
Conclusion
Shrinkage in sweatshirts is not a difficult problem to solve. We can make oversized sweatshirts fit better with the right water temperature and washing and drying methods. However, we also need to be careful when performing shrinkage operations to avoid overdoing it and causing deformation or damage to the sweatshirt.
Understanding the material of the hoodie and the principle of shrinking is the key to ensuring successful shrinkage. If you no longer like your original jumper size, try the above methods to give your jumper a new look.
