Stretching Shrunken Cotton Clothing
Mom23boys from Queens, NY
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RE: Stretching Shrunken Cotton Clothing
Run the item under cold water in the tub. Step in the tub - be sure you aren't wearing any undergarments that can't get wet, or that might run - and put the item on. This works well for cotton - your body heat will help to stretch it back out. This works very well for skirts / dresses that zip up - although it may take a few minutes until it stretches enough. Wear the item for ~5 minutes (max), then take it off and let it hang dry. If it re-shrinks a little upon air drying, just repeat the process.
Post By guest (Guest Post)
RE: Stretching Shrunken Cotton Clothing
If you need to stretch the legs on a pair of cotton slacks or jeans, or need to stretch the sleeves on a cotton shirt, affix "clamping hangers" - the kind that hang a pair of trousers upside down to keep its crease - to the cuffs of the slacks or to the cuffs of shirt immediately after washing. Next, hang the garment up on strong hook you've screwed into the arch of a doorframe or into a ceiling beam in the basement so that the garment will hang freely. Next, take two 3/4-full, quart-sized cans of paint (use a full gallon for jeans) and hook their handles onto the hooks of the clamping hangers. As the garment dries, the constant weight of the paint cans will stretch out the pant legs or the sleeves. You can add 1 1/2 to 2 inches in length.
Post By Steven (Guest Post)
RE: Stretching Shrunken Cotton Clothing
GET GOOD AND WET...USE COLD WATER
....THEN FIRMLY GRAB HOLD OF THE WAISTBAND
AND SHAKE IT TILL IT IS THE LENGTH YOU DESIRE...THIS WORKS
QUIET WELL WITH COTTON KNIT....NOT AS EFFECTIVE ON REGULAR
COTTON.......LET DRIP DRY ON CLOTHES RACK OR CLOTHES LINE.
GOOD LUCK :-)
Post By MDM IN WA (Guest Post)
RE: Stretching Shrunken Cotton Clothing
Wetting it and stretching is good, also you can iron it and stretch as you go. I've done that many times. Best thing is to let it hang dry and not put it in the dryer.
Post by Noella
RE: Stretching Shrunken Cotton Clothing
Depends how much it shrank. If just an inch or less, wetting it, stretching it gently but firmly to the length you want and letting it dry flat should help. If more than an inch, adding a matching or co-ordinating panel to the hem should work. Be sure to prewash whatever fabric u are using to add length especially if it 100% cotton like the skirt. If you manage to rescue it, wash in cold and hang to dry in future, just in case it wants to shrink again.
Post by thriftmeg
RE: Stretching Shrunken Cotton Clothing
Have you tried ironing it wet?
Post by tosha07
RE: Stretching Shrunken Cotton Clothing
If stretching does not work, could you sew a border of matching/coordinating fabric around the bottom to add the necessary length? This would make your skirt unique.
Post By jean (Guest Post)
RE: Stretching Shrunken Cotton Clothing
What I've done in the past (both with skirts and tops), is to wet the piece and then stretch it gently. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
A t-shirt can be placed on a hanger and then the bottom hem pulled down gently, a skirt it's easiest to hold both the waist and hem and pull in opposite directions.
Good luck.
Post by Anonymous
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