So the other day I wash a lightweight sweater for the first time. 50/50 rayon/nylon. Wash cold, dry flat, just like the “care instructions” said. When I put it on yesterday, though, it had grown! Like 2 inches in sleeve length and proportionally in torso length as well. I thought things were supposed to shrink when you wash them! The only thing I can think is that maybe it wasn’t completely dry when I hung it up, and the weight of the water strecthed it a bit. Ack!
It’s a decently nice sweater, so I’d like to, well, shrink it back to normal size so I can wear it. Can I do this? How? If I just washed it again would it “fix” itself?
Yeah, the not completely dry when you hung it is probably the culprit, although I’m surprised a rayon/nylon sweater would do that…I’d only expect it from natural fibers. I don’t think there’s much you can do, to be honest.
Dry or not the mistake was hanging it. Rayon and nylon are both materials that like to “grow” when hung and knits LOVE to grow. I would suggest just dampening it, reshaping it when you lay it out, and folding or rolling it after it’s totally dry. If that doesn’t work you could try dampening the sweater and trying short periods in a dryer (on a low setting) until it looks about right. Rayon also likes to shrink when it’s dried. Rayon is a pain. Be careful, though. There is no guaranteeing how it would shrink (i.e. widthwise instead of lengthwise). Good luck.
Rayon kind of is a natural material. It’s natural cellulose that has been processed into fibers. That’s why it so busy growing, shrinking, stretching, wrinkling, etc. Have I mentioned that rayon is a pain?
