Okay, so my favorite cashmere sweater, the one I practically lived in all winter, started looking a bit… snug. Not in a good way. I’m not sure,maybe I accidentally put it through a hot wash, or maybe I just enjoyed too many cookies. Whatever the reason, I needed to figure out how to stretch it back out, because throwing it away wasn’t an option.
Gathering My Supplies
First, I needed a few things. Nothing fancy, just stuff I already had around the house:
- Baby shampoo: I figured if it’s gentle enough for a baby, it’s gentle enough for cashmere.
- A big bowl: To soak the sweater in. My kitchen sink is a little bit big.
- Some towels: For, you know, drying stuff.
- A flat surface: I used my dining table, covered with a plastic tablecloth.
The Stretching Process
I started by filling the bowl with lukewarm water.I don’t have a thermometer,I make it feels like baby bath’s water,and then I added a squirt of baby shampoo. Swirled it around to make sure it was all mixed in.
Then, I carefully submerged my poor, shrunken sweater in the water.I did’t knead it strongly,I gently pressed it to make sure every part of it was soaked,and let it sit there for about 30 minutes. This was the part where I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.
After the soak, I gently took the sweater out of the bowl. I didn’t wring it out – I’ve heard that’s a big no-no with cashmere. Instead, I carefully squeezed out the excess water, supporting the sweater so it wouldn’t stretch out of shape from its own weight.
Next, I laid out a clean, dry towel on my table. I placed the sweater flat on the towel and started the real stretching work. I gently tugged and pulled at the sweater, bit by bit, working my way around the whole thing. I focused on the areas that seemed the tightest, like the sleeves and the body. It was slow going, and I had to be patient.
Once I felt like I’d stretched it as much as I could, I rolled the sweater up in the towel, like a burrito, to absorb more water. Then, I unrolled it and laid it flat on a fresh, dry towel to air dry completely. I made sure it was in the shape I wanted it to be, because however it dries is how it’s going to stay.
The Result
It took a full day for the sweater to dry completely.I was so nervous to check,When I finally did,I realize it worked,the sweater was noticeably bigger! It wasn’t exactly back to its original size, but it was definitely wearable again. I was so relieved I hadn’t ruined my favorite *!
So, that’s my little cashmere-stretching adventure. It’s not a perfect science, but it’s definitely worth a try if you’ve got a shrunken sweater situation on your hands. Just remember to be gentle and patient, and you might just save your favorite cozy knit!
