How to Fix a Washed and Damaged Wool Sweater

Wool fibers may become felted when washed in the washing machine.

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If you wash a sweater that is 100 percent wool, the warm water and agitation can cause it to felt and shrink. Felting is a result of the wool fibers rubbing together, which can erase the visibility of the knit or crochet stitches. While a sweater that has felted will never look like it did before due to the alteration of the fibers, you may be able to stretch it back out with a process called blocking.

Related Searches:Difficulty:Moderately EasyInstructions Things You'll NeedStraight pins2 large towelsHair conditionerSuggest Edits1

Wash the sweater by hand in a sink full of cold water. Use a capful of silicone-free hair conditioner instead of soap, and stretch the sweater gently in the water without agitating it.

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Roll the sweater like a jelly roll in a large absorbent towel, gently pressing out any excess water.

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Cover a soft surface with another large towel. A bed or sofa works well. Lay the sweater on the towel

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Stretch the sweater back into shape and pin it all the way around the edges, inserting a pin every 1 to 2 inches.

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Allow the sweater to air-dry completely. Depending on the thickness of the wool and the climate, this can take up to two days.

ReferencesMargaret's Cleaners: Margaret's Knit Blocking and Care FAQ Wool Sweater ShrunkThe Budget Fashionista; TBF Tool: How to Unshrink a Wool Sweater; July 2005"Knitting Daily"; The Basics of Blocking, Part One; KD Sandi; July 2007ResourcesThe Purl Bee: How to Block KnittingPhoto Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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