How do I unshrink a tshirt?

Paula
by Paula

How do you unshrink clothes?


  6 answers
  • Colleen Colleen on Apr 21, 2019

    You can try soaking it in cold water, then wring it out & lay it flat on a flat surface, trying to stretch & reshape it.

  • Literata Literata on Apr 21, 2019

    Try Jillie. She has ways to do every DIY domestic task I can think of:

    jilleeatOneGoodThing.com

  • Rebecca Taylor Rebecca Taylor on Apr 21, 2019

    Hi Paula, If it is cotton you can wash it in very hot water then dry it on the hottest setting. Unfortunately these days most fabrics do not shrink.

  • Lynn Sorrell Lynn Sorrell on Apr 21, 2019

    The process works best on any kind of natural fiber, including wool, cashmere, and cotton (provided it’s not felted). Blends and synthetic fibers will likely not respond as well to efforts to unshrink them. Step 1: Fill the bucket with lukewarm water and add two tablespoons of fabric softener, baby shampoo, or hair conditioner. This will soften the fibers of your clothes, preparing them for stretching.

    Step 2: Let your clothing soak in the water mixture for at least 20 minutes but up to two hours.

    Step 3: Drain the liquid, but DO NOT rinse. Gently squeeze out extra moisture, but don’t wring.

    Step 4: Lay the garment flat on the towel and roll the towel and clothing into a roll to get out even more moisture.

    Step 5: Lay your garment on top of the cork board(lrg enuf for shirt/sweater) and stretch it out as much as you can — gently — and pin it in place. Pay special attention so that you don’t rip any seams by pulling too tight or in the wrong direction.

    Step 6: Go back after about an hour and stretch your garment a bit more and re-pin. Repeat this several times or until you can’t stretch it any more.


  • 17335038 17335038 on Jul 11, 2020

    Unfortunately many garments are manufactured with knit fabric that has not been pre-shrunken before the pattern pieces are cut out and sewn together.


    Also, the cheap price of clothing these days is often due to the items having been made from low quality cottons, rayons, or viscose, which all shrink.