Sweaters

[Deil the Yin]

Not to hijack this thread, but has anyone ever been successful at stretching a wool sweater? Specifically an Aran design? I've got one that, in a much younger day, I washed , and now it's a wee bit snug... I had a thought to soak it in cold water and let it hang?

Thanks,
Wesley

[thistlelass]

It's not really a good idea to hang knitwear as it will stretch unevenly and leave bumps where it has been hung-such as in the shoulders. A better way might be to dampen the sweater and try to block it out a bit larger. If you have a space where you can put towels down and not disturb until the sweater is dry, perhaps you might get some size back to it. Hopefully the sweater did not felt when you washed it previously.

[thistlelass]

That neckline does look rather untidy - neat rib is a much tidier option, I think.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

I thought so as well.

[Oddern]

I to think that sweaters goes perfectly with the Kilt. I have always wanted a Aran sweater and this weekend I was on a wee trip to Scotland and I finaly aquired my Aran.


Skål!

[thistlelass]

I to think that sweaters goes perfectly with the Kilt. I have always wanted a Aran sweater and this weekend I was on a wee trip to Scotland and I finaly aquired my Aran.


Skål!

Handsome sweater!

[Deil the Yin]

It's not really a good idea to hang knitwear as it will stretch unevenly and leave bumps where it has been hung-such as in the shoulders. A better way might be to dampen the sweater and try to block it out a bit larger. If you have a space where you can put towels down and not disturb until the sweater is dry, perhaps you might get some size back to it. Hopefully the sweater did not felt when you washed it previously.

Thanks for the practical pointers: I thought about doing as with my bonnet and wearing it around after "dampening" it until dry? Or will that be the opposite and it'll shrink to a from fit (which might be ok if I was a bit more svelte)? Or I could wear a thick sweatshirt under it... almost too warm here for that now.

Cheers,
Wesley

[piperdbh]

No, no, no...
After dampening the sweater, lay it out flat on some towels or a large cookie-cooling rack. The sweater needs to be still until it's dry, then fold it up and store it 'til cold weather. A wet sweater will be considerably heavier than a dry one, and the extra weight will stretch it down, which will shrink it horizontally/laterally. In effect, if you hang it or wear it while it's wet, the sweater will get taller and skinnier, and I don't think that's what you want, is it?