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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: Magot
Date: 12-01-2005, 10:12 AM (1 of 16)
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http://www.kottke.org/00/01/like-an-idiot-i-threw seems to give directions on how to do this. Anybody ever had any success or is this merely a pipe dream? I ask as I have a distict tendency to turn Tony's loved sweaters into cute shaped cushion covers.... love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 12-01-2005, 11:35 AM (2 of 16)
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It's just basic blocking but I wouldn't test it first. I mean I wouldn't shrink a sweater just to see if it works. Try it after you accidentally shrink a sweater. I think it probably depends on the knit and type of wool. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Magot
Date: 12-01-2005, 02:04 PM (3 of 16)
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I never delibrately shrink a sweater Dorothy..
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626
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From: DorothyL
Date: 12-01-2005, 04:41 PM (4 of 16)
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Well you seemed so excited about unshrinking one I thought you might just make a test run. We never know with you, dear. Dorothy I knitted a wool afghan a few years ago (Yes, I can knit something that is just straight) and my husband washed and dried it. He felt so bad I had to tell him about felting. Now he is proud of his handiwork. |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: HeyJudee
Date: 12-01-2005, 06:45 PM (5 of 16)
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I learned my first lesson about wool when I was around 20. I had just moved into my own apartment and had bought a grey wool dress that I just loved. It fit me perfectly and I felt wonderful wearing it. Then I decided to do my laundry using the washer & dryer in the building laundry room. Used warm water to wash then threw it in the dryer with everything else on "Hi". I was always petite...but when I took it out of the dryer that size 8 dress only fit my 24" doll. I would have loved to try those instructions...ROFL... I find it hard to believe that it would be possible to "unshrink" something made of wool. TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366 
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 12-01-2005, 08:29 PM (6 of 16)
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hmm... now I always thought woolen items are dry clean only.... Is there some other way? Now I'm wondering if I'm missing out on something.
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: Chrysantha
Date: 12-01-2005, 11:34 PM (7 of 16)
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I thought you cold water washed wool and then spread it out somewhere to dry.....(NOT outside and NOT hung up)...but I'm allergic to wool, so what do I know.... I know my Dad was always after me NOT to wear his t-shirts..cause I stretched'em out....  
Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: DorothyL
Date: 12-02-2005, 09:04 AM (8 of 16)
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You can cold wash wool with mild soap and delicate cycle. It is best if you lay it flat to dry. First soak up some of the excess dampness by wrapping it in towels. Just don't put it in the dryer. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Magot
Date: 12-02-2005, 10:17 AM (9 of 16)
Or if you are like me you can chuck 'em in with everything else at 40 degrees and make cushion covers ( not recommended) 
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626
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From: bridesmom
Date: 12-02-2005, 11:18 AM (10 of 16)
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I may have to try that - I have a beautiful (or had) afghan that my mom made in two shades of green. Each pair of green squares is knit in a different pattern. Unfortunately for me - I washed it not realizing it was wool (its very old) now its still useable but much smaller. I'd probably have to stretch it out on my cutting table or even on towels on a bed I suppose. But that will wait until after Christmas.
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: paroper
Date: 12-02-2005, 05:15 PM (11 of 16)
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Magot, my mother used to chalk mark my sister's wool sweaters BEFORE hand washing. Then using her lines, she would stretch them back to the original size to dry flat. This was called blocking. We just couldn't afford to dry clean everything and she'd do this with sweaters but I don't remember her doing this with skirts.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: blackie
Date: 12-02-2005, 11:28 PM (12 of 16)
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I honestly can't imagine you could undo damage when you have really felted the smack - washer and dryer - out of an item. BTW, shrinking a knit garment is technically called "fulling". "Felting" is when you are shrinking something made of roving. Altho' many people use the term "felting" for both. see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: MotherInLaw
Date: 12-03-2005, 12:27 AM (13 of 16)
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I have a coat that my Mom and Husband bought me for Christmas in 1980 that was lined with wool. The outer coat was made of something else Poplin I think anyway, I wore it so much that it was soiled over the years so bad that even the dry cleaner couldn't clean the dirt off of it. So before I chunked it I decided to wash it in the washer, well when I finished with it, (machine wash and machine dry) it was so clean and beautiful I started washing every year before winter started. Now I grant you the coat only gets worn around here at most 10 times a year but it's wonderful. It doesn't shrink and it comes out warmer it seems with each washing. Katrina didn't get my coat but the mold was on it in my closet so I'm going to wash it this week and see how it makes out one more time. I'll let you know how it comes out. Jan and Dorothy you make me chuckle everytime I read your posts, keep'em coming. Love ya all I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118 
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From: Magot
Date: 12-03-2005, 03:00 AM (14 of 16)
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It is Tony's socks that I manage to full in the dryer - I've never done in a sweater - at least not for years and then I feel a right "full". love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626
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From: sewingrandma
Date: 12-03-2005, 11:27 AM (15 of 16)
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I use to have a pair of woolen socks to wear around the house because of cold floors. Not paying attention one day they ended up in the dryer. DS loved his new sox!
Brockie
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User: sewingrandma
Member since: 03-06-2003 Total posts: 432 |
From: HeyJudee
Date: 12-04-2005, 11:44 AM (16 of 16)
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When I was doing some searches for patterns, I found this pattern for mitts made from shrunken sweaters. So if you happen to shrink a sweater...here is another thing to make from it. Sewn Mittens (http://www.earthheartdesigns.com/Earth%20Heart%20pages/Patterns/All%20Patterns/sewn_mittens.htm) TTFN from
Judy |
User: HeyJudee
Member since: 01-25-2005 Total posts: 1366
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