How to Fix a Washed and Damaged Wool Sweater

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

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.

Things You'll Need

• Straight pins
• 2 large towels
• Hair conditioner

Instructions

1. 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.

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

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

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

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

References

• Margaret's Cleaners: Margaret's Knit Blocking and Care FAQ Wool Sweater Shrunk
• The Budget Fashionista; TBF Tool: How to Unshrink a Wool Sweater; July 2005
• "Knitting Daily"; The Basics of Blocking, Part One; KD Sandi; July 2007

Resources

• The Purl Bee: How to Block Knitting