OOOOPPPPPPPPPSSSSSSS

[Bubble00]

My mum knitted my 3mo a beautiful beautiful cardigan in wool silk mix (I think)....
I washed it so carefully in luke warm water - then put it in a towel and wrung out the towel. Wrong thinking to do as its now doubled in size. I could cry. Can I do anything to get it to go back to its original size????

[BikeRunSki]

Market it! Baby clothes that grow with your child!

[MilkTwoSugarsThanks]

Or wait 'Til your DC is 6mo?

[Diggum]

Is it still wet? Any possibility it might shrink down on drying?

If it's not totally misshapen and just enlarged I would keep till DC grows into it (and yes, also market it).

[KatyN]

Wash it again and don't wring it out. Place on the towel wet. Maybe pin in place to hold it's shape.

And then ring your mum and check she didn't machine wash it before she have it to you?? I always machine wash (on a wool cycle) my baby knits. Otherwise it will be a wear once item!!
K

[TreeSparrow]

Why would you wash something before it's been used? I understand for shop bought clothes as they've been around factory floors, but hand knitted ones?

[WeeseKeysAreThese]

You're supposed to wash hand knits before you wear them. I crochet and always wash before use. I would wash again, usually in a tied up pillowcase then dry flat.

[TreeSparrow]

Why?

[steppemum]

put it in th ewahsing machine on a slow spin cycle, the spin will sort it without in any way damaging it.

But I would also check with your mum, I bet it is machine washable , most baby wools are

[Rpj16]

Reshape and put it on a layer of towels with some more towels on top (blocking). I think it will be OK, it would of stretched a bit anyway, I've knitted stuff and it gets bigger after blocking., once its dry it will be OK :)

[KatyN]

You need to wash hand knitted (or crocheted) items before wear as the washing relaxes the fibres and mean it will hang better. I always wash before I give my gift as I count it as part of the making process, so no worries if you haven't washed items you have received!!

[TreeSparrow]

Ok thanks for that clarification. I know none of mine have been washed. Don't think I'll bother as there are so many! But I'll try to dry them flat when I eventually do.

[Rpj16]

The entire thread of hand knitted items would have been run through fingers as they have been made, and it can take time to make things so would accumulate natural oils that are in our skin as they are transferred onto the wool. Which is why some people wash knitted items before wear, but its not really really really nessesary!

[Bubble00]

Hi everyone - its dried and is still stretched.boohoo. :( I will rewash it but will have to ask for the specific washing instructions.

Also baby did wear it a few times but it its a cream color and it got milk on it.

Lesson to be learned - If you gift a handmade Item that is knitted give it with the washing instructions.

[novemberchild]

I wonder if a tumble dry might help?