Any solution to a slightly felted cardigan? (I assume not...)

[Essie3]

My little DS has a beautiful handmade cardigan, absolutely gorgeous with sheep on it. I was going to keep it as an heirloom.
However, on the weekend, in a wave of tiredness, I didn't notice it being swept into the machine, and now it's a little bit felted. I'm so annoyed becuase it wasn't a hot wash, and he had a cashmere thing (yeah, , it was a present from someone with v. little experience of babies!) from M&S in there which came out fine.
Can anything at all be done? Or is this it?

It's awful when the negligent wash happens just cos you're kanckered. Sorry, once it has shrunk/felted, there is no going back - the "structural integrity" of the wool is compromised. Sounds poncy, but it's true. Is it still wearable, even in its felted state? or has it shrunk. It may have another life as a dolls' garment. This may not be the life you had in mind for it, but it may be better than the recycling?

If it's just felted, I'd keep using it, but if it's shrunk, make it into a hat.

I've rescued cardis that have shrunk, though they are not quite the same - it was something to do with leaving loads of fabric conditioner in them... but not sure whether you'd want to do that with baby clothes! I'll have a quick look for info. DS and I keep shrinking my cashmere (M&S!) cardis, it's happened twice now so no more cashmere for us, we're obviously cashmere incompetent ...

yes you can try wetting it in tepid water,working in a lot of fabric conditioner with your fingers,and then very gently stretch it back to shape ,worth a try as it won't make it any worse.

Found link! Knew I'd kept it, knew I'd need it again...
www.hostfeel.com/garden/1622-garde.html

The advice i followed was this:
wash again by paw/hand, let soak surrounded by wool washing soap, rinse out sud's donate about 2 lid full's of textile conditioner, whilst in the wet stretch a little next do this several time's, then bear most of the water of the jersey lay on a large tub towel to drain out the rest of the water , swing to another towel , keep stretching , after when you think it's vertebrae to it's normal size sway on a coat hanger to dry natural warmth.

It's worth a try - I'm sure I managed to stretch mine a little, though they are still fuzzed looking...

NumptyMum - is that a translation from some other language? Whatever, it's funny, especially the vertebrae bit. I'm not taking the piss - just think it's really amusing.

Hi again - I got sucked into eBay the last couple of days so only just saw various replies; I liked the bit about washing by paw too, and 'donating textile conditioner' - it reads v oddly but also makes sense...

Essie - let us know how it goes!