Knitwear - it all shrinks, even just a tiny bit, doesn’t it?

[AguaMinerale]

I have invested in a couple of cashmere and merino jumpers from M&S and Uniqlo. I know they are not premium bra and but they are still more expensive than plastic jumpers. Uniqlo in size S, Marks in size 8. I am 6-8, and they all fitted on the generous side. Hand washed in cold water with Persil for delicates, flat dried, spread a little before drying. Still, all 5 are just that little bit smaller, fitted instead of sexy slouch. I am just thinking whether I should be buying M in the future for oversize fit until the first wash?

I always used lukewarm water,

I find with all knitwear you have to gently stretch it out a little while it’s wet

I throw all my merinos in the washing machine then hang on the line outside, and have never had anything shrink.

The only things I've ever shrunk have been cotton nightdresses. Now I wash them at 30. Wool and cashmere I "hand wash" in the washing machine. I hang them on the line and haven't had any shrinkage. We don't have a wind here (patio) so not walloping about but have never flat dried them.

Yes - but you should be gently re-stretching the fibres while damp. Also try ironing your jumpers if they seem to have lost 'body'. Wool setting, with paper or cloth between the iron and jumper.

And no - all knitwear doesn't shrink. Acrylic stretches!

The fibres tighten after washing.

When you have laid it flat to dry, you need to pull it back to its normal size.

Have a look at blocking. It's quite normal to have to reshape, also depends on the wool.

Yes which is why I buy my cashmere big to allow for this. But I do think stretching helps. By the way M&S cashmere washes really well on the wool setting of a machine

Most of mine shrink eventually. By the Persil do you mean an actual "wool and silk" one, or just for delicates? There is a difference and the wool and silk stuff doesn't have whatever eats natural fibres😀

Yes, buy a size up and wash on cool wool setting. Dry flat, fluff on the wool finish in the tumble dryer.

I have a men's cashmere jumper which was once huge on me and now fits normally. I barely wash it and carefully. Imo cashmere always shrinks and pulling it too much can end up pulling it out of shape.

Yes, I always buy a size up for wool. It all shrinks slightly the first time in the machine, even with delicate wash, stretching and drying flat.

Interesting! None of mine has ever shrunk - the cashmere stays the same size and if anything the merino has grown a little.

I either use the wool setting on the machine or soak it in cold water and Soak detergent. Everything gets a gentle spin - not faffing around with towels. It either dries flat in airing cupboard or gets draped over a drying rack.

The one thing that did shrink was a linen yarn, and I have decided I don’t like linen or cotton knitwear.