Does cashmere shrink?

Gigi

I just bought a cashmere sweater. It's slightly too roomy in girth and in length. Of course, I already have the smallest size, so sizing down isn't an option. The label says dry clean, but I plan on hand washing it. Does anyone know whether the sweater is likely to shrink when I wash it?

Nordstrom

Halogen Cashmere V-Neck Sweater (Regular & Petite)

$89.00 $35.60

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10 years ago

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13 replies

Latest reply was from Gigi

Joy

Veteran

I always wash cashmere sweaters...mostly soak and gently squeeze them in cold water with a bit of baby shampoo. I rinse in cold water, spread out on old clean towels and put more on top, do a little dance on top of the stack in mt bare feet. Then lay them over racks to dry. Mine don't shrink. Warm/hot water or dryer heat and agitation will cause wool to shrink. Dryers can turn a sweater into toddler wear. You might try washing your sweater gently by hand in warm water if you want to shrink it some.

10 years ago

dashielle (Ann)

(website)

Veteran

I have washed older/holey cashmere that I wear to sleep in in warm water and yes, it will shrink. I recommend starting out by hand washing as Joy indicates but in slightly warm water. If that doesn't do it, you can take a stepwise approach, adding more warmth to the water and even a little spin in the dryer. Some light gauge sweaters don't hold up well to this sort of handling, so proceed slowly and with caution.

10 years ago

Joy

Veteran

If you spin in the dryer, put it in a mesh bag and first try spinning with no heat, then the lowest heat if it didn't shrink enough. The sweater can be very stretchy when wet, so let it dry completely before judging the size.

10 years ago

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

These laundry tips are excellent to take the gentle approach to shrink it just a tiny bit. I just washed a silk dress on the delicate cycle in a mesh garment bag and it came out beautifully (or will) once I iron it tomorrow. I hung it outside to dry. But, with cashmere, I do the same thing as Joy, except I may have to add the dance steps, because I like that idea. I had to laugh about her toddler comment, so if you do need extra shrinkage, I would suggest only a moment in the dryer as a last attempt. Hopefully, the warmer water will give you your desired results.

10 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

Joy, thank you for your advice, especially about how the sweater will be stretchy when wet. I do want the sweater to shrink just a tiny bit, so I will use water that is barely warm. I do have a merino wool turtleneck from last winter that I washed in warm water and that shrunk at least a half a size. So I will have to use a temperature somewhere between cold and what I used for that sweater. And I do the dance too, when I hand wash clothes.

Dashielle, thanks for the caveat about the fine-knit sweaters. I think this one would qualify, so I'll be careful.

Vicki, thanks for backing up the warm water idea. I'll give it a go!

10 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

I hand washed and air dried an AT cashmere sweater last year and can't wear it this year. I did not expect it to shrink from that but it did. Got me worried about hand washing.

10 years ago

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I read a tip recently about using a salad spinner on hand wash sweaters. I tried it with a top last week and it worked like a charm. It might be a bit easier than the towel dance for items that aren't really long.

10 years ago

ironkurtin

Veteran

Good cashmere should not shrink unless you dry it wet. I've never had cashmere shrink on me just from wetting it, and I've dyed a LOT of it in very hot water. However, if you uses the drier, sweaters do not shrink uniformly throughout, but distort and get shorter. I really wouldn't bet on being able to shrink the sweater to fit. Sorry.

10 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

Years ago I took a very expensive cashmere sweater to the dry cleaners (as instructed on the label) to be cleaned. It shrunk a lot! I could barely wear it. I don't know what they did with it but I was very upset. Now I only wash my sweaters in cold water and air dry on towels. Slightly warm water might cause some shrinkage. I would start very slowly.

10 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

Maybe the knitters on the forum can advise you on re-blocking your sweater? I would start by outlining it on butcher paper or the like, and then marking the width and length you want. Then, I guess you would steam it to size with an iron.

Uh, you could probably also search YouTube?

10 years ago

Rebekah

Active Member

Yes, I've had cashmere shrink. I think it could depend on how think the cashmere is, though. Some of the cashmere sweaters I've seen have been very thin and I was afraid they'd shrink quite a bit.

10 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

YES !!!!! I never dry mine in a dryer. Many years ago, when I worked, I would buy a couple of cashmere sweaters on sale every year at Bloomingdale's. My husband got hold of my two favorites and decided to do me a "favor" . I had them in the hamper. Well, when he was done, my 1 year old son fit in them. I cried.

10 years ago

Gigi

Veteran

Wow, lots of different experiences here! It looks like I will be staying away from the dryer. Isabel, I'm so sorry about your sweaters! That's sad. I normally air-dry all my clothes anyway, so that won't be anything unusual.

I hadn't thought about blocking, Donna. That sounds advanced, lol! I will try just hand washing and leaving on a rack to dry first and see what happens. If the shape gets wonky, I will post again to ask the knitters their advice. Thanks for the great idea!

10 years ago

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