HELP! Any pointers to unshrink cotton tops? - YouLookFab Forum

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HELP! Any pointers to unshrink cotton tops?

cindysmith

Veteran

So the other lady that lives out here in our fledgling community threw a load of my clothes in the dryer yesterday. I have no clue what possessed her to do so, since she hasn't thrown a load of my clothes in the dryer since we all moved out here, as she knows I line dry the vast majority of my clothes. It was my second load of clothes yesterday that she had pulled out of the washer; she didn't throw the first one in the dryer so I have no idea why she threw the second load in the dryer a mere 2 hours after she DIDN'T throw the first one in the dryer, but whatever, the damage is done now. She also used a dryer sheet on them which has already been banned by unanimous agreement amongst all community members (I'm highly allergic to something in the ones she uses), which means that everything she didn't ruin had to be rewashed.

I'm also not even counting the pair of pajama bottoms she ruined or the one pair of half decent shorts that still fit my one size bigger ass because both of those were under $20 each. I'm also not counting the silk top she shrank, because it got torn at work; I was only washing it so I could take it to a seamstress to have it deconstructed so it could be used to make a pattern to recreate it (which can't be done now because it shrank).

To add insult to injury, when I informed her she had just ruined HUNDREDS of dollars worth of clothes, she offered me a hundred dollar bill. I walked away at that point because I really didn't want a manslaughter charge. (Y'all may think I'm joking, but my mom is probably right that I'm starting into menopause, and I was so angry I couldn't see straight and I also was so angry I cried which is always a very ugly place for me to be.)

I digress. The bottom line is that she faded and shrank my doo.ri top and she faded and shrank my Barbara I Gongini top. I've read up on how to try and unshrink them (lukewarm water, hair conditioner, don't rinse, roll in towel to remove some excess water then lay flat and reshape and hope for the best).

One of these tops (the Barbara I Gongini) is replaceable if I act fast at yoox; the door.ri is completely and totally irreplaceable. So before I start attempting to reshape the shrunken top, I was wondering if anybody had any pointers? Maybe some of our Knitters, since blocking is a common thing for knit/crochet items? (I've never blocked anything because it's either been for personal use or very small like Swiffer covers). I really want to save this top because it's identical predecessor was a very heavy hitter over the last several summers, and it was the first wear for this incarnation of it.

Thank you for listening to me rant; y'all have become a very safe space for me here on the internet. Also, thanks in advance for any tips/pointers.

edited to add finds

BARBARA I GONGINI T-shirt

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3

UNDER.LIGNE By DOO.RI Top

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1

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27 replies

Latest reply was from bridgie

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

Aaarrrgghhh!!! I'm so sorry that happened! Humans--what can you do? I hope the knitter peeps will be able to offer assistance.

Diana

Veteran

I don't blame you for seeing red! I would be totally livid!

OK, so these are both knit fabrics, right? (As opposed to wovens, which are a lot harder and sometimes impossible to reshape.) Some knit fabrics can be stretched or reshaped, although the stretching may end up being in not exactly the same place (e.g. a lot of times straps on tanks will stretch more easily than the body). Something with a ton of lycra or spandex will be harder to stretch out because of the huge amount of bounce. In which direction have they shrunk? (Vertically, horizontally, or both?) If it's vertical shrinkage, the first thing you can try is to wet it (with cold water), manually stretch the item out by pulling it, and hang it on a hanger to dry. You might want to clip some clothespins or other things with a little weight to the hem to help pull it down.

If you have horizontal stretchage (or vertical for that matter) you can do a more labor-intensive block. Basically wet the item, lay it out on a towel, and stretch/pin the item to the towel. You need to use a LOT of pins if you are trying to seriously stretch it, and make sure to use pins that won't rust.

JAileen

Veteran

I'm so sorry. What a callous person.

Diana's method is good for nicer knits, and hand knits. This is the quick and dirty solution for less valued items:
For ordinary cotton tees that I put in the dryer, I pull on both side seams at the same time, all the way down, stretching them out a little. I also pull on them vertically. Sometimes I do this on the sleeves, too. I have a Lands End striped top that would be doll size by now if I didn't do this every time I washed it.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I would check with your local dry-cleaner, as well. I know mine has mentioned that they can reblock/restretch knits.

I want to say, gently, that I don't know the person who did this, but it seems that she wanted to be helpful. And that whatever logic she follows in her thought process, obviously it's different from most people's. I think her offer of money was a genuine attempt to make amends.

Anonymous

I am sorry. I'd be irritated for sure but like La Belle D said, it was probably an attempt to help or just an honest mistake. I feel bad for you both because I have made erroneous judgments and done more harm than good trying to help people before, and done very dippy things because I get brain fog, and also because I know how horribly frustrating losing favorite clothing is, especially not at your own hand.
I hope the suggestions work for you!

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Oh no how horrid I feel for you and your clothing. I cannot stand when that happened before I had my own washer dryer. People feel like they can just touch your stuff.

It has taken me 4 ever to build a wardrobe that I truly love so I feel you.

I have no advise just a listening ear.

cindysmith

Veteran

Thank you, Diana & la Belle. Yes, they are knits, so thank you for the tips.

I think I can get away with the quick & dirty way with the black one, la Belle, and then maybe do Diana's trick hanging it with clothespins for weight to help it along some. Even if it is, it's a recent enough design that a replacement is available for the time being. The question now becomes "do I try it and hope it works so that I can redye it or should I just order the replacement since it's currently available but won't be for long?"

The blue one is probably going to require the labor intensive method, and I'm hoping that it works. I really was excited to have found it to replace the previous one exactly like it (and 3 years later, no less!). IF I can save it, and that's a really big IF, I will still have to dye it because it faded too.

cindysmith

Veteran

Yep, just tried them on and I'm literally sick to my stomach now. The black one shrank vertically, so yeah, it can be saved. The blue one that can't be replaced shrank both ways and is now tight across my chest and armpits so it requires the labor intensive method

Anonymous

Grrrrrr! I'd be seeing red too. So sorry that happened to you. My sister used to borrow without asking my clothes and made them smelly and stretched out. Her only excuse was I had better taste than her in clothes! Hide your clothes! Knits are hard to stretch out. I'm a seamstress and could probably add to the sides and across the top of the shoulders. Grrrr!

rachylou

Veteran

Brutal. The dryer sheet is also really horrendous - I too am allergic. I throw up literally...

Anyways no real suggestions. Diana's sound good. I block these things from memory... and then find some work children to lecture about how most people in the world are dead weight and our job is to suffer... ha!

The Cat

Veteran

Sorry to hear about this, and I understand your feelings very well.

I would rewash as soon as possible and would then try to stretch the garments as much as possible and maybe pin them, as described by Diana.

Next step: Planning how to avoid similar accidents in the future ...

cindysmith

Veteran

Mary, that's actually brilliant! The back has asymmetric straps so I don't know if I could add to them but it's definitely worth consulting with a tailor to find out! I hadn't thought of that, but it is really smart and could maybe be done in a way that doesn't seem "off" compared to the original design. It's a sporty design, like yoga tops or something, so adding a contrasting (or complementary) colored panel down each side could work if the straps can be tweaked to fit again.

Thank you all so very much! I might be able to stop crying now and go eat my feelings because I think my feelings might taste like toffee chip ice cream right now LOL

karen13

Veteran

So sorry! I have had some success with re-stretching mistakenly shrunken items, but they were wool, and took pretty vigorous tugging.

My only suggestion is to make sure they are very wet when you stretch them.

But you can't make them worse by trying. Good luck and keep us posted on what works. Crossing my fingers!

cindysmith

Veteran

Cat, I've definitely been thinking about how to avoid the problem in the future. I may not stay here in this community (this isn't an isolated incident from her, she's constantly doing stuff that makes people angry and she has no incentive to change)

IF I stay (and that isn't certain by any means) then I will be using a laundromat until Sunshine finishes the house & I have my own machine.

Column

Veteran

I just had a seamstress tell me to hot iron the reverse side of knits (so as not to shine) in which ever direction I needed stretch. The gals with the fabric knowledge are on to something here. Good Luck!

cindysmith

Veteran

OMG column, that's not a bad idea even for stuff that doesn't need saving. I line dry clothes inside out so they don't fade, don't know why I didn't think to leave them that way till after I finished ironing them. Thank you

Kate

Veteran

Ouch! I'm so sorry. I'd be mad as a wet hen if that happened to me. I sure understand your pain. I've done stretching on damp cottons and stretchy linens (Loft, I'm looking at you) with reasonable success, but haven't tried with knits. You've gotten great advice and I hope you can salvage your knits.
Here's hoping Sunshine gets that house finished soon!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm sorry, Cindy. Rotten luck.

I successfully block wool knitwear back to the desired size that comes back from cleaners with a steam iron and ironing board. Try that too.

lozz_oz

Veteran

What a pain for you cindy
I've used the lukewarm water + hair conditioner to restore shape to viscose items - maybe give that a go. Good luck + keep us posted.

Joy

Veteran

I have restretched things vertically and a bit horizontally by soaking, then rolling in towels and putting on a bathroom floor and doing a dance on them to remove excess moisture. This may need to be done more than once if they are heavy knits. Then I hang on a fat plastic hanger and weight the bottom with those heavy wooden suit hangers that have a sort of clip on the bottom for trousers. I clip several across the bottom of the wet garment so the hangers are upside down. If needed I hang more heavy hangers from them to add additional weight. It also works to stretch out any wrinkles. I hope this makes sense. DH would love to help with laundry but is strictly forbidden to touch it. I would be livid.

Anonymous

You have my most profound sympathy. Every SINGLE emotion you are feeling is appropriate. I applaud you for being strong enough to walk away when you did.

I have had success with the technique Joy describes above. It is not a pretty technique and don't be scared if you feel you are stretching too much in any single direction.

anne

Veteran

How extremely annoying for you Cindy. I hope some of these ideas work!

minimalist

Veteran

I am so sorry for your loss(es). And sad that you're exposed to this ongoing, well, it sure looks like covert aggression to me.

Here's hoping some lovely items come your way to fill in the gaps left by whatever can't be rescued, and maybe even some of those that can.

cindysmith

Veteran

My husband thinks I'm crazy when I tell him she knew exactly what she was doing. She's a science teacher who has watched me line dry clothes for a year. She didn't suddenly experience brain death or memory loss. She made a very conscious decision to put the clothes in the dryer. I know what petty-ness women are capable of; I was extremely petty before I got sober. Thank you, minimalist. I could be wrong, but at least I'm not crazy and I'm not alone.

Greyscale

Veteran

Oooof I would be fuming, too. And the dryer sheet! I can't be near them either, and I've carefully negotiated things with roommates so that they don't use scented ones. I'm sorry all that happened. I sincerely hope she stays far away from your clothes now.

Gigi

Veteran

I have no ideas on fixing the damage, but I just want to say how sorry I am. All that money and all that work finding pieces that you love...gone in an instant.

I live in a community with some very unhealthy people too, so I understand what you are saying about this woman doing this on purpose. It really bugs me that she didn't offer you more than $100 for the damage she caused.

bridgie

Veteran

That was a terrible thing to happen to you! I mean that from the bottom of my heart. My mother and grandmother were the only people in this world that could do laundry for me (and of course who so lovingly did it from the time I was born).

O.K. I deleted some of what I wrote.

I have had 3 or 4 instances that someone took it on themselves to do my laundry.

Bottom line, how can someone think they can or should do laundry for me. Another time, at the home, and my home at that time also, another party came in while I was out. All my laundry was done, as it usually is , except one beautiful silk equestrian print blouse I had laid aside to hand wash. She washed and dried the blouse and left it hanging in laundry room. I never wore it again. Was she insinuating I was a slob to leave a worn garment unwashed?

A professional person told me I should tell her that I did not want her to do laundry for me, but I chose not to.

However, in your case, with so many nice things involved and destroyed, and the fact you live near her and it could happen again, do you think if you told her very plainly not to touch your clothes that it would help?

I sincerely hope you can salvage some of your nice things and start feeling better.