Accidentally Shrink Your Favorite Sweater? Here's How to Stretch It Without Ruining Its Shape

If you've ever taken a freshly washed sweater out of the sink and found it looking slightly off, you’re not alone. Maintaining the appearance of sweaters after washing can be challenging, especially for those you love and wear the most. Some people advocate for stretching, while others fear it might damage their favorite knits. So, what’s the best approach?

To settle the debate, we consulted a laundry expert for clarification. Spoiler alert: Experts say that stretching (most of!) your sweaters after washing is essential for maintaining their fit and preventing shrinkage. However, it's important to know which fabrics to avoid stretching and the correct way to stretch your sweaters. Below, we outline the best techniques to keep your sweaters looking fresh, cozy, and perfectly shaped, so you can finally say goodbye to accidental crop tops or stretched-out shoulders.

Should You Stretch Your Sweaters?

According to experts, the answer is yes, most sweaters should be stretched. “Many natural fibers used in sweaters, like wool and cotton, are prone to shrinking, especially once they come into contact with water,” explains Sammy Wang, fabric care senior scientist for P&G. She clarifies that when these fibers are exposed to water, they can contract or shrink and, therefore, lose their original form or shape. “Gently stretching sweaters after hand-washing can help maintain their shape and reduce shrinkage, and gently stretching the sweater while damp can help reset the fibers as it dries,” she says.

Wang notes that it’s not necessary to stretch your sweaters after each wash, but only when you notice signs of deformity, as over-stretching the material can cause damage. She also recommends incorporating a conditioner, like a fabric softener, if you plan to stretch a sweater after hand-washing it. “This will lubricate the fibers of the sweater, allowing them to glide more easily as you stretch,” says Wang. She adds that fabric softeners can also help prevent pilling, fuzzing, and fading, especially in natural fiber sweaters.

How to Properly Stretch Your Sweaters

As soon as you observe a sweater shape beginning to warp, follow Wang’s straightforward guide to stretch it back in place.

1. Expel Excess Water

After washing, Wang suggests gently pressing the sweater (rather than wringing it out) to remove as much moisture as possible. It’s best to do this over a towel that can absorb excess water. “You can also gently roll the sweater up in the clean towel to help absorb more water, and then unroll,” she adds.

2. Stretch and Reshape

Next, Wang says to lay it flat on another clean, dry towel or a mesh drying rack before starting the stretching process. “Gently tug on the edges, focusing on areas that have shrunk, such as the sleeves or the body,” says Wang. “Be sure to stretch the fabric slowly and gently to avoid causing damage.” Once you’re satisfied with how the sweater has stretched, she says to use your hands to adjust it to its original shape and smooth out wrinkles before drying.

3. Air-Dry

Most sweaters should be air-dried and laid flat while drying. You can leave it on the dry, clean towel or drying rack you used when stretching and reshaping. But, whatever you do, avoid hanging it up to dry. “Hanging a sweater on a hanger might cause additional stretching, shape distortion, or hanger marks,” warns Wang.

Additional Sweater Care Tips

When handling a new sweater—or perhaps stretching a well-loved one for the first time—Wang recommends checking the care label first. Some materials, such as heavy wool, often require dry cleaning. Otherwise, most of your sweaters will be fine to hand-wash or even take a tumble in the washer.

When machine washing sweaters, Wang suggests using a mesh garment bag to protect them from snagging and from rubbing against other items in the same load.  If your washer has a setting labeled delicates or gentle, be sure to choose one of those. “Most delicate cycles will default to using colder water, less agitation, and a lower spin speed,” explains Wang. “These settings will help protect sweaters from unnecessary abrasion and wrinkling, though they will be more damp at the end of the cycle than with a normal or regular spin speed.” Even if you don’t intend to stretch the sweater after washing, pressing it to remove excess water and laying it flat to dry are still important.

Lastly, take note that some materials shouldn’t be stretched at all. Wang explains that thin fabrics, such as chiffon and lace, or those with sheen, such as satin and silk, can be damaged when stretched. You also want to be careful if you’re working with cashmere. Per Wang, “Cashmere is delicate, and while you can gently stretch it, be cautious not to pull too hard as it might cause additional fuzzing or fiber damage.”