How to Shrink a Wool Sweater

Co-authored by Susan Stocker

Last Updated: June 24, 2024 References

Over time, wool sweaters can become a little baggy. Luckily, shrinking them is a quick an easy process. If you want to shrink the entire sweater, place the sweater in a warm wash with some laundry detergent and then dry it in the dryer. If you want to shrink a portion of the sweater, such as the waist or cuffs, use the hand shrinking method. Both these methods will shrink the wool about 1 clothing size each time that you complete the shrinking process.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using a Washing Machine and Dryer

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1
Wash the sweater on a short-cycle warm wash. Place your woolen sweater into your washing machine by itself and set the machine to the shortest cycle.^{[1]
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Susan Stocker
Green Cleaning Expert

Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.} This protects the delicate wool from becoming fluffy due to too much agitation.^{[2]
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- Avoid putting the sweater straight into a hot wash, as this can cause it to shrink significantly and may make it too small. It is best to shrink the sweater in increments.
- This technique works best on sweaters that are 100% wool.
2
Add laundry detergent or soap to the washing machine. This helps to agitate the fibers of the wool and encourages it to shrink. If possible, choose a laundry product that is designed for wool, as these are extra gentle and help to moisturize the yarn.^{[3]
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- Follow the dosage instructions on the back of the packet.
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Place the sweater in the dryer on a low heat. This helps to further shrink the sweater whilst also completely drying it. Set the dryer to a low heat to avoid over-shrinking your sweater. Once the cycle finishes, check that the sweater is completely dry. If it is still wet, place it back in the dryer for another cycle.
- Avoid air-drying your sweater, as this can cause it to return to its regular size.
4
Wash the sweater on a hot wash cycle if it is still too big. Try your sweater on for size once it is dry. If it still a little baggy, simply repeat the washing and drying process but set your washing machine to a hot wash. This causes the fibers to shrink even further.^{[4]
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- Continue to repeat this process until you are happy with the size of your sweater.
Clara Parkes, Wool Historian and Textile Expert

Wool is an incredibly versatile fiber that lends itself well to felting and fulling techniques when handled properly. By understanding the unique properties of wool, one can gently encourage a garment to shrink through strategic agitation, moisture, and heat to achieve the desired size and shape.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Shrinking the Sweater by Hand

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Wet the wool sweater with hot water. Hold your sweater under a tap or dunk it into a bucket of water. Once it is wet, hold it over a sink for a few moments to let the excess water drip off. This makes the drying process a little quicker later on.^{[5]
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Susan Stocker
Green Cleaning Expert

Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.}
- If you are only shrinking a portion of the sweater, simply wet the area that you want to shrink.
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Pat the sweater with a dry towel to remove the excess water. Lay the sweater flat on a towel and then place another towel flat on top of the sweater. Gently press down on the towel to lift some of the water out of the sweater. Continue to press down on the sweater until it is damp rather than dripping wet.^{[6]
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- Opt for white towels, if possible, to reduce the risk of any color from the towels bleeding onto your wool sweater.
- If your top towel becomes saturated, place it in the laundry and use a dry one.
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Bunch the fibers together with your hands so that it dries in a smaller shape. Place your sweater on a dry towel and then use your hands to gently push the fibers of the wool together. Bunch up the fibers widthways to make it narrower or lengthways to make it shorter. The closer together that you bunch up the fibers – the more the sweater will shrink.^{[7]
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- This works really well for shrinking the cuffs and sleeves of sweaters.
Leave the sweater to dry flat on the towel, rather than hanging it up. This keeps the bunches that you made intact and encourages the sweater to shrink as it dries.^{[8]
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Turn your sweater over to finish drying. This allows the other side of the sweater to finish drying. This normally takes about a day; however, if you have a particularly large or heavy sweater, it may take a little longer.^{[9]
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- If the sweater needs further shrinking, simply repeat this wetting, drying, and bunching process.

Expert Q&A

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Question

Is wool easier to shrink than cotton?

Susan Stocker
Professional Cleaner
Susan Stocker runs and owns Susan’s Green Cleaning, the #1 Green Cleaning Company in Seattle. She is well known in the region for outstanding customer service protocols — winning the 2017 Better Business Torch Award for Ethics & Integrity —and her energetic support of green cleaning practices.

Susan Stocker

Professional Cleaner

Expert Answer

Yes, wool will shrink dramatically faster than cotton. It'll get a lot smaller too. I've seen some XL wool garments go down to toddler size with a hot wash or two. Synthetic fabrics tend to be the hardest to shrink.

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Question

Can wool shrink in the dryer?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

If you dry wool on high-heat in the dryer, it will definitely shrink. If you plan to machine-dry wool, and you don't want it to shrink, set it to a no-heat setting. If you want the wool to dry completely, with only minor shrinkage, set your dryer to low-heat.

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Question

Does wool shrink every time you wash it?

Drew Hawkins1

Community Answer

Most wool will shrink if you don't wash and dry it properly. If you machine-dry wool on high-heat, it may shrink drastically. However, some wool garments may have already been pre-shrunk, so you can machine dry them on medium heat without risking additional shrinkage. Check the label on the garment for specific washing and drying instructions to avoid over-shrinkage.

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