Wool Dress

[minyata]

Mother Effer!!! I was washing my garb from AT War since it all got icky and muddy at the event and I tossed the wool dress I made for 12th night in the washing machine. It was on COLD but apparently there was enough agitation in the cycle that I shrunk the gown. Its now about 3" too short in the skirt and although I can do up the bodice, its way

Comments

[jamesq]

I did this to a brand new sweater I bought and it shrank down to Gerry size. You can always give the dress to Gerry.

[minyata]

ROFL! Wilma already called dibs on it. It will probably fit her perfectly right now.

[ya_inga]

is it still wet? soak in a solution of borax - this loosesns the felted links - work it gently and it will loosen.

I once stretched out an apron I greviously shrunk by wearing it wet and letting the warmth of my body and tension stretch it out. I got Vik to pull on it gently to slowly stretch it out. It wasn't quite as big as when new but grew over a full size

[minyata]

Its still damp but hanging up at home and I am at work. Can I re-wet it? Will that work? it didn't go through the dryer. I have to run home this morning and can toss it in the tub with some water in it to make it really wet and let it soak for the day then deal with it tonight.
Where would I get borax?

[ya_inga]

You can rewet it!

It will work these instructions are close to ones I remember using http://www.ehow.com/how_17827_stretch-shrunken-wool.html

I have a book called how to fix anything - it saved me

You can buy Borax in the laundry stuff area of your grocery store. I use 20 Mule Team Borax - it is a great washing product to have on hand in general.

[minyata]

Mmm THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!! Wish me luck!

[minyata]

That was TOTALLY what I was thinking when I put it on this morning too. Although its my only warm dress at the moment and would like to have it cover my ankles so they dont get cold!

[othelianna]

I wonder.

In congruence with Inga's suggestion, so you don't have to hang around stretching it, if you used pants hangers (them clip kinds), clipped them around the hem, and then hung weights off of them?

It's an idea, anyway.

[conejita_diabla]

Well, I did hear you stretch out when you get wet...;-)