Method for shrinking a loose sweater
A sweater worn for a long time may become loose and baggy, which not only makes it ill-fitting but also affects its appearance. To restore it to its original shape, you can steam the sweater with hot water, ideally between 70-80°C. Water that's too hot may shrink the sweater excessively. If the cuffs or hem of the sweater lose their elasticity, you can soak those parts in hot water at 40-50°C for 1-2 hours, then dry them. This will restore their elasticity.
Restoring a shrunken sweater:
1. Steam Ironing
Use a steam iron to heat the fibers of the shrunken sweater, then stretch its fibers while they're still hot with both hands. Based on experience, because the heating area of a steam iron is limited, to ensure even fiber stretching, use a localized, segmented, and partial method of heating and stretching the sweater. The fibers cannot be stretched significantly in one go; repeated heating and stretching are necessary. Before stretching, have a clear idea of the total length to be stretched so that each segment's stretching length can be calculated. After all segments are stretched, measure the total length with a ruler. If the length is insufficient, repeat the process. Be particularly careful not to overstretch and make appropriate adjustments in the end. The operation should be carried out on an ironing board; at home, you can lay a blanket on the table to perform the task. After completion, it’s best to use a mannequin for heating reshaping and cooling for setting.