Adding one or two new custom hoodies to your collection is always amazing. However, even when you get the style, color, and comfort level right, size remains a common issue. Hoodies are often larger in size, and instead of returning them, a hoodie size adjustment feels more suitable.
Hoodie shrink helps you achieve a snugger fit and bring oversized hoodies back to their normal size. However, you must be careful when doing this to avoid damaging the clothes. That’s why we always urge people to understand the importance of the shrinking methods they wish to use.
Luckily, we will explain each method of shrinking your hoodie. The good thing is that these processes are easy to understand.
Why Would You Shrink a Hoodie?
Individuals can decide to shrink their sweatshirt for many reasons. The common ones include looking more fitted, restoring old shape, and creating more personalised looks. For instance, when your new hoodie appears to be way too big, you can opt to make it fit better by adjusting the size instead of returning it.
Furthermore, hoodies shrink will help you restore your old hooded sweatshirt’s original size. It is normal for clothes to lose shape after being used for an extended period. You can shrink them back to the original state. Lastly, you can decide to give your jumper a more personalized look. The right fit adjustment method will help you achieve these.
Understanding Fabric and Hoodie Materials
The materials your sweatshirt is made of help determine the hoodie’s storage, shrinkage method, and care instructions. Polyester, cotton, and other materials react to water and heat differently. Hence, this means you have to employ different size reduction methods.
Cotton Shrinking
Cotton is a popular natural fiber that is soft and breathable. This top hoodie material has highly absorbent attributes, and they’re one of the highest shrinkage rates. They tend to reduce in size when washed in hot water and dried under intense heat.
However, be careful while doing this to avoid overreduction in size or ruining the sweatshirt. The right tips, like immediately heat drying it after a hot wash and constantly checking the sizes, will help get the desired fit adjustment level. You can also repeat the steps to reduce it further.
Polyester Shrinking
Polyester is another common fabric type in the clothing industry. They are synthetic and widely known for their shrinkage resistance and durable nature. In contrast to cotton sweatshirts, the shrinkability in polyester is low, and you’ll need advanced hoodie care tips to attempt any fit adjustment.
For instance, polyester eventually gives in to size reduction under intense heat. But you’ll have to be extra careful, as you will not want to ruin the sweatshirt. You can start by washing in warm or hot water and then drying on high heat. Frequent checks will help avoid damage or possible over-shrinking.
Blends Shrinking
Like regular wear, sweatshirts can also come from combinations of different materials. Polyester, cotton, and others can be blended to get the desired durability and softness. Since the mixed materials have contrasting shrinking abilities, a hoodie from blended fabric will have a moderate level of size reduction.
Furthermore, the proportion of cotton and polyester that forms a blended material will determine the rate at which they reduce in size. More cotton means a high level, while more polyester means a lower level.
In all, blended fabrics shrink at higher rates than polyester and at lower rates than cotton. We suggest washing in warm water to avoid excessive shrinkage. Drying should also be done on medium heat, and, of course, check regularly to ensure an accurate fit adjustment.
How to Shrink a Cotton Hoodie
The best way to shrink cotton hoodies is by using hot water. When you expose the fabric to intense heat, it constricts, leading to shrinkage. You need the right level of hoodie fabric care to ensure control over the size adjustment. Let’s walk you through the guide:
- Get hot water in a basin: Start by filling a container with approximately 120°F hot water. Ensure it’s not boiling to avoid damaging the hoodie.
- Soak the sweatshirt: Submerge the entire fabric under the water and leave it for 5 to 20 minutes. The duration depends on the rate of size reduction you want.
- Remove the clothes: Retrieve your hoodie from the basin and wring it out to remove the water. Be careful not to burn your hands.
- Dry under high heat: Place the sweatshirt in your tumble dryer and set it on a high-heat cycle. Wait till it’s dry and retrieve your snugger jumper.
Using this method can expose your fabric to possible damage and over-shrinking. This will probably occur if you didn’t get the timing right. You can avoid this by using lower temperatures and a longer soaking time. Additionally, testing a section of the hood first will give you a hint of the required time, allowing for accurate adjustments.
How to Shrink a Hoodie in the Washer
Another technique of adjusting your sweatshirt size to a smaller one is through hoodie laundering with a machine. This method is time-efficient and convenient when you follow the right steps.
- Wash Hoodie in Hot Water: Washing your hoodie in hot water will initiate the size adjustment process. Make sure the water in the washing machine doesn’t exceed the limit specified in the hoodie fabric care label. With the heat from the water, the shrinkage is certain.
- Dry the Fabric: After a washing session, the next step is to dry the fabric. You can use any method available, but a tumble dryer will perfect the shrinking. But avoid it if you believe the hoodie washing has helped achieve the desired size reduction.
- Constant Check: You need to pay proper attention to the drying process by checking frequently. Remove the fabric if you’re satisfied with the adjustment.
You can repeat the hoodie washing and drying processes if your desired size is not yet achieved. However, be very careful to avoid over-shrinking. Additionally, ensure you obtain your quality collections from FastCustomJerseys, as low-quality fabrics have a higher likelihood of damage.
How to Shrink a Hoodie in the Dryer
Since heat is a major factor in fabric materials’ shrinkage, using a tumble dryer can help you get a fitter hoodie. The following is a guide to the dryer size adjustment process for sweatshirts.
- Wash the Jumper: Wash your sweatshirt using hot water and mild detergents. You can use a machine or soak it in hot water first, and then handwash it when the water is warm.
- Hoodie drying: You can transfer the cloth into a tumble dryer quickly to continue the shrinking process. Set the machine to a high heat cycle and wait till it dries.
- Check and remove if completely dry: Check to ensure all the moisture is gone before removing the fabric from the machine.
The size adjustment procedure is more effective when you’re very quick at transferring the washed sweatshirt to the dryer. Periodically pausing and checking the size of the sweatshirt will help avoid over-shrinking. Users can even set timers to ensure they don’t over-dry.
How to Shrink a Hoodie with an Iron
If you don’t have a washing machine or only wish to adjust the size of a portion of your hoodie, the iron shrinking method is your ideal choice. You can reduce the size of the hem or sleeves using the heat from your iron. This method works best for cotton hoodies, and it is essential to follow the right hoodie preservation tips to prevent damage to the fabric.
- Dampen the hoodie: Start by dampening the target area for size reduction in water. You can also spray water on the region, as moisture is needed to penetrate the fiber.
- Set your iron: You must ensure the heat you use on your sweatshirt is neither too high nor too low. Cotton responds quicker to heat compared to polyester and blended materials. The former can be set on medium heat, while the latter can be set on lower settings to avoid ruining the sweatshirt.
- Start ironing the specified area: The next step is to gently iron the dampened area. You must maintain matching strokes across the fabrics for uniform adjustments. Be slow and careful not to over-iron.
Repeat till the desired size reduction is achieved. Remember not to apply too much heat as it can burn, decolorize, or weaken the materials. This is equally good for the hoodie maintenance.
Conclusion
It’s not every oversized hoodie you’ll give out or return to the manufacturer. With the right shrinking techniques, you can get a smarter sweatshirt. Luckily, we’ve explained the DIY processes for shrinking hoodies using hot water, a washing machine, a dryer, and an iron. This, however, works best when you have quality fabrics.
Interestingly, buying from the hoodie collections at FastCustomJerseys will save you the stress of going through the size adjustment procedures. The store only sells customized quality, and they provide detailed guides to help you make the perfect choice. They supply hoodies of various colours and sizes to your desired location in no time. Winter is here already. Why not check out their collections right away.
