Does Wool Stretch? (How to Stretch a Wool Hat or Sweater)
When it comes to the holiday season, it is always a good idea to wear a fabric that has a little stretch to it. That way when you indulge in those delicious meals and pastries you will still feel comfortable and look great at the same time. A little stretch is always needed when you are in need.
Does wool stretch? A lot will depend on how the wool was woven and if it was one-ply or 2 ply. The latter ply does not really stretch but holds its shape very well. Some stretching will occur under heavy use but not light use. Some wools have coatings to keep it from stretching as well.
To learn all about wool and if it stretches or not, just continue to read our article. It explores this topic so you know the right answers to the wool stretching questions It will only take a few minutes to get those answers.
Stretching Wool 101
Does Wool Stretch With Wear?
Some wool material will stretch a little more than others. Woven wool is more stable and does not stretch out when you wear it except for a little natural built-in flexibility. Wool is not spandex.
Wool is the type of material that when you put them on in the store, that will be their size for years to come even after a lot of washing cycles. Some people say that wool will shrink back to its original size when washed but will conform to your body once you put the item back on again.
Then there are those that say cavalry wool is the style that stretches the most. A lot will depend on how the wool was woven and the quality of the fabric. The best thing to do is make sure you get them to fit comfortably when you buy them and as someone once said, wool only shrinks when you gain weight.
Does Wool Stretch Over Time?
In some versions yes, wool can stretch a little over time but usually, that stretch is lost once the wool is washed. The key will be in how dense the wool fibers are. A worsted wool material may not stretch at all as its fibers are very close together.
There are those that say wool will conform to your body’s shape and size over time and that remains to be seen. Everyone’s experience is probably going to be different here because wool does come in different weaves, knits, and qualities.
This is going to be a bit of trial and error issue as your geographical location may play a little role in how much wool changes. Fabrics do react differently with the different types of water, soft or hard, as well as the different humidity levels, dry or moist.
Wool may be one of those fabrics.
Does Wool Stretch When Washed?
If it does, it may be an inferior quality wool fabric or blend. Generally, wool doe snot stretch when washed. The testimonials have been that their wool garments have remained the same size even after 25+ years of washing.
That is the general rule and of course, as we all know, there may be exceptions to that rule. The problem that you may and will encounter when washing wool is that the material will shrink on you if you are not careful.
Wool sweaters are notorious for this and often go into the wash one size that is a comfortable fit and come out a size that only your dog can wear. But it is possible to stretch those sweaters and other wool garments a little to get them fitting you again.
It just takes a little gentle work and those wool items will be ready to wear again.
How Much Does Wool Stretch?
It is hard to say as different weaves stretch at different rates. Dense weaves do not have that much stretch in them so do not expect to gain a lot by using any of the stretching methods. Of course, they may not shrink a lot either so you should be okay.
If you own a loose weave sweater or jacket, you may be able to gains several sizes when using the blocking method. That is good news if your dog is eyeing your shrunken sweater as its new winter outerwear.
You have to wet the wool fibers and work with your hands to get the shape you want. You may not always get the exact size you want but that is okay, wool is resilient and can handle several trips through the stretching process.
Just work with care and do not go too far too fast or you may not get even results.
Does Boiled Wool Have Stretch?
If it does have any it is very little. That is okay as boiled wool has been pre-shrunk so you may not see a lot of need to stretch the wool. But if you do not wash it properly or expose the wool to high temperatures, you may see more shrinkage even though it has been pre-shrunk.
A water and conditioner method will help you stretch boiled wool out and back to its original size if you experience any shrinkage. Boiled wool is designed to be used for trench coats and pea coats, so you may not see much shrinkage at all throughout the article’s lifetime.
It is a hard fabric to work with because it is so dense but if you wet it with that solution then fill the sleeves and shoulders with towels etc., you may see some stretch in the width of the material.
Why is Wool Stretchy?
The best reason anyone can give to this question is that it is because it is a natural fiber and the majority of natural fibers have some stretch to them. Not a lot and the amount of the stretch will depend on the quality of the material and its weave style.
Usually, the stretch factor doesn’t show up until the wool material is wet or slightly damp. It takes water to make wool stretch out some except when it is placed in your washing machine and the wrong water temperature is used.
Wool is not stretchy like nylon, spandex, or some polyester fabrics or even some elastics. But it will conform to your body size and keep you nice and comfy and warm when the temperatures drop.
Proper care will keep the wool clothing item in its original shape and size for many years. Some people have ad the same wool clothing for decades.
Can a Wool Felt Hat be Stretched?
If the wool hat in that question is actually a wool cap, then the cap material will stretch to fit your head. If you can handle the smell of wet wool, just soak the hat and put it on till it dries. The wool material should stretch out and fit your head size with no problems.
If you are having trouble getting your wool felt hat to stretch, there is a reason for that. Warm moist heat does cause the hat to shrink a little. But that is not the end of the world. You can use the same moist heat to stretch your felt hat back into shape.
The process is quite simple and will be explained in the next section.
How To Stretch a Wool Hat
Using steam is the best way to stretch a hat. Here are the steps to do that safely:
First, measure your hatband that touches your forehead. Then write that figure down.
Second, fill the tea kettle with water and bring it to a boil. You will need enough steam for many minutes so make sure you actually fill the kettle.
Third, when the steam rises, hold the hat over the steam rotating it so that the headband is moist but not soaking wet.
Fourth, now pull the headband outward after each rotation, still rotate the hat so you get an even expansion.
Fifth, measure the headband and make sure the new size is larger and will fit you. If not, keep stretching. Allow the hat to dry only after it fits on your head.
One word of warning, do not use a hairdryer or a clothes dryer to try and stretch the hat. Those items will shrink the felt.
How To Stretch Shrunken Wool Sweater
Step 1: Fill a container larger enough to hold your sweater under the water. This can be a pail, sink, or bathtub, etc.
Step 2: mix 3 gallons of cool water with 3 to 4 tbsp of baby shampoo and stir till you see enough soap appearing.
Step 3: submerge the sweater in the water and let it soak for about 20 to 30 minutes. After that time has expired, pull the sweater out and let it drip the water in a sink. Do not rinse or squeeze the water out of the sweater.
Step 4: now towel dry the sweater until the excess water is gone and the sweater is still damp
Step 5: Lay the sweater out on a dry tool keeping it flat. Then use your hands to pull and tug those spots that you want to make larger. Be gentle but firm. If the sweater is really damaged do not expect to restore it to its original size and shape
Step 6: Let dry in a cool dry place away from the direct sunlight. Flip the sweater over to make sure it dries completely
How To Stretch Wool Socks
Use a sink to hold warm water and about a dime-sized worth of conditioner. Then soak the socks for a short period of time and rinse them under warm water. Towel dry like you would a sweater.
Then while still damp, use your hands to stretch the socks to the size you want. You can use a full-sized pair of socks as a model to get the right size for the shrunken pair. Make sure to pull evenly so you do not have mismatched socks to wear.
Continue to stretch until the socks dry and you may see some shrinkage as the dry. Just keep stretching to compensate for that reaction.
Can You Stretch Wool Pants?
Yes, it is possible to stretch wool pants. The key to being successful at this is to avoid using hot or warm water. Those temperatures may shrink the pants even more. The process is similar to stretching a sweater so it is not that complicated to do.
To get the steps for stretching these pants just read the next section
How do You Fix Stretched Wool?
Fill a sink or tub, large enough to hold the pants while they soak, with cool water and add a little Woolite or other wool cleaning product and a cap full will do. Soak the pants for about 20 minutes without stirring the water. Just make sure they submerge and stay that way.
Once the soaking time is over, squeeze the excess water out of the pants and hang the pants in a pants hanger by the hem. Follow the crease so they retain their original shape. If there is no crease just zip and button the pants and then fold back pocket to back pocket. Hang by the hem.
Before they are dry, try the pants on and if they are still a little tight around the waist, let the seam out a little to accommodate your size.
Some Final Words
Wool is a good material that really keeps you warm in the winter. But the material may not stretch as much as you would want especially during the holiday season. It is possible to stretch those items out but that stretch may only take them back to their original size.
A lot will depend on how the wool was made.
