Drying clothes and shrinkage?

[maslex]

I don't normally put my shirts in the dryer. I always hang them up to dry (in basement during the winter, on the line outside during the summer)

If I were to put it in the dryer and it shrank a bit, would that be the most it'll shrink? Or will it continue to shrink a little bit each time you dry it?

I have a shirt that is just a bit too big and I'm sure if I throw it in the dryer after the next wash, it'll be just fine. But I'm wondering if I do that, should I continue to line dry it afterwards? Or will it be fine to toss in the dryer after every wash?

I hope you understand what I'm trying to say, 'cause when I read it back, it's kind of confusing. LOL

 

[kmb584]

It really depends on the quality of the cotton and which yarn it came from. Typical shrinkage is 2-5% with the initial wash but some shirts will continue to shrink each additional time.

 

[low-key]

a lot of my clothes shrink around the stomach area

 

[pat fan]

And they don't always shrink the direction you want! My shirts tend to shrink shorter, when that's not how I want them to go! LOL!

As an answer to your question though, once in the dryer should be good, unless it didn't shrink "enough", then try again. I do think the more you dry it, the more it will tend to shrink. I'm a line dryer too!

 

[maslex]

And they don't always shrink the direction you want! My shirts tend to shrink shorter, when that's not how I want them to go! LOL!

As an answer to your question though, once in the dryer should be good, unless it didn't shrink "enough", then try again. I do think the more you dry it, the more it will tend to shrink. I'm a line dryer too!

LOL Maybe I'm in luck then. I actually want mine to shrink shorter some. I'm really short and a lot of my shirts ten to be too long.