Sweater Care

TIPical Mary Ellen host Mary Ellen Pinkham demonstrates a number of simple tips for taking care of sweaters.

Blocking a sweater means laying it flat to dry so that it retains its shape and size.
In order to do this, take note of the size and shape of the sweater before washing it. If you need to, you can make an outline on a large piece of paper or an opened grocery sack.
Pull the sweater out of the washer before the spin cycle, and roll it in a towel to remove the excess water. Lay it out on a flat surface.
Once it has partially dried, return to the sweater, and pull it into the shape and size you want it to be. Then, be sure to let it completely dry before putting it away so that it doesn't shrink later.
A great flat surface to dry sweaters on is a fiberglass window screen instead of buying a sweater dryer. Just suspend it between two chairs and lay the sweater on top of it. This will speed up the drying process because it allows air flow through.
To stretch a shrunken wool sweater, soak it in a tub with a mixture of hair conditioner and water. Gently pull the sweater to reshape.
Another way to stretch a sweater would be to dissolve one ounce of sodium borate (borax) in a couple of tablespoons of hot water, add the mixture to a gallon of lukewarm water, immerse the garment, and pull gently into shape. Rinse in a gallon of warm water with two tablespoons vinegar.
NEVER cut a loose thread. Pull through the backside with a pin or small crochet hook.
To stop small holes from running, dab a bit of nail polish or glue on the backside. Let dry completely before wearing.