blocking/shrinking a wool sweater

[tinydoom]

I made a wool sweater, but after I blocked it is seems to have stretched and now it's too big, despite me being careful and laying it flat to dry).  Is there a safe way to shirnk it?  I was going to just try soaking it in warm water quickly, but I thoguht I would check here and see if anyone had experience with this problem and a good idea on fixing it.
Thanks!

[jazminecat]

What kind of wool did you use (maker, name, and/or fiber content) and what kind of stitch pattern?   Did you just block it too big, perhaps?  If so, wet it and reblock it smaller.  If you shrink it, it won't just shrink - most wools will felt - and that completely changes the fabric.   If it's actually knitted too big - your choices aren't great - wear it big, give it to someone bigger than you, or rip part of it out and reknit it.   Maybe if you can post pics, and tell us a little more about the fiber content we can be more helpful.

[tinydoom]

Oh, sorry....It's Reynolds Lopi wool (100% icelandic wool).  It's an icelandic sweater pattern (also lopi).  It was a little large when it was finished, but now it seems to have stretched.  Maybe I will try reblocking.  Once I get my act together and find a place to post pics, I will do that too.

[jazminecat]

Hm - welllllllllllllllll l.....if it was too big when it was finished...I dunno how much smaller you'll get it but you can try reblocking and cross your fingers.  How overlarge is it?  Did you check your gauge when you made it.   Is the whole body too big?  Did you knit it in the round or seam it?  You could try seaming up the sides and cutting - much like you would to make a shirt smaller.  You can google for knitting steeks - a method for knitting sweaters entirely in the round and cutting armholes later - scary but they don't unravel.   If the sleeves are too long you can take out the cuffs, unravel up to the right spot for the elbow, and reknit them down doing decreases as needed to the cuff.

I'd also suggest posting to the Knitty.com forums as they really really know their stuff over there!

[tinydoom]

Yeah, this sweater was knit in the round (which i loved doing), when it was finished it was bulky, which is how it's supposed to be and how I liked it....but after washing it beame a step up from just bulky.  I will try knitty.com, or my LYS.  It has become a personal batlte to make it right again since it was fine before I washed it...though it's not like I am going to be wearing an icelandic wool sweater in the summer.

[renrig210]

did you wash a swatch before you started knitting?  Some yarn "blooms" when you knit it.

Wash and reblock sounds like the best bet, but if you didn't wash a swatch first, this could just be what the yarn does when washed.

Good luck with it!  Can't wait to see pictures!

Ne

[tinydoom]

Hmmm...I am wondering if "blooming" (not the Orlando kind) is my problem.  I made the sweater in a class, but the teacher never said anything about washing a swatch or the yarn blooming or anything like that.  Thanks to everyone for the insight!