Q&A for How to Shrink a Wool Sweater

Yes, wool will shrink dramatically faster than cotton. It'll get a lot smaller too. I've seen some XL wool garments go down to toddler size with a hot wash or two. Synthetic fabrics tend to be the hardest to shrink.

If you dry wool on high-heat in the dryer, it will definitely shrink. If you plan to machine-dry wool, and you don't want it to shrink, set it to a no-heat setting. If you want the wool to dry completely, with only minor shrinkage, set your dryer to low-heat.

Most wool will shrink if you don't wash and dry it properly. If you machine-dry wool on high-heat, it may shrink drastically. However, some wool garments may have already been pre-shrunk, so you can machine dry them on medium heat without risking additional shrinkage. Check the label on the garment for specific washing and drying instructions to avoid over-shrinkage.

You can loosen the wool fabric of the sweater to see if it will relax and lose some of its shrinkage. Soak the wool sweater in a sink of lukewarm water with some fabric softener for up to 30 minutes. When it's finished, wring out the excess water and hang the sweater to air dry.