How much does wool shrink?

“How much does wool yarn shrink?” - It's a question that many creative knitting and crochet enthusiasts want to know the answer to. In this article, you can find out how much wool shrinks in reality. Please note that there is no one specific answer, which is why we give you an indicative answer.

Does wool shrink? And how much?

Yes, wool shrinks just like any other material. How much wool yarn shrinks depends on several factors. Washing machines wash differently despite the temperature being the same. You may have found yourself in the unfortunate situation where your jumper or socks have shrunk in the wash. It's an annoying problem that you obviously want to avoid.

How much wool yarn shrinks can vary from yarn quality to yarn quality. If you want to prevent your wool creation from shrinking, you need to take precautions.

How to avoid wool yarn shrinkage

There are different ways to prevent wool yarn from shrinking. To succeed, you need to follow a number of tips, which we present below:

• Buy superwash wool yarn – If you want to minimize the risk of wool yarn shrinking, buy superwash treated yarn. Superwash yarn means that the yarn has been treated in a special way to prevent shrinkage. Superwash is the term for a chemical treatment of wool that actively removes the wool's scales. Thin plastic film is then used to cover the wool yarn.

• Follow the washing and drying instructions – It's crucial that you follow the washing and drying instructions if you want to avoid your creation shrinking in the wash. If it says that the yarn should be dried flat, you should of course respect that. The same goes for washing, where under normal circumstances you are recommended to choose a wool program at either 30 or 40 degrees. Instructions for washing and drying will usually appear on the label.