Ive shrunk a jumper

I once washed a cashmere sweater of my daughters in a normal wash by mistake. It looked very good on her teddy bear afterwards....

I don't think there is anything to be done sadly

Not really. You could try making it wet again, then pulling it all out as far as you can, slowly and gently easing it inch by square inch in all directions, then pinning it with fine tacks to a large board. Let it dry on the board. It's called blocking, if you want to google it, and is usually done once a garment has just been knitted and washed before pressing. Maybe a wardrobe side, if no board available. Or a flat door - although it would have tack marks in it afterwards! Trestle table?

I'm not sure what you can do if looks like 'boiled wool', I suspect it's not going to go back to its original looks, even with blocking.....

How big are your grandchildren?!

I recall seeing something on the internet about "unshrinking" jumpers.

You soak the jumper in warm water with baby shampoo, leave for 15 mins, rinse, roll in towels to remove as much of the water as possible and then gently stretch and pin onto a board, leave for an hour then stretch and pin again until it is at the correct size.

Never tried it myself so don't know if it works!

If it looks like boiled wool, it is boiled wool and you won't be able to change that I'm afraid.
My first instinct was to say 'only one?!!'

DH reduced a beautiful Aran sweater hand knitted by my mum to the size of a placemat, I never did tell her and fervently hoped she wouldn't ask if he wore it.
With the best will in the world that sweater was never going to transform into the original !

I think you have to accept that it is ruined once the wool gets that felted look and feel. My DD has managed to ruin lots of baby jumpers and cardigans lovingly made by yours truly by washing them at too high a temperature, so I now embroider a Wash At 30 motif into the back neck. I don't know if this will help but I do understand that whole sleep-deprived, must get the washing done, bung it all in together thing.

I gave DDIL a net bag to wash the hand knits in, which she says is very helpful reminder re: washing temperature.
She puts the knits in it instead of the laundry bin, so far no mishaps!

Is it wearable by anyone, no DGDs to try it? You could make into an art form. Get it completely felted and fashion it into a bag?

If there is no hope for it, it might be worth trying, you would only waste a bit of time "playing" with it.

www.instructables.com/id/How-to-felt-a-knitted-piece/

I have a couple of felted jumpers I was intending to make soft toys for the DGC with. (They come under the heading 'things I will get round to one day' - along with lots of other stuff). I'm also thinking I might make a cushion and cut a dog shape (bull terrier) from the felt to applique on.

I expect someone on YouTube will show you how to make flower brooches or you could try needle felting with it. Don't grieve too much, see it as an opportunity.

I get very fed up with spending good money on a quality jumper which finishes up with "pills" within weeks.

Vegas my DIL has done the same with some of the things I knitted - notably a gorgeous blanket which now acts as a little felted headrest on the baby's changing mat! My daughter was with me when I caught sight of it and said afterwards "Your face was a picture". Very sweetly, my son took the blame .

I laughed it off but inwardly, I winced.

I meant to reply to the OP. Put it down to experience, and buy a replacement sweater. Then "erase it from your mind". . Because if you're anything like me, even if you "save" it, you will always know that it isn't what it was meant to be and the enjoyment of wearing it will be lost.

Perhaps you could wear it under an oversize shirt. You would still get the warmth of it.

Not quite the same but does anyone have any ideas on restoring bedding that went into a hot wash? My son and wife with baby and dog stayed with us while they had a builder in. Dog went onto the bed with muddy paws while I was out and obviously rather embarrassed they put it into a "nice long hot wash" to get rid of the dirt. Luckily they had gone back home before I attempted to iron out all the creases! Think it's ruined for good, never mind, spring sales soon!

Have you tried re washing with conditioner on a cooler wash?
Perhaps good excuse for new bedding!

Hot water bottle cover? Or if you have a cat or a dog, your pet might like something that smells like Mum in its bed?

You could make a bag with it? Stitch up the bottom rib, cut off sleeves and use for straps. Hem frayed edges and applique or embroider a flower or something on it. Nice tote bag for the spring.

Soutra and Marelli you're very cruel with talk of hot water bottle cover and a tote bag!

I did this recently with a new sweater, not cashmere thank goodness or I might have broken down and cried.

I've washed, stretched, ironed .... all to no avail it still fits like a straight-jacket, particularly the sleeves!

And it looks very boiled.

Great minds think alike Marelli !

A bit of positive thinking required. Think not of the jumper you have lost but the beautiful object you are about to create !

!

Thanks for suggestion loopylou. Have washed it once but no better, husband's opinion is 'so what, it's clean.' Think it will be new bedding before next visitors. And keep the ruined stuff for the dog!