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Linen is one of the most popular and commonly used fabrics in different applications ranging from regular clothing to household textiles, items, and accessories.
People around the world love to use this fabric for their respective purposes because of its versatility, timelessness, smoothness, and comfort. It can be found in almost all regions of the world while being quite inexpensive and lasts extremely long as well. When people hear about this fabric and know that it is great in all of its aspects, they tend to ask questions like:
Does linen shrink or stretch? Does linen stretch while washing? Does linen shrink after drying? Well, the direct answer is Yes, but it’s not the whole explanation as there is a lot more to know.
Carry on reading this article as it will not only tell you why linen shrinks or stretches but will bring you methods that can help you bring back the fabric of its original size while preventing this thing from happening in the future as well.
How is linen fabric made?
Linen is solely made from natural sources where the fibers are extracted from a plant known as “flax”. There are fibers mainly found in the stems and bottom area of the plant and these fibers are used to make linen fabric.
As you know that the whole plant stands on the stems and base of the plant which means that the fibers in that area of the plant are the most powerful.
This thing is directly transferred in line fabric as well which means that it is a strong, durable, and long-lasting fabric as long as you take good care of it.
Does linen shrink or stretch?
Yes, linen does shrink and stretch, especially at the time of washing and drying. It doesn’t mean that every time you wash and dry linen, it will tend to shrink or stretch.
The truth is that if you don’t follow the right procedures or don’t take proper care then you will face such consequences.
Also, linen will only stretch if the fabric is blended with some other stretchy fibers. Do keep this fact in mind that even if linen is stretched or shrunk but the intensity is not much.
Usually, linen will stretch or shrink about 3-4% which is hardly noticeable unless you have a tight dress that has to be hugging you all the time.
Does linen stretch when you wear it?
Yes, linen fabric does starch a bit when you wear it. The thing is that linen is solely made from natural fibers and they are great to keep your body warm and relaxed all the time. However, as the fibers are taken from the stem of a plant, the fabric stretches to some extent when you wear it.
Some experts disagree with using the word “stretch” as they believe that fabric doesn’t stretch but expands which means that it transforms with the body and will not expand if you have baggy clothes or have a slim body.
Does linen shrink when washed?
It depends on whether you are washing linen for the first time or for the tenth time. The thing is that it is natural for almost all fabrics to shrink during their first wash and linen is not an exception.
The range remains between 3-4% at the first wash and doesn’t usually occur much on the second wash and so on.
To counter this factor, most companies that manufacture linen wash their fabric even before selling so that their customers don’t have to go through any issues. If this is the case, you will face no shrinkage or a very minimal shrinkage that too on just the first wash.
Does linen shrink or stretch in hot water?
The recommended temperature by experts to be used while washing linen is less than 40°C. Anything above this temperature level is considered dangerous for the fabric. The linen will shrink in water hotter than 40°C and that is not the only drawback.
Washing linen in hot water also causes various other issues such as affecting the fibers and sometimes color as well. This is because the linen is strong and durable but still a soft and smooth fabric to wear.
Does linen stretch after washing?
No, linen does not stretch after washing unless you have used extremely hot water or it is your first wash.
There are possibilities that the fabric may feel a bit stretched or shrink after the wash but it will only be for a small period and as soon as the fabric gets dry, it would be back in its original size.
Does linen shrink when dried?
It depends. The linen fabric will shrink if you are trying to get it dry at extreme temperatures. It is almost impossible to resist shrinkage when you are drying linen at high temperatures.
Why does linen shrink or stretch?
- You may have heard or experienced that if you provide too much water to a plant, it will tend to become flimsy and the tightnesses will begin to fade away over time, the same is the case with the linen fabric as well.
- When you put linen fabric in water, the fibers (taken from the plant’s stem) tend to get relaxed which ultimately causes the fabric to stretch.
- Do keep this fact in mind that if you put hot water, the fiber can get too relaxed and the stretching will be high which can sometimes reach a point where you cannot get the fabric back to its original size.
Can linen shrink or stretch more than once?
Not usually but if you wash the fabric at the wrong temperature, the fabric can shrink or stretch more than once or maybe every time you set a high temperature for washing.
Also, make sure that you don’t make this mistake very often because if the fabric keeps on shrinking or stretching because of the wrong temperature, you may not be able to bring back the original form of the fabric.
To prevent such issues, it is always better to take a look at the care label and look at the instructions for washing linen.
How much will linen shrink?
This mainly depends on the water temperature. If you are washing lines in normal or cold water, you will have minimal to no shrinkage. On the other hand, if you are washing the fabric in hot water, the intensity could be high.
Although 3-4% is the normal range for linen to shrink, 3-10% is considered the minimum-maximum range for linen fabric shrinkage.
Is linen good for hot weather?
Yes, linen is a great option to wear in hot weather and it will not shrink or stretch just because the temperature is high in your region. It is a popular choice for summer because of its breathability which allows the heat coming from the body to escape which allows air to get inside.
Also, just because the fibers are woven while having space in between, the moisture doesn’t stay for a long time and gets dry immediately and this thing also contributes to enhancing the cool effect in the fabric.
Can I put linen in the dryer?
Yes, you can put linen fabric in the dryer but the settings should not be too hot. Also, it is recommended to:
- Take out the fabric from the dryer while it still has some moisture in it.
- Iron it well while laying it flat on the surface.
This practice decreases the chances of shrinkage while protecting fabric, color, elasticity, and fibers as well.
How do you unshrink linen?
Before we move on to the actual procedure of bringing back the linen fabric into its original form, let’s first talk about the products that will be required to get the job done. You need items like:
- A bucket, tub, or any other water container.
- A hanger, rack, etc.
- Iron along with a flat ironing board.
Some people also use a measuring tape to measure the width and length of the fabric while it is shrunk and then use that measured value to determine whether the fabric has come back to its original form or they need to go through the procedure again. This is a completely optional step if you want to follow it.
Now that you have all the things needed, let directly jump into the procedure that is described step-by-step below:
- Fill the water container with a good amount of lukewarm (not too hot as it can further increase the shrinkage) water.
- Soak the lining fabric in the lukewarm water for about 5-10 minutes. Never let your fabric stay in water for too long as it can further enhance the issues by expanding the fabric.
- Take the fabric out and squeeze as much excess water as you can from the fabric. Don’t put too much force because the linen fibers can be damaged, broken, or weakened as they are a bit delicate when wet.
- Put the linen fabric on a hanger and let it air dry for about 10-20 minutes. Make sure the fabric is hanging, not laying. Hanging will remove water as well as stretch the fabric using gravitational force.
- Once most of the moisture is gone but the fabric still feels a bit damp, remove it from the hanger and lay it flat on the ironing board. The boards should be smooth and flat.
- Start ironing the fabric while moving from the center to the outward of the fabric.
- It is also a good idea to keep pulling the fabric while moving the iron as it will make it easy for the fabric to come back to its original form.
How to prevent linen from stretching or shrinking?
- Don’t wash linen with heavy-duty detergent, instead use some mild one.
- Never use bleach or any other harmful chemicals while washing linen.
- Always wash linen fabric apart from other fabrics.
- Never put a load of fabrics in the washing machine.
- Set the temperature at a level that water should be normal or lukewarm.
- Don’t run the machine in full flow but use the gentle cycle.
How to prevent linen from stretching or shrinking in the dryer?
- Set the heat level to the minimum and if possible, dry your linen fabric with no heat at all.
- Take the linen fabric out of the dryer while it is still damp.
- Put the fabric on something to hang for quite some time until all the moisture is gone and the fabric is completely air dried.
FAQs:
Is linen cotton?
The fibers for making linen fabric are taken from a plant called flax while its original name is “Linum Usitatissimum” in Latin which is also the origin of the fabric’s name.
The fibers are almost like cotton but the fact is that cotton fibers are taken from the upper part of the plants while linen fibers are attached from the bottom area such as the stems. So, we can say that linen has a lot of characteristics of cotton but it is not a sub-product of cotton.
Why is linen dry clean only?
It is not that all linen fabrics are recommended to be dry cleaned only. The thing is that linen fibers are solely taken from the stems of a plant and they tend to grin or stretch a bit when washed in too hot or too cold water.
For that reason, many companies recommend dry cleaning options for linen as it will prevent the fabric from such factors.
Can you steam linen?
Yes, you can stream linen and it is probably the most efficient way as long as it is done properly. Steaming linen fabric can take out the wrinkles but keep this fact in mind if the fabric is not pre-shrunk or is steamed incorrectly, you may end up with a shrunk, shiny, or fabric with a lot of creases.
Should linen be loose?
Linen is a fabric that looks great as long as you are wearing it in a standard and normal-looking size.
Linen should be loose in terms of size as it should not be hugging tightly to your body. But at the same time, the shirt or any other dress should not be too loose or baggy that it is reaching your thighs.
