So I stretched the shoulders of a cotton Tshirt by 1" - Implications?

[blatman23]

So, I bought very nice 60 dollar cotton T-Shirt from abroad, waiting 3 weeks to get with customss delays....
The shoulders are about an inch short off the published chart.

Having no abiliity to return it and fuss over 60 dollars I decided to wet it, hang it from a coat hanger and put a 2kg weight tied to the sleeves, pulling on the shoulders downwards.

A day later, the shirt dried, the hanger slack stretch marks were ironed out with steam and the shirt fits perfectly, gaining 1" on the shoulder measurement.

My question is.... Will this shrink back in the wash? Do you also use such tricks with your failed purchases? Is there a better / safer way to do it or did I do fine?
I assume having 1" extra over the same material, the cotton is now thinner than when the shirt was manufactured. But at about 280g there is some to spare i hope!

Anywaay, it's my first "forced" alteration thaht worked, haha.

Couple years ago I tried to do the same with a waxed canvas jacket, going up to 5KG weights, and NOTHING happened to it. Not even 0.1" gain. I could use that jacket as towing strap i swear.

 

[Boyo]

i would expect it to shrink back with a wash, why not just wear it and let nature take its course.. the cotton will stretch in areas under tension and not stretch in areas that are not..
seems like to much work to set up your stretching device every time you wash the t shirt.. which should be after just about every wearing..

 

[blatman23]

Probably huh?
Welp, I'll wear it and see how it molds.

Gotta love the new age of internet purchases - For every bargain there is an unfitting garment Education costs i guess

 

[AeroFan_07]

This seems like a topic for the General Attire forum...

 

[jchance]

You can minimize shrinkage by washing in cold water and hang dry the tee. It would still shrink a bit, for it being cotton.

 

[barnabus]

I don't think I've ever owned a t shirt that hasn't changed size or shape over the course of the first few wears and washes.

Probably because I don't spend $60 on a t shirt though.

 

[navetsea]

i think the stretch is permanent, if the fibers is all cotton, but i think you have to go through several shrinkage and stretch over several washes to stabilize it, i think wearing it from wet to dry is a better method, I successfully permanently stretch a 21oz jeans that hurts like hell on the hip bone after 1st wash because it was unsanforized, and on the first batch of its release the vendor use a raw measurements instead of post soak measurements, so I downsized 2 because the measurement looked right, and after it came I tried it on and the size was perfect, so I went on with soaking, and when its dry the pants couldn't even pass my hip bone, so I soaked it again and forced it to fit and buttoned all the fly with a help of screwdriver, and it hurted and numbing for a month, but after that it fit fine, and getting better through its 1st year, until its time to wash again then it shrank again not as much as the 1st time but enough to bring back discomfort on the hip, and this cycle happened over first 3-4 washes to a lesser and lesser degree before it finally stabilized , now it fits fine, but the front pockets are unusable

 

[blatman23]

i think the stretch is permanent, if the fibers is all cotton, but i think you have to go through several shrinkage and stretch over several washes to stabilize it, i think wearing it from wet to dry is a better method, I successfully permanently stretch a 21oz jeans that hurts like hell on the hip bone after 1st wash because it was unsanforized, and on the first batch of its release the vendor use a raw measurements instead of post soak measurements, so I downsized 2 because the measurement looked right, and after it came I tried it on and the size was perfect, so I went on with soaking, and when its dry the pants couldn't even pass my hip bone, so I soaked it again and forced it to fit and buttoned all the fly with a help of screwdriver, and it hurted and numbing for a month, but after that it fit fine, and getting better through its 1st year, until its time to wash again then it shrank again not as much as the 1st time but enough to bring back discomfort on the hip, and this cycle happened over first 3-4 washes to a lesser and lesser degree before it finally stabilized , now it fits fine, but the front pockets are unusable

I actually have similar experience with Gustins. From unusable to comfortable and nice fitting! It does take a month of so of wears to make it feel like iit was made for you. Selvedge is fun like that