Guide
Why Cotton Knitwear Shrinks, and How It Is Controlled
A garment that fits in the sample and shrinks after the first wash is a returned garment. Shrinkage cannot be removed from cotton knitwear, but it can be measured, controlled and kept inside your specification.
Why It Happens
During knitting and finishing, stresses can be introduced into the fabric structure. Washing allows the knitted loops to relax, while cotton fibres absorb moisture and swell. These effects can change the fabric dimensions in both length and width.
Where It Is Controlled
| Stage | What controls shrinkage |
|---|---|
| Fabric finishing | The fabric supplier's finishing process contributes to the dimensional stability of the fabric before it reaches TEXIVOS. |
| Fabric receipt | A wash test on every fabric lot measures its shrinkage before the lot is released for cutting. |
| Relaxing | Fabric is relaxed before cutting, so panels are cut at their resting size, not under tension. |
| Finishing | Garment measurements are checked after pressing, against your measurement chart. |
Your Specification
Your specification can name the test method and the limit for each direction, for example, dimensional change determined in accordance with ISO 5077 using an appropriate washing and drying procedure from ISO 6330. If it names none, the method and limits are agreed with the order. The care instructions on your label should match the conditions the fabric was tested under.
Heavier Knit Fabrics
Fleece and French terry can respond differently to washing and finishing depending on their construction, density and finishing process. Their dimensional stability is therefore checked against the approved fabric and garment specification rather than assumed from fabric weight alone.
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