How to Stretch a Shirt
Loosen Shirt
Stretching your shirt takes one of two things, sometimes both at the same time. One being pressure from either an object or yourself pulling on it and the second is water. Water gets the cotton fabric to loosen, then you are able to apply pressure to the areas your want to stretch.
This is How to Stretch a Shirt: Men’s Guide.
Welcome to our article on how to stretch a shirt. These steps below will work on t-shirts, long sleeve t-shirts, shirts, sweaters, and any other pull-over shirt that’s fabric will stretch.
Keep in mind that taking these steps will alter the fabric, making the shirt lighter in weight and also less durable to daily stressors.
How to Stretch a Shirt
Let these six options help you stretch out your shirt and get it fitting just right.
While your stretching your shirt, take the time to stretch your clothes that are too tight.
1. Stretch with an Iron
- Wet the entire t-shirt in cool water, ensuring it’s completely damp. Hold it flat towards the bottom of a bowl or a sink to ensure it’s evenly wet.
- Wring it out to get rid of excess water to prevent dripping. Lay the shirt out on a flat surface, preferably an ironing board. Make sure whatever you’re ironing on can handle the heat. An ironing board is best, but you could also use the countertop or floor if you’re careful. Be sure to clean the surface thoroughly if you are using something other than an ironing board.
- With your iron on medium-low, start going over the t-shirt using pressure. With the iron in one hand and the shirt in another, start pulling and pressing the shirt out with the iron. Don’t just go over the shirt. Use the iron with force, making the t-shirt stretch as the iron passes over it.
- Make sure it’s flat and give it a final tug one last time. Spread it to dry, and place weights around the edges if you like. This ensures it stays at the size it is now, how you want it.
2. Stretch with a Chair
- Get the entire T-shirt wet. Either use the washing machine or dunk it into a tub of water.
- Wring the shirt out and pull it over the back of a chair.
- As the shirt dries, the chair’s shape will stretch the t-shirt.
3. Stretch with Conditioner
- Cover the t-shirt wet in a basin of lukewarm water. You can soak it in the sink, a tub or a large bowl. Make sure to use room temperature-to-lukewarm water and saturate all fabric of the t-shirt.
- Add 1 Tbsp (15 ml) of hair conditioner per 1 quart (1 liter) of water. Once added, mix it up with your hand to make sure the conditioner doesn’t stay in globs and fully dissolves into the water. The hair conditioner will soften the fibres, making them easier to stretch.
- Keep the t-shirt flat and submerged for 10-15 minutes. It’s easiest to put the t-shirt on top of the bowl or sink and then gently press it into the water, making sure the conditioned water gets into every fiber of the t-shirt. If it’s wadded up, areas of the shirt will shrink differently.
- Take the shirt out of the bowl, dump the water, and refill it with clean, cool water (or use a different bowl). Rinse the t-shirt thoroughly.
- Find a flat place to lay out the shirt. You can use your dryer, a countertop, or the floor works well. Lay down some towels first to protect the shirt (and the surface, if you don’t want it wet.)
- If there is a graphic on your tee that you don’t want to stretch, iron it now. Stretching a t-shirt can distort the image on it. However, if you dry the picture first, it won’t stretch as much as the bottom and sides of your shirt.
- Place your forearms inside the part of the shirt that you want to stretch. If you want it wider, stretch the shirt outwards, not putting too much pressure in one spot. This can leave a strange “dent” sticking out in one place on the shirt. Use your legs if you’re not getting the stretch you want from your arms alone.
- Spread the stretched shirt out on a towel to dry. If you’re worried about it shrinking, place weights on the edges. If you’re looking for a larger bust or stomach, you can place objects within the t-shirt to stretch those areas out even more.
4. Stretch in the Shower
Clothes stretch more when they’re wet. Instead of guessing the accurate size you want by pulling and stretching it while it’s on a table, get more personal with the stretching. Run a shower of warm water and keep your t-shirt on. While in there, once thoroughly wet, pull on your shirt in all the areas you want it to stretch.
Once out of the shower, wear your shirt as it dries. This will help ensure the fabric does not snap back to its original size. To work best, do it in the spring or summer when the sun’s rays are warm, and you can wear it outside for fast drying.
5. Stretch by Tugging
Cotton shirts are pretty malleable. If you tug and tug on it, the t-shirt will eventually stretch. Wear it all the time; constantly pulling on it will stretch it out. Just make sure not to overdo the stretching or pull too hard on a single area. You can easily distort the cotton fabric and leave it saggy in sections.
6. Grab a Friend
Having a friend wear your shirt can be the best option to stretch your shirt or the worst option. It all depends on where your friend’s size is compared to yours. You may need to test out a few friends, for if they are not big enough, it won’t have any effect, and if they are too large, it will ruin your shirt instantly.
Try out different friends with an old shirt you don’t mind ruining. Then once you find that perfect friend, it’s good to go with all your shirts!
How to Stretch a Shirt FAQ
You can stretch shirts to make them bigger if they are made from cotton or other fabrics that allow for some stretch. The best way to stretch your shirt is to get it wet and pull on the areas you want to be stretched.
The quickest way to stretch your clothes is to put them on and bend, pull, and twist them. By moving and pulling at sharp angles, the fabric will be forced to stretch. This is your best short term option for a quick stretch.
The best way to stretch the width of your shirt is to get it wet and pull on the torso and waist of it. Once you have stretched it enough, lay it flat on a table and put weights on the edges of the waist, so it dries in the new shape.
To stretch your shirt to the max, you need to find a friend larger than you and get them to put it on. Get them to wear it while they sleep and give it back to you in the morning. This will stretch your shirt all over.
