Ahhhhhhh! Shrunken Judogi!!

[Mu Ryuk]

Dude, dude, dude...Okay.

 

On Sunday I bought a Judogi...I've been wanting one and I saved for almost two months...it cost me $55.00. I just took it out of the dryer and it's shrunken. Does anyone know a miracle remedy or something to this?

 

I've heard that soaking it and stretching the fabric and ironing it works...is this true? Please help, I saved up every spare penny for this thing

 

Whoa, I'm a Yellow Belt! Still need to fix my poor Judogi though.

[Odysseus]

I'm no laundry expert, but I doubt stretching and ironing it would help.

 

Unfortunately, I think your only option is to start saving for a new one.

 

And next time, wash it in cold water and hang-dry it.

[Mu Ryuk]

Okay

[aefibird]

Sorry to hear about your gi. As someone who has been the victim of 'washing-machine gi shrinkage' in the past, I sympathise!

 

You could try the 'cold water and stretching' thing, but I doubt it'll work.

 

Top tips for when you get your next gi...

 

Wash by hand in cold or luke-warm water, or on the coldest setting that your washing machine has.

 

Don't put in a dryer (it'll really make it shrink).

 

Allow to drip dry outside on a washing line, or hang inside on a radiatior or the back of a chair.

 

Also, different companies have different shrinkage-rates in their gi's, so you could try getting your next gi from a different manufacturer.

 

Finally, if you can afford it, get more than one. Then, even if you shrink another one, you'll have a spare.

[doubletwist]

I'd been wondering about that. I am still using the Gi I got for signing up, and it's ok, but I'd really like to get a decent Gi soon. But I'm worried about spending all that money only to have it shrink on me.

 

Is it typical to get a Gi that's a size too large to accommodate any shrinkage? I also worry about getting it too big, and with my luck, not shrinking enough so I end up looking like a kid wearing his father's clothes.

 

Maybe I worry too much. But any advice would be welcomed.

 

DT

[aefibird]

I always buy a half-size or a size too large for me when getting a new gi. That accomodates any shrinkage.

 

Also, I prefer a gi to be too big than too small - gives you more 'breathing space' when doing techniques.

[AngelaG]

Ah welcome to the world of Murphy's law.

 

I bought a size 5 gi, to allow for shrinkage etc. It was very big on me. So I have washed it on a very hot wash, I have tumble dried it on the highest setting and guess what.... the d&*mned thing hasn't shrunk one tiny little bit. It flaps around me, is too long and has far too much excess material so I get entangled.

 

So next gi I buy a size 4 (same make). I carefully wash it in a luke warm wash and hang it out to dry. This one seems to drop about 2 sizes when I try it on next. The legs have disappeared halfway up my legs, the top is so short that if I do an upward block it pops out from beneath my belt... basically I look like a fast growing child that is wearing last year's gi.

 

My solution? I now save up and buy more expensive pre-shrunk heavyweight gis. This seems to have worked, with very minimal shrinkage, and a lovely cut. But, it is an expensive way of going about it, although hopefully they will keep me going for a long time!