The sleeves have got shorter after washing

Short answer: Sleeves contract lengthwise when fabric dries in heat. Wet the sleeve, pull it steadily back to length and dry it flat.

Why the sleeves in particular

A sleeve is knitted as a tube and carries its greatest tension along its length. When heat releases that tension, the fabric gives mainly in that direction. That is why a garment suddenly feels short in the sleeve while the chest feels unchanged.

How to get the length back

Soak the sleeve for twenty minutes in lukewarm water. Squeeze the water out without wringing, lay the garment flat and pull each sleeve out lengthwise in small steps. Dry flat with the sleeves laid out at the length you want.

When it cannot be saved

If the sleeve has gone stiff and lost its stretch, the fibre has set at the new length. Then you recover only a few millimetres. It usually happens after many hot dryer cycles. See long sleeve bamboo tops for men.

How to avoid it

Dry long sleeved garments flat or on a hanger without heat, and take them out of the dryer while damp. Wash at thirty degrees. See long sleeve bamboo tops for women and bamboo clothing for women.

Frequently asked questions

How much can a sleeve shrink

Often a couple of centimetres with hot drying, and more if it is repeated many times.

Does hanging it wet make the sleeve longer

Yes, a little. The weight of the water pulls the fabric lengthwise as it dries.

Should I size up because of this

No. Dry without heat instead and the length stays right from the start.