Should I buy Didymos a size up and shrink it, or just get the right size?

[mambera]

Just because line drying 4m of fabric sounds like a huge pain.  Would it be OK to get the next size up (4.2m instead of 3.7) so I can machine dry, or will it keep shrinking every time and eventually get too short?  Or will that much shrinkage mess up the weave/pattern/texture?

[ElaynesMom]

My didymos wrap did not shrink significantly in the dryer, and because it was actually slightly long, it still measured the correct size after drying. As long as you are getting an all cotton, or linen/cotton, or hemp cotton blend you should be fine to dry on delicate/low in the dryer. Also, the wrap will probably shrink slightly with every wash/dry, but this is just the fibres tightening up, and the wrap will stretch out again after a few times wearing it, much like how jeans are a bit snug when you first wash/dry them, but loosen with wear. Your wrap will not continue to get shorter and shorter each time you machine dry it.

Also, I prefer to wash my wrap inside a pillowcase, closed with a hair tie if I use a top loader so the wrap doesn\t get tangled around the arm of the machine

Also, 3.7 m is considered by many to be a medium length wrap, and you may be better with a 4.2 m wrap so ou can do more carries, unless you are very petite, or are specifically looking for a mid length wrap. The didymos size chart is pretty accurate.

[mambera]

Thanks for the input.

I am 5'3", was US size 4 prepreg and hope to be back there soon.

According to the didymos chart (and this one,

http://www.childrensneeds.com/universal%20sizing%20chart.html

more useful with pics and better specificity on body size) I should be able to do everything except wrap crosses in the 3.7.  Based on the amount of stretchy wrap I have left in a FWCC I suspect I will still be able to do a wrap cross in the 3.7.  But even if I can't I would still rather have the shorter wrap.  I really hate managing all the extra fabric and I am willing to give up wrap crosses for ease of use with other carries.

I think I will get the 3.7 and line dry for a while, until I see how the length works.  Then I may experiment with a delicate cycle in the dryer.  Thanks for the tips on wrap care. :)

[ABO Mama]

Wool wraps should not go in the dryer. because the wool will felt, and weaken the fabric.  As the pp said, cotton, linen/cotton, hemp/cotton are ok in the dryer.

[TiffanyToo]

I would not use a stretch knit wrap to determine measurement of a woven wrap.  The only similarity they have is that they are both wraps. The method of creating the two wraps is so different that they won't measure the same when wrapped.