Tops Fabric Shrinkage

• EXAMPLE: WIDTH SHRINKAGE: (WIDTH PLUS 5%) 
• We will increase your existing pattern (5%) on the width only.
• This means that when you did your fabric shrinkage test your fabric shrunk (5%) on the width and now you want your pattern to be increased by (5%) to compensate for the shrinking of your fabric so your width target measurement is achieved next time you send out your garment to be washed again.

• EXAMPLE: LENGTH SHRINKAGE : (LENGTH MINUS 3%)
• We will decrease your existing pattern (3%) on length only.
• This means that when you did your fabric shrinkage test your fabric grew (3%) on the length and now you want your pattern to be reduce by (3%) to compensate for the growing of your fabric so your length target measurement is achieved next time you send out your garment to be washed again.

• Step 1).Cut a square of fabric from a roll and draw a square (18"x 18") on the fabric. Make sure you are using a fabric marker and that your square is at least 2" away from salvage. Measure square before wash (18"x 18") square block before shrinkingLength wise measurement =18"Width wise measurement = 18"
  

• Step 2). Wash your fabric sample following your standard washing method to find the shrinkage percentage to washing then let dry. Measure square after wash.18"x18" square block after shrinking resultsLength wise measurement =17"Width wise measurement = 15"
  

• Step 3). Apply Fabric Shrinkage Formula: [Width of square block before shrinking] - [width of square block after shrinking] / width of square block before shrinking x 100Length wise total shrinkage percent Formula: [(18 - 17) / 18] x 100 = 5.55% = 6%Width wise total shrinkage percent Formula: [(18 - 15) / 18] x 100 = 16.66% = 17%
  

This fabric shrinkage calculator finds the increase/decrease percentage of washed fabrics in terms of a percentage. Enter before wash value and after wash value to find percentage increase/decrease. 

 To learn how to calculate fabric shrinkage click shrinkage formula tab above. 

Below is a list of some popular cotton fabrics that will shrink when using different types of  washing process like:

Twill/Canvas/Knitted/Corduroy - Normal wash, Pigment wash, Caustic ,Si wash. 
Denim/Jeans/Gabardine - Enzyme wash, Stone wash, Bleach wash , Acid wash.

• Brushed cotton 
• Bedford cotton
• Broadcloth 
• Canvas
•  Canton
•  Chambray
•  Organic cotton
•  Oxford cloth
•  Pima cotton

• Corduroy
•  Denim
•  Egyptian cotton
•  FlannelFleece
•  Flannel cotton
•  French terry
•  Gauze
•  Jersey (Cotton)
• cottonLinen

•  Pique Cotton (Marcella) 
• Pointelle 
• Polished cotton 
• Polycotton 
• Ringspun fabric 
• Seersucker
•  Shirting cotton 
•  Supima 
• Terrycloth 

Eco friendly fabrics  such as Rayon, modal, and lyocell that are produced from renewable cellulosic plants such as beech trees, pine trees, and bamboo will also exhibit some type of shrinkage factor when washing them. So adding shrinkage to your patterns before they are washed will help prevent your garment from shrinking down drastically.