When linen fabric becomes wet, the fibers relax. This causes the fibers to return to their original size, which causes the fabric to appear as though it has shrunk. ... If one linen is washed in cold water and another in hot water, the linen washed in hot water will inevitably experience greater shrinkage.

Does linen shrink in the wash?

Does linen shrink? Yes it does, especially if you wash it in too hot temperatures (above 40C is not recommended). If your linen clothes are vintage or are not pre-washed you should expect them to shrink a bit after the first wash, no matter what water temperature you use.

Does 100% linen shrink in the wash?

Yes linen will shrink naturally after its first wash. The average is around 4% shrinkage for pure linen. To prevent changes to the shape and size of clothing and textiles, many companies sell pre washed linen fabric.