Help!!! Sleeves too long!

[LBKnit]

I finally finished the "I Do" shrug from knitty (http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring05/PATTido.html), and it's gorgeous. I made it in the smallest size.

HOWEVER. I'm wearing it today and it feels too loose, and the sleeves or back portion feel too long. I blocked it after knitting, but I had measured the armspan I needed (about 5 feet) and made sure that it was blocked to that size and not larger. I think i stretched the back portion out too much and that's why it's loose.

My question is, should I block it again and try to make the back portion smaller? Or should I (gasp!) soak it in warm/hot water for a few minutes to see if that'll bring the size down? I used a merino/silk/cashmere blend, and the yarn is gorgeous, so I don't want to mess around with it too much but if it needs to shrink, it needs to shrink.

OR, the two sleeve pieces are joined in a kitchener stitch seam down the back of the shrug. Is there a way to reduce the size from there? Since it's a lace pattern, I'm afraid to take it apart and not be able to get it back on needles without dropping stitches.

Thanks in advance!

[kemp]

Tough one. Usually putting it in water will just make it strech more. However, you could block it differently...maybe blocking the sleeves wider so that they aren't so long? Also blocking the back with more length to shrink the width?