re-blocking a store bought sweater

[Jitendra]

is it possible to re-block a cardigan into a different fit? I started working at Banana Republic Men's store, and there's a cardigan I want. It sort of reminds me of Adam West. But the small will still be too big for me, so I'd need to resize it. Since it's made of a primarily cotton blend, it will definitely shrink in a hot wash, but I don't want the sleeves to shrink as much as the body.

Has anyone tried this, or something similar? It's an $80 cardigan, I don't want to buy it only to ruin it.

[Ingrid]

I believe that if you try to shrink cotton, you'll end up with a short, wide sweater. I don't think it will shrink evenly all over like wool might.