Blocking Question

PS: I should have said "Yarn Folk" because I know there are many crocheters out there also who block stuff as well.

Hesira

The "safe" instructions for any garment or yarn is always "dry clean only". A cold soak, roll in a towel and stomp, then pin out as usual.

FWIW cotton/rayon has practically no memory.

On 18 Apr 2006 12:21:28 -0700, "hesira" spewed forth :

Reply to the list as I do not publish an email address to USENET. This practice has cut my spam by more than 95%. Of course, I did have to abandon a perfectly good email account...

Hesira, I would not submerge the fabric in cool water - but I would slightly steam it - with a dry cloth over the swatch first. If this did not steam too well then I would take away the cloth and then steam directly onto the fabric but very gently. Because the yarn has 70% cotton, a natural fibre, it should be quite sturdy.

Why not knit a much smaller swatch to test first. It could save a lot of time in the long run.

Bye for now and good luck AnneMarie

Thanks AnneMarie and Wooly,

I don't know why I didn't think of using the swatch for a test blocking. I've already made it, to check the gauge! All I'm trying to do is straighten it out for sewing together.

Hesira

When in doubt, wash and block a swatch! (giggling, thinking of our old tax accountant's advice-when in doubt, deduct!) {appropriate today, the day after USA taxes were due!} Noreen feeling a little giddy/silly

Wooly I agree, I never take any notice of the " dry clean only" in fact I have never had anything dry cleaned for as long as I can remember - careful washing beats the cleaning bit.

As for blocking I also agree with you- a cool water dip and a roll in a towel suits all types of yarn I find and the pinning out can also beat steaming. If I feel the need to steam I usually use a cloth such as "cleanex" which is porous and so I just wet it and hover the iron over it. God Bless Gwen