blocking/washing?

Why does it need washing? If it does, then that should, indeed, replace the blocking.

Higs, Katherine

Well, it needs washing because: a) it's white. b) it's had a lot of manipulation on tiny needles. c) it's been tossed around my couch in the meantime! That's why it needs washing. I want it to look sparkly, not sort of dingy from working the yarn.

Ok, so wash it in cold water with a drop of Woolite and lay flat to dry?

Wash it with a bit of Hair shampoo , [ baby shampoo ] ,,,, + mild water ,, mirjam

"myswendy" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@e65g2000hsc.googlegroups.com:

i would *not* use Woolite. it's very harsh (they changed the formula in the late 80s). i'd use Eucalan if i had any (usually don't) or regular hair shampoo, with a drop of creme rinse in the rinse water. wool is hair after all :) lee

innews: snipped-for-privacy@e65g2000hsc.googlegroups.com:

Thanks! And many thanks to Mirjam as well for the advice. Caught me just in time! I KNEW I would find answers here. Ok, no Woolite...don't have the products named....hmmm....will buy a travel-size baby shampoo. That should do the trick!? Thanks again, all! Wendy

Wendy put in mild water let soak , throw water soak again in clean mild water ,,, than rinse with hand in cold bowl ,,, and let lay in the sink for some minutes than roll in dry towel psssssss some of my sweaters are over 30 years old and look New ,,,, mirjam

innews: snipped-for-privacy@e65g2000hsc.googlegroups.com:

Oh thank you for those instructions! Will do! I can't wait for my SIL to get the sweater to try on for fit before I tackle all the other doll clothes I want to make next. :)

Wendy

These days I am trying a salad spinner for removing excess water from mittens & socks after washing instead of rolling in a towel prior to blocking. Jury is not in yet.

Started because I was "full> > Wendy put in mild water let soak , throw water soak again in clean

I only use pure soap for washing woolens. We can still buy soap flakes in UK but for small items such as this I'd use a bar of toilet soap (the sort we use for our hands). What's the point of buying something special?

I can't bear the feel of any detergent other than soap on my hands, my fingernails feel - well, it's indescribably how they feel but it's awful.

Mary

Katherine spun a FINE 'yarn':

Never, EVER use Woollite on real wool, OMG!!! Noreen

myswendy spun a FINE 'yarn':

Never, EVER ever use Woollite on real wool, OMG! Noreen

"Mary Fisher" wrote in news:4612aca3$0$760$ snipped-for-privacy@master.news.zetnet.net:

ooh! pure soap. an easy way to make flakes from a bar is to toss the bar, on a really big plate, into the microwave for a minute or so... use a really big plate. as big as will fit. and make sure the bar of soap is in the middle. it's fun, if a tad messy & the results make lovely soap flakes. i'm having a hard time keeping the soap in bars since i showed my 6 year old this, but i'll never run out of flakes. :) lee

innews:4612aca3$0$760$ snipped-for-privacy@master.news.zetnet.net:

Isn't Ivory Snow soap flakes?

Dishwashing detergent is good for washing wool. Just a couple drops in the lukewarm water. Dawn is the one most often used to clean creatures that were in the way of an oil spill. (That's dishwash_ing_, not dishwash_er_. The liquid for washing dishes by hand, not the powder for washing dishes in the machine.)

Zimmerman mentions salad spinners, or even a pillowcase.

Cece

innews:4612aca3$0$760$ snipped-for-privacy@master.news.zetnet.net:

WOW! All this great info! THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE! I don't know how to reply to the entire group so am thanking everyone here in this particular letter. And no, I have not yet washed it, so it's just as well. ---been too busy showing it off to friends! LOL! Ok, I have Dawn. So a drop of Dawn it is, then let sit, roll gently in a towel and/or put in my lettuce spinner.... I'll have to post a picture of it after all this! :D Wendy

I turn the water off at my washing machine and use the spin cycle - easy peasy!

innews:4612aca3$0$760$ snipped-for-privacy@master.news.zetnet.net:

You just did. This works differently than mailing lists or forums.

And no, I have not yet washed it, so it's just as

I have a question about using Dawn or other degreasing detergents.... Doesn't it break down the oils and/or lanolin in wool? That can't be good if it does.

sue

Cece Any Detergent esp dish detergent is a NO NO on wool , mirjam te:

innews:4612aca3$0$760$ snipped-for-privacy@master.news.zetnet.net:

I use dishwashing liquid on greasy fleece when I want to remove a lot of the lanolin. I don't use it on knitted garments (I use a specific wool wash).

VP