Yarn question!

[fire_my_spirit]

I heard recently about blocking acrylic yarns with an iron, and found instructions for it here (you'll have to scroll down a ways) that sound rather promising. I was just wondering if anyone had tried anything like this, and had tips or horror stories?

I ask because I am allergic to animal fibers and don't really have the budget for them anyway, so I am generally happy to stick with acrylics, and have thus never bothered to learn to knit lace. But I just found a really pretty shawl pattern that I'd love to make if only I knew it would come out looking like it's supposed to -- but if not, well, I don't want to get my hopes up.

Thanks much in advance!

Comments

[pinesandmaples]

I've done it once, and you have to either be really good with your iron and timing or willing to kill your iron. I'm not willing to risk it with my (sexy) iron so we don't do it. It sort of works, but I'd rather splurge on silk or tencel from someone's stash sale than buy another iron.

[melusina]

I've never done it, but I have had very good results knitting and blocking lace with silk and silk/cotton blends, if those are fibers you can wear. . .

Good luck!