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

[copracat]

I have used this method on a small scarf pinned to the ironing board. My iron is quite vigorous so I could hold it about 2-3cm (< 2 inches) above the FO and still get good steam contact. You do need a steady hand so you don't drop the iron on to the fabric!

I steamed for about ten minutes and left it pinned overnight to dry. The scarf went from a little stiff to a lovely silky texture that fell nicely.

[vilakins]

Thanks for that! I have a lacy scarf in some acrylic I had in my stash, which is the project I've been putting off blocking (I usually just steam-block wool through a wet tea-towel). I'll have to give it a go. How long did you have to hold the iron over the scarf--just pass it over, or for a bit longer?

[copracat]

My scarf was about 120cm blocked. I spent about ten minutes and slowly ran the steaming iron up and down, pausing each iron length for maybe ten seconds at a time. I went back and forth a few times. It was eight ply/DK 100% acrylic yarn.

[vilakins]

Cool! Mine's 8ply. Thank you!