Superwash - blockable?

#1

Turning to you all for all of my problems…
Thank you in advance!

I am planning to knit my first shawl/wrap (attempting to intentionally allow holes in my work), and didn’t think to check before purchasing whether or not I’ll be able to block the durn thing! :aww: I’ve done a little searching, but can’t find the right answer: Can I block Cascade Heritage (Solid) Superwash Wool? It’s 75% Superwash, 25% Nylon.

[Pattern: http://everythingshunkydory.blogspot.com/2008/12/falling-leaves-wrap.html]

If it cannot be blocked, then I will just have a lot of yarn for socks. Not too bad either way!

Thanks again for your thoughts and suggestions!

#2

You can knit up a swatch in the pattern and block it to see how it comes out. Some people are able to do block them; it may spring back after a couple months, but not immediately. I knit lace with acrylic a lot, which can’t really be blocked, and I don’t want to steam the life out it. So I knit with even larger needles instead and they come out looking pretty well.

Oh, something that people have found with superwash is that the items really stretch out washing by hand and laying out to dry instead of putting in the dryer. So that may do it for you.

#3

Thanks, suzeeq! That’s a great idea, and I’m not sure why I didn’t think of it myself. Swatch and block - duh!

I’ll give it a whirl and see what happens. I usually wet block, so we’ll see how that goes.

Thanks very much, and Happy New Year!!