I have nearly completed my first proper attempt at knitting - a baby blanket.
It’s a very simple pattern of squares of moss stitich and st stich with a moss stitich border all round.
The wool is acylic and the instructions say to handwash. Now, I don’t want to felt the blanket but I do feel it needs some shaping after drying as some squares seem tighter than others and so pulling it out a little all over.
Should I pin it flat after washing? Dry sandwiched between large towels?
What should I do? Any advice greatly appreciated!
The yarn is acrylic you said, so there is absolutely no chance of it felting, and I’m afraid to say, it won’t block either. You could give it a wash to even out stitches, but it won’t block per se. If you really want, you could give it a light steam, but this can tend to ‘kill’ acrylic and make it limp. But depending on the item, I’ll sometimes steam acrylic - I don’t mind it softening up sometimes, and I don’t really think it would hurt a baby blanket to do that.
Thanks Dee - It’s obviously my tension that I need to work on I think!
I’ll see how it comes out after washing - still got another 30 rows to knit so not there yet but I’m looking forward to showing it as an FO!
With acrylic you wash and dry it for evening out the stitches. I use a regular wash cycle and put it in the dryer, though I might take it out while it’s still a little bit damp. You don’t want to overdry it anyway.
sue
Thanks Sue - I think I’ll handwash it but in a fairly hot wash and see how it goes - laods of room for improvement but that’s the way of first efforts!
I think I’ll practice my tension before I attempt anything more complicated!
Why hot water? Warm will do fine. Just so you know, its the agitation that will help the stitches `move’ and even out.
sue
Hot water won’t make any difference, but washing in general may help make the stitches even out a little bit.
WHY would acrylic yarn say “hand wash?” :??
Ok, so heat won’t make a difference - got it!
I think becasue the wool came in a kit, it states handwash to lessen any liability on the company’s part? Not sure why though.
Right, will knit furiously tomorrow to get it finished and then I’ll wash it and advise you out the outcome - thanks again all!
xx