Washing and Blocking

#1

Hmm… I’m in a bit of a pickle.

I’ve read here that some people here like to wash their gifts before sending them on to the recipient. I have to say i agree with that philosophy, unless it’s for a baby and i figure the fussy mothers can wash it to their specification (since all new mothers are fussy! ;))

But that leaves me with a problem… How do you wash a gift for an adult reciepient? Do you use special soap? or will Woolite do?

So here’s the deal… I have just finished an illusion knitting scarf and i’m currently finishing up an Entrelac Danica scarf.

The illusion knitting scarf curls quite a bit so it definitely needs to be blocked. The Danica needs to be straightened out a bit, but i’m afraid that blocking it will mess up the Entrelac woven pattern.

Any ideas on what the best way might be to wash and block these two items? They’re both pressies so i want them looking their gorgeousy best!

thanks,
-hh

P.S. They’re both made out of Alpaca/Silk - one is KP Andean Treasure and Andean Silk, the other is just Andean Silk.

#2

I dunno about the illusion scarf, sorry, but for the Danica…

I recently made a hat with an entrelac border. It needed a little blocking, so I just sprayed it lightly with water, smooshed it to where I wanted it to be, and let it dry. I worked to straighten out the hat without flattening the entrelac too much.

hth,
~Sharon

#3

I would say if you’re just trying to even them out and flatten a bit, pinning and a light mist of water would work. I’ve often washed my gifts (Eucalan is my new best friend!) because my FOs tend to have cat hair in them. :wink:

#4

Like Mer, I often have to wash items prior to delivery due to pet hair (dog in this case). I normally just use Woolite or the gentlest, fragrance/dye-free detergent I can find.

#5

This is what I did with my Danica scarf also! It works.