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Patshere
Chatty Knitter
157 Posts |
 Posted - 05/22/2012 : 07:12:34 AM
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| I finally finished no spider web fichu (Victorian Lace Today) in 100% silk and am ready to block. I know it will "grow" in the process, and am wondering if anyone has some tips for blocking this type of fabric,. |
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Ceil
Permanent Resident
USA
1562 Posts |
Posted - 05/23/2012 : 9:52:08 PM
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I have a sweater that needs to be washed, and I've been thinking that the best way to do it is to buy some tulle, lay the piece flat on top of the tulle (well, mine is a cardigan, so not quite), roll it up snugly and then put it in a laundry bag or something to help it stay snug, then put it in the drink. Hopefully this would all survive spin-drying in the washer! Then lay the mass on a towel or drying rack and unroll it.
It sounds good, anyway.
Ceil
(Ravelry: ceilr)
Time is never a factor when joy is involved. |
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mrsredmst
New Pal
37 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2012 : 04:38:49 AM
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| I'm doing my first silk shawl so I'm interested in how to block this too. I heard that silk doesn't grow as much as other fabrics? |
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purlewe
Permanent Resident
1865 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2012 : 06:29:46 AM
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silk grows. It truly does.
You could always finish it off with a hot iron, which tends to give it an even higher gloss.
Life is not a having and a getting, but a being and a becoming. ~Myrna Loy
http://purlewe.typepad.com/ |
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NutmegOwl
Gabber Extraordinaire
561 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2012 : 06:34:37 AM
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I don't give silk any more special treatment than any other fiber.
I give it a long sudsy bath so the warm water can truly penetrate the fiber. Roll it in a towel to blot. String it onto wires and pin the bejeebus out of it. It will have quite a bit of give, so I always go into it with measurements of what I want the finished size to be and pin out accordingly. What you achieve in length you will lose in width and vice-versa - so keep the ruler handy.
You needn't worry about harming it or breaking it. It has a lot of tensile strength. Let it dry at LEAST 48 hours. And as Purlewe so wisely notes, if you want it to really shine, a hot iron will do that for you.
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Nutmeg Owl
Quaecumque sunt vera
http://www.owlwaysknitting.wordpress.com |
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Grand-moogi
Seriously Hooked
Australia
773 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2012 : 08:03:39 AM
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Won't a hot iron burn or scorch?
I knit a hug into every stitch |
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Shelia
Permanent Resident
USA
2315 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2012 : 10:09:37 AM
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Owl is correct, just keep the hot iron moving over the fabric of the lace and it will be fine. Also, it should be a hot DRY iron, no steam for this process.
Shelia
www.breezyridgestudio.com
ravelry name - sheliaknits |
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jaymeKnits
Permanent Resident
USA
1326 Posts |
Posted - 05/24/2012 : 6:31:23 PM
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For all my shawls I soak them repeatedly using the colander of a salad spinner until water is clear (no dirt or dye). Then I spin the water out in the spinner. Then stretch and pin until taught on my guest bed. For 100% silk I iron it once it's dry before unpinning to bring out the shine, hot, dry and fast is the key (there may be a joke in there somewhere ;)
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Signature? Who needs a signature? |
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emmyc
Chatty Knitter
USA
119 Posts |
Posted - 05/29/2012 : 05:24:47 AM
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I never ever thought of using my rarely used salad spinner for this!
Jayme, you are a genious!
emmyc
winchester ma |
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dschmidt
Permanent Resident
3920 Posts |
Posted - 05/31/2012 : 5:13:30 PM
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Love the salad spinner method
Donna in VA
The Honor Roll? It's easier here than in school. Scroll up to "Want to Make Betty Happy?" and be an Honor Roll member.
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Recommendations for blocking silk
