You CAN block acrylic yarn in crochet/knitting!

[WTFlike]

Maybe you knew this, but it was a revelation to me.

Just pin it and use the steam from an iron about an inch away from your work. Don't touch the yarn with the iron, leave to cool for a minute or two and VOILA - straight, even work!

Yes you can block acrylic but it will also "kill" it. Unlike wool, which springs back and needs re blocking acrylic is like that forever - so get it right.... I suspect you take the bounce out of the fabric too.

Yes, I think if you over steam it, it kills it. This is still "bouncy" iyswim?

I was delighted, I thought a baby blanket would have to be ripped out due to puckered edges. It was Stylecraft Special yarn - so IT WORKS FOR THIS YARN - TEST OTHER YARN! AND DON'T SUE ME IF IT KILLS IT.

See the bounce?!

With acrylic I find the best way to block is to thoroughly wet, then spin dry, then pin it out out the measure you want it, using either pins (heck of a lot of work) or blocking wires (not everyon has them and the are a bit expensive just for a one off). You need a sheet on the floor for a blanket or a shawl. then leave it to dry for 24 hours, carefully stepping over the thing on the floor.

I also block acrylic with laundry starch if I want it really stiff for example Christmas decorations.

That's so pretty WTF.

That is a lovely blanket :) is there a pattern for the squares?

Oh thank you! It's a free pattern from Craftsy. I can't remember if it was UK or US stitches, but you'll know by looking at it.

www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/other/harriett-square/71742

I've put a border on it now, that I think is nice.

Reading with interest as I'm in the midst of a multiple square blanket & don't want to cock it up at the end!

I'm using sytlecraft special dk, so 100% acrylic.

Can you block acrylic squares using the spray method (Pin out, most with water & leave to dry)?

This worked well for the Rooster yarn squares I made but they were the opposite to acrylic!

A gentle steaming doesn't ruin the acrylic or remove the "bounce" at all. It's wonderful.

Don't know about spraying though, I always steam.

I made a block board and pinned things out but I used cotton on my blanket then hover steamed the whole thing on ironing board.

I'm going to try this. I've knitted a pram blanket for PFB due in november with acrylic yarn, it is stockinette stitch with a moss stitch border but I clearly didn't make the border wide enough as it is still curling after a MONTH carefully folded at the bottom of a packing box, with lever arch files on top of it. argh!