I never block garments made of acrylic yarn. Acrylics are
plastics. Plastic has no memory-unless you apply too much heat, in which
case acrylic yarn will melt. Follow the manufacturer’s directions, i.e.,
throw it in the wash and then dry it on low for a few minutes.( Whenever I wash a garment in the machine, no matter the fiber, I turn
it inside out which decreases pilling)
Second, I have wire sock blockers, but frankly, I haven’t found them to be
of much use, except if there is a lace insert in the socks. Otherwise, I
wash, lay flat, and wear ‘em when they’re dry.
Blocking should be done with commonsense. There is no rule that says you
must block absolutely everything. AND there are several ways to block,
depending on stitch pattern and fiber. Here’s what you can’t ever block:
ribbings and cables. Here’s what you MUST block: lace and Fair Isle. Know
your fibers. Wool has excellent elasticity and memory, and can take a lot of
steam, pinning, and general abuse. Cotton, silk, and linen have little
elasticity and memory and must be blocked with care. You can never, ever
block out mistakes. If you goofed with the gauge and made the garment too
small, no amount of blocking will ever salvage it, be it of wool, cotton,
linen or your husband’s garden hose.
I either block the whole sweater or sometimes, particularly with lace, I
block each individual piece first and then do the final finishing after all
is dry. If I am dealing with lace, I wet the piece down, pin it on a padded
board w/ blocking wires and T-pins, stretching out the lace so that it opens
up. If I am blocking a Fair Isle sweater, I steam-press the bejesus out of
it, with a towel on top of the fabric and then lay it on my board to dry,
shaping it to its correct measurements with my hands. If I’m blocking a
cabled or Aran sweater, I simply wash it in the machine on knit cycle, give
it a quick spin, and then lay it flat on towels without pinning. The above
applies to natural fibers only. Acrylics, like I said, get the ole heave-ho
into the washing machine. I’ve always gotten excellent results using these
methods.
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