I read a blog that says acrylic needs steam blocking because it's made of essentially plastic, so the fibers have to be heated enough, but not too much. They can be melted. But wet blocking doesn't work on acrylic.
I've always steamed my pieces. Before handsteamers my mom taught me to use a steamed iron and wet cheesecloth over top of whatever we were knitting/crocheting.
The steamed swatch is the winner for me. I hardly ever use acrylic yarn, but recently I crocheted a scarf with some Red Heart yarn and wondered how well it would block. Glad you showed this.
I took a wet cloth once and placed it over my jersey and went over it with an iron. That ended up flattering the stitches (and it was acrylic wool so I really don't recommend steaming). So I just stick to normal wet blocking. It takes a few days and I hate it cos I don't have patients but it's worth it😊❤
TONIA, you have hit 7,000 subscribers! (Well more than that now) But I wanted to say Congratulations and that it is totally deserved!! I’m so happy you’re getting more and more recognition ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thanks this was a most interesting experiment! I knitted quite a few scarfs and blankets on my lk150 knitting machine and they curl like crazy. So im going to give the steam blocking a go, but I am a bit nervous 😬 lol... on the other hand though they cant be left as they are, so i don't really have anything to lose! 🤞
I have steamed flat to sew together pieces. Then…toss in washer and drier afterwards is the best results for final finish. Try it and let us know your opinion. See if machine washing after steaming and seaming, it restores the plumpness.
Thanks for the thorough advice! I rarely ever block, but I'm knitting an acrylic scarf that visibly needs blocking, so I'll be revisiting this when it is finished. One thing that still bewilders me about blocking...will I have to do it every time I wash?? (P.S. your logo is the cutest thing!)
For re-blocking - it depends on the fibers. With acrylic, if you lightly steam it then it should 'melt' the stitches so they are going to stay in place forever.
So the steamed one you are concerned about the stitches looking flat, can you steam it on the backside instead and it would not appear flat on the front side? I know nothing about this so I am just curious. Now, once your daughter starts wearing it and the moving around and the warmth of her body will that make the tension issues go away and will it plump up the stitches? I wondered about steaming where you are seaming only as well. Great video! The sweater is just beautiful!
I didn't even think about steaming from the back - what a great idea! Not sure if everyday wear will have an effect on tension but I'll certainly be watching for any changes.
@@NerdyKnitting I saw a tip once about covering the acrylic fabric with a thin cloth before steaming. I wasn’t sure the heat would transfer well enough that way but judging by this trial it sounds like it could.
When you say to soak the item for 20 mins then wash, did you do that in a front loading or top loading washing machine? Wondering if my front loader will work. I will have a wrap to even out once it is done (in a few months?).
Mine is a top loader so I can leave the lid up and let it sit and soak before closing the lid to finish the cycle. Does a front loader have a 'pause' option where you could let if soak first? 🤔 If not you could soak it in a basin before putting it in the machine (and maybe knit a little swatch just to test before washing the wrap - just in case!).
I have yet to block anything. And I just saw this video, but I wonder if steaming the reverse stockinette side will reduce any flattening of the stockinette side... Kinda like, "turn inside out to iron" stuff?
I wonder what would happen if you wet blocked it in hotter water? If the heat of the steam helps flatten it out but the wet block gives better stich definition, what would happen if you combined the best of both?
Thank you for doing the guess work for us. I personally don’t feel I could be trusted to steam block something without screwing it up. I’ve never blocked an acrylic item. But I find it is so much nicer and more even once I’m done and give it a wash. I crocheted a sweater once and that RELAXED quite a bit after so that’s something to keep in mind . It was way bigger than intended, still comfy though.
I'm fairly new to knitting but I dont understand the need/point in blocking. I'm not being rude it's just something I dont understand as I am new to the craft. I'm also curious if once you wash the item again wont it just curl up again? Again not disrespect at all it's just something I dont understand but I want to 😊 Also love your channel you have helped me out alot!
That's a great question! Washing and blocking have a few purposes - one of them is to get neat edges but it's also great for evening out tension issues and creating a nice fabric. And yes, if I washed the swatches again they would definitely curl up! Thankfully that doesn't happen with every project!
@@NerdyKnitting Don't know if you'll see this comment after so long, but I read (on the internet somewhere) that steam blocking acrylic was "permanent". So I'm wondering what you've experienced since making this video - have you washed anything again later that had been steam blocked & did it stay flat or shaped as blocked or not? I had only wet blocked before, & just recently got a steamer & am going to try steam blocking an acrylic yarn triangle shawl. I knitted it in stockinette only because I'm weird & I don't mind purl stitch nor do I like the look of garter stitch. I did wet block my shawl, but the bottom point of the triangle curls up too much still, so I'm going to try steam block just lightly on that area.
@@playhooky I'm not quite sure where I put the swatches so I can check them again but I had looked at them about a month later and the one that had been steam blocked still looked exactly the same.
![How to block knitting - The ultimate tutorial [+tips and tricks]](/img/1.gif)
I read a blog that says acrylic needs steam blocking because it's made of essentially plastic, so the fibers have to be heated enough, but not too much. They can be melted. But wet blocking doesn't work on acrylic.
I've always steamed my pieces. Before handsteamers my mom taught me to use a steamed iron and wet cheesecloth over top of whatever we were knitting/crocheting.
The steamed swatch is the winner for me. I hardly ever use acrylic yarn, but recently I crocheted a scarf with some Red Heart yarn and wondered how well it would block. Glad you showed this.
Steaming definitely flattens it - just be careful because it can change the nature of the stitches!
I crochet but this is so incredibly useful and you tested it so well and considered all the uses and differences. Amazing!!
Thank you!
Thank you for this! I'm about to start a sweater in 100% acrylic so I'm really glad I found your video :)
Yay! I'm glad it was helpful (blocking acrylic feels a bit scary with that potential for melting the fibers!).
I took a wet cloth once and placed it over my jersey and went over it with an iron. That ended up flattering the stitches (and it was acrylic wool so I really don't recommend steaming). So I just stick to normal wet blocking. It takes a few days and I hate it cos I don't have patients but it's worth it😊❤
TONIA, you have hit 7,000 subscribers! (Well more than that now)
But I wanted to say Congratulations and that it is totally deserved!!
I’m so happy you’re getting more and more recognition ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Aww, thank you! 😊
Wow! At 12k now!! Amazing
Thanks this was a most interesting experiment! I knitted quite a few scarfs and blankets on my lk150 knitting machine and they curl like crazy. So im going to give the steam blocking a go, but I am a bit nervous 😬 lol... on the other hand though they cant be left as they are, so i don't really have anything to lose! 🤞
Hey, I see you had the same idea as me for adding little note tags. They’re so helpful!
My knitting yarn I useing is acrylic and cotton mixed
Interesting! Thanks for sharing the results of this experiment. I was curious how it would go.
I have steamed flat to sew together pieces. Then…toss in washer and drier afterwards is the best results for final finish. Try it and let us know your opinion. See if machine washing after steaming and seaming, it restores the plumpness.
I'll have to give that a try!
Hi lovely lady I knitting myself triangle shawl in garter stitches.
Sounds great!
Extremely helpful, thank you!
Thanks for the thorough advice! I rarely ever block, but I'm knitting an acrylic scarf that visibly needs blocking, so I'll be revisiting this when it is finished. One thing that still bewilders me about blocking...will I have to do it every time I wash?? (P.S. your logo is the cutest thing!)
For re-blocking - it depends on the fibers. With acrylic, if you lightly steam it then it should 'melt' the stitches so they are going to stay in place forever.
So the steamed one you are concerned about the stitches looking flat, can you steam it on the backside instead and it would not appear flat on the front side? I know nothing about this so I am just curious. Now, once your daughter starts wearing it and the moving around and the warmth of her body will that make the tension issues go away and will it plump up the stitches? I wondered about steaming where you are seaming only as well. Great video! The sweater is just beautiful!
I didn't even think about steaming from the back - what a great idea! Not sure if everyday wear will have an effect on tension but I'll certainly be watching for any changes.
@@NerdyKnitting I saw a tip once about covering the acrylic fabric with a thin cloth before steaming. I wasn’t sure the heat would transfer well enough that way but judging by this trial it sounds like it could.
Sounds like I need to do another test! This is another method I haven't tried!
I am curious to know about the steam blocking swatch, Will it curl back after washing? Or will it stay flat ?
My swatch stayed flat. Not sure how that translates to other garments though!
When you say to soak the item for 20 mins then wash, did you do that in a front loading or top loading washing machine? Wondering if my front loader will work. I will have a wrap to even out once it is done (in a few months?).
Mine is a top loader so I can leave the lid up and let it sit and soak before closing the lid to finish the cycle. Does a front loader have a 'pause' option where you could let if soak first? 🤔 If not you could soak it in a basin before putting it in the machine (and maybe knit a little swatch just to test before washing the wrap - just in case!).
Can steam blocking stretch out acrylic if i lay it stretched?
You could try it with a swatch.
I have yet to block anything. And I just saw this video, but I wonder if steaming the reverse stockinette side will reduce any flattening of the stockinette side... Kinda like, "turn inside out to iron" stuff?
It might - that's something that could be tested!
What about a garter stitch shawl? Would you soak it, wash it and then pin it out? What water temperature did you use? Thanks.
I used cold water. Yes, I find my stitches are bit more even if I let the project soak first.
this is so helpful thank you so much!!!!
I wonder what would happen if you wet blocked it in hotter water? If the heat of the steam helps flatten it out but the wet block gives better stich definition, what would happen if you combined the best of both?
That sounds like a good thing to test! I really need to do this experiment again!
Thank you for doing the guess work for us. I personally don’t feel I could be trusted to steam block something without screwing it up.
I’ve never blocked an acrylic item. But I find it is so much nicer and more even once I’m done and give it a wash. I crocheted a sweater once and that RELAXED quite a bit after so that’s something to keep in mind . It was way bigger than intended, still comfy though.
Haha - that's why I practiced on swatches - I didn't want to mess up the cardigan! 😁 And I agree - a good wash really settles the acrylic fabric.
@@NerdyKnitting you’re a smart lady. Blocking always makes me nervous lol
I'm fairly new to knitting but I dont understand the need/point in blocking. I'm not being rude it's just something I dont understand as I am new to the craft. I'm also curious if once you wash the item again wont it just curl up again?
Again not disrespect at all it's just something I dont understand but I want to 😊
Also love your channel you have helped me out alot!
That's a great question! Washing and blocking have a few purposes - one of them is to get neat edges but it's also great for evening out tension issues and creating a nice fabric. And yes, if I washed the swatches again they would definitely curl up! Thankfully that doesn't happen with every project!
@@NerdyKnitting Don't know if you'll see this comment after so long, but I read (on the internet somewhere) that steam blocking acrylic was "permanent". So I'm wondering what you've experienced since making this video - have you washed anything again later that had been steam blocked & did it stay flat or shaped as blocked or not? I had only wet blocked before, & just recently got a steamer & am going to try steam blocking an acrylic yarn triangle shawl. I knitted it in stockinette only because I'm weird & I don't mind purl stitch nor do I like the look of garter stitch. I did wet block my shawl, but the bottom point of the triangle curls up too much still, so I'm going to try steam block just lightly on that area.
@@playhooky I'm not quite sure where I put the swatches so I can check them again but I had looked at them about a month later and the one that had been steam blocked still looked exactly the same.
@@NerdyKnitting Thanks for the reply & info!
Pardon je ne parle pas anglais. J'ai bien suivi vos informations. Je fais avec la vapeur mais sur l'envers je tricot. Merci beaucoup.
Is it possible to block it by putting it in boiling water?
I feel like boiling water would not be good - there is the potential that it could melt the fibers.
What brand of steamer do you use?
I don't know - just an inexpensive one I found on Amazon.
Im reeeaaally late but how to steam my project if i dont have a steamer and an iron?
You would need to buy one.
When you doing video love please missing your video best
I like flat look better
Speaking from ignorant experience, don’t iron it, even on a very low setting 🙄
Yikes! I can imagine the results. Sorry, that happened to you.