Make Acrylic Yarn Soft! CHEAP YARN HACK
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- Опубликовано: 10 июн 2022
- Here's a fast, easy and cheap technique to make acrylic yarn soft! Use this bargain yarn hack to make cheap acrylic yarn wearable.
Here’s an update video a year after making this original video where I answered your questions and comments! Softening Stiff Acrylic Yarn | One Year Later - Your Questions!
• Softening Stiff Acryli...
I take a vintage bargain acrylic yarn and make it soft and wearable with two chemicals: Hair Shampoo and Hair Conditioner.
Step 1: Soak your finished object (like my scarf) in cool water about 10 minutes. This gives the fibers enough time to become equally saturated.
Step 2: Now generously lather up your item with hair shampoo. Gently work suds through the item. I spent about 8-10 minutes on this. Rinse out your item in cool water until the water runs clear. Again, being gentle with your item. Don't ring out. Let some water drip off but leave saturated.
Step 3: Work hair conditioner through your item. In the same way you would your hair. You will be able to see and feel if you missed any spots. I spent about 10 minutes in this step just making sure I really worked the conditioner in well. Rinse out until your water is clear again. Gently squeeze out excess water.
To dry your item: Lay flat on a bath towel and roll the item up inside of the towel. This will take a lot of the water from the item. Now lay your item out flat to finish drying.
Here's a link to my hair car products:
www.walmart.com/ip/Renpure-Or...
Here’s my updated video full of viewer questions and comments from this video! Softening Stiff Acrylic Yarn | One Year Later - Your Questions!
ruclips.net/video/099oqXByMtU/видео.html
I made a blanket with red heart supersaver yarn, but it was stiff, I simply put it in the washing machine, on a gentle cycle, with cold water , I added a tiny bit of fabric softener. After it was done washing, I dried it in the dryer on cold and with a couple of dryer sheets. Came out soft and fluffy.
That’s awesome! It’s too bad it just wasn’t softer but they have a fantastic assortment of color and the price is affordable so I guess it’s a trade off. I’m glad the fabric softener worked for your project! I’ve also heard of people soaking the product directly in fabric softener, but I don’t know if that would be practical for a nice big blanket lol!
Call me lazy but I soften my acrylic yarn items by simply using a steam iron close to surface of item but not touching! This instantly softens item! You can wash before or after.
That’s an awesome idea!!! Thanks for sharing! 😀
I used the conditioner method with a yarn who had 20% wool and the rest acrylic, worked like a charm :p
That’s so awesome!!!!
Hi there thanks so much for the video I've been crocheting for about 10 years now and never got so serious about it as I am today.. I absolutely love s great bargain yarn but I always end up with a stiff blanket or scarf. This was so helpful.. 😃
Hi Melissa!!! I’m so glad it was helpful and I think it’s so awesome that you’ve really gotten serious about crochet. Thank you so much for watching and commenting! Happy crocheting 🫶🏻
When I roll up my yarn in a towel I also step on it to get most of the water out. It dries a lot faster, just fyi tip.
Hopefully this helps you as much as it’s helped me!
Adding vinegar to the water helps a lot as well.
I wondered about that!!! I usually add vinegar to my washing machine in the fabric softener area……. Thanks for the tip!!!!
Thank you so much! Helped saved a baby blanket I made as a gift!!
That’s so awesome, I’m so happy it helped!!! ❤️
Love the scarf how it ruffles!!Would you happen to have a video on how you did the design?
Unfortunately I don’t, I have attempted to recreate it and I’m getting closer (and taking notes this time!!!) hopefully this fall I’ll be able to share it!
Excellent tip! Thank you for sharing!!
You’re welcome! I’m “super” glad I learned this trick, I hope it can help my yarny friends too 😃🧶
Very helpful 😊 thanks for sharing 😊
You’re welcome and thank you for watching Jo!
Very interesting 👌 👍
Now you won’t get any scratchy gifts lol 😂 😂😂
The best way is steam, it also gives a flop to the yarn , and blocks at the same time
Awesome! Worked wonders AND my scarf smells great! 😂
Whoop whoop! I’m so glad I could help!!! ❤️
Great tip! I'll have to try it sometime 😊
You’ll have to let me know if you do!
The cheapest products you can find for cleaning and softening synthetic wigs is actually the best stuff I've ever tried on synthetic yarns. Makes sense, right?
That’s super interesting! I will look into that, I appreciate the tip 😃
That makes total sense because acrylic yarn is plastic and so are cheap wigs. Trust me, I have experience in both matters. 😅
Why not just put it in a mesh bag and throw it in the washer (by itself) with some fabric softener??
I have definitely heard of people doing that! I think it just depends on how likely you think the yarn will pill. In my experience RHSS pills pretty easy so I want to be as gentle as possible. But it’s possible it is more pill resistant now! But it’s definitely a judgement call based on how you think the yarn will hold up. Thanks so much for watching!
Thank you dear! Blessings
You are so welcome!
Great job! Where did you learn this hack?
This was the most used technique I found googling! Since it wouldn’t cost me anything and I was pretty certain it wouldn’t ruin my project, I tried it and it totally worked!
Great hack!!! how did you dry your scarf? air dry or dryer?
I rolled it up between a couple of bath towels to get more water out instead of wringing it. Then I air dried it laying flat. I did point a fan at it to help speed it up tho! Hope this helps and thanks for watching!
Would this also work for cardigan's specifically cropped? I used the redheart brand and im working on the sleeves right now but they seem very stiff.
It certainly should! I think that’s small enough to still be manageable in the sink! You may feel like you need to repeat the process every once in a while since it will be touching your skin and you want it to stay soft!
Is this process permanent or would you have to repeat the process every time you wash an item? I am thinking specifically of children's hats, scarves, and mittens. I don't make these garments from expensive yarn because the items are frequently lost, dragged in the mud, get sweaty from outdoor play, etc. Therefore, those items need to be washed much more often than an adult's scarf.
Just wondering. Thanks for this tip.
Oh my gosh that’s such a good question!!! I don’t know for certain but I’m assuming you would need to repeat it. But I wouldn’t think every time it tho! I know RHSS does soften a bit in the washer too……
Thank you for watching Kelly!
Does it stay soft after this or do you have to do this once a season? Once a year? Once s month?
So much will just depend on the piece you make and how scratchy your yarn was to start out. The effects shouldn’t wear off tho unless you are washing out the conditioner’s effects. The more you wash the piece, the more often you will need to reapply the conditioner to it. But thankfully RHSS usually softens with washing as well!
I bought some red heart cheap yarn. Got it home and it's already scratchy and low quality. I haven't used it yet. Can I use this technique on the brand new skein? Should I return it and get a new skein?
In my experience, most RH feel the same so I’m not confident another skein would feel much better. The benefit of RHSS is there are so many colors available, but I would suggest trying out a different value yarn, possibly Joann’s Big Twist. It’s still super affordable but slightly softer than RHSS. I’ve also heard good feedback about Michael’s craft smart yarn, Walmart mainstays yarn, and even premier juat yarn at the dollar tree. Can I ask what color you are using? We might be able to find something comparable!
I would be nervous to try the shampoo/conditioner technique on a whole skein because I’m not certain it would dry all the way in the center of the skein without getting kind of mildewy. And I’m also not confident that it would tangle beyond salvage in the dryer. I just don’t want you going to more trouble than it’s worth!!!
Mikey at crochet crowd washed whole skeins in panty hose legs and put them through the dryer in the hose. You can Google his vlog for details.
@RoundMtnDryGoods that’s super interesting! I’ll check it out, thanks!
I have a few questions if anyone can help?
1. Does this affect the colour? I have a multicoloured yarn and I would hate it to discolour.
2. Is it worth doing this to the ball of yarn first or once the item is crocheted?
Many thanks!
That’s a great question! I haven’t ever tried it to yarn that hasn’t been worked up . My concern would be if the yarn would get too tangled up during the process. I think Affordably Crafty did a video recently on washing yarn skeins that smell, but I haven’t gotten to watch it yet. She might state how she does it without tangling.
I haven’t had any problems at all with color bleeding or fading but I’ve only done it with 100% acrylic yarns. Red Heart SuperSaver is colorfast and won’t bleed. But I can’t speak for any fancier yarn that has been dyed differently.
I hope this helps!
An acrylic yarn shouldn't fade the way natural fibers do, but if you want to be sure, then soaking fabrics in a little white vinegar and water (50/50) helps to keeps colors from fading or bleeding, and actually helps with softening a bit too.
If you want to wash or soften the yarn first before crocheting, place the skein, ball, hank, etc in the leg of a pair of nylons or knee highs to prevent unraveling and tangling.
Also, when it comes to the softening method used int he video, to save money I don't use my personal expensive shampoo and conditioner but instead buy a cheap brand, I like Suave, in a scent that I really like.
I think cotton or wool are the only ones that would bleed..I think softening acrylic is actually just removing the coating that's on it so I run it through my fingers a few times as I crochet..helps but red heart is a horrible yarn anyway 😅
Sounds like a little bit too much work for me. I'll just throw mine in the wash by itself on delicate setting, w/a little bit of sensitive laundry soap and some fabric softener 😅
Great idea though for others:)
Sounds good, thanks for watching! 😃
Same
🥰🧶🤩
Red heart annoys me. Mainstays is similar but softer.
I totally agree, and it really surprised me that I liked it as much as I did. I do wish they had more color choices tho…..
@@ShannonTalksYarn same
Hi, I just found your channel. You now have a new subscriber. Since we are on topic of rough Acrylic Yarn…I acquired a bagful of older, bargain acrylic yarn a few years ago for my birthday. It was from a “ back then “ local store . There are quite a few packages of 4-5 skeins like I stated still in the packaging , some are single skeins. COULD I FIX THE SKEINS PRIOR TO CROCHETING….since I have quite a few & I am not quite sure exactly WHAT I want to crochet/knit yet. Maybe a Cardigan, maybe a smaller blanket . I could then turn the skeins into a cake. It would take up a lot less space & save my Hubby from complaining .lol Any suggestions? Thanks so much😊~ Anita3kids 🧶💜🥰
Hi Anita, thank you and welcome!!! I have definitely heard of people washing the skeins in a mesh bag prior to washing but I haven’t ever done it. I’m not confident that I could keep my skein from becoming a tangled mess lol. I would say to cake them up and you will get a better feel for what you have to work with (and make more room!) You can also use the yarn for projects that won’t have contact with your skin like bags/purses, throw rug, wall art, decorative pillows, table runner, or even amigurumi animals or dolls!