Comments for fourth edition

Comment on Blocking Shawls – Experiment no. 1 by Bells

Bells — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:36:06 +0000

your determination in the name of knitting science is breathtaking. You sacrificed a shawl!!

That said, malabrigo lace felts just by looking at it. I made a pi shawl out of it at the height of summer one year and just the heat and sweat from my hands was enough to partially felt parts of it. It’s got no staying power at all. A more tightly spun laceweight but hold up a bit but I see no reason why people would do this.

Something loved, delicated and which has taken a long time should be handled with care.

My first blocking lessons included the information that you should leave a fair amount of water in laceweight yarn because the weight of the water helps with the blocking process, so I do. I only squeeze out enough to stop it being dripping wet, then I let time and air the do the rest.

Comment on Blocking Shawls – Experiment no. 1 by Vivianne

Vivianne — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:47:02 +0000

I cannot believe you did that. I know it’s for science and all that, but I’d rather give a child to science than a shawl ;-)

Comment on Blocking Shawls – Experiment no. 1 by Lauren

Lauren — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:25:19 +0000

Key is to understand the conditions that contribute to wool felting. Do any of these apply in your case?

Heat – but you noted you noted it was a cool temp.

Agitation – was there anything else in the machine with the shawl for it to rub up against? If it was in with other things, were they separated out eg by putting them individually into pillow cases to minimise agitation?

A product that will affect the protein structure of the wool – keratinaceous fibres like wool are acidic; standard washing powders/liquids are alkaline; the average clothes washing liquid/powder will weaken the protein structure of wool and allow all that agitation and heat to affect the fibres. Not sure if you washed the shawl using a wool wash product or nothing at all, or if there could have been standard clothes washing product residue in the washing machine. I’ve seen powder drawers in some washing machines not entirely clear after a wash that could then affect the next wash.

Comment on Blocking Shawls – Experiment no. 1 by JenA-C

JenA-C — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:01:46 +0000

Wow! That’s a very sad sight. :-(
I have to admit though that I do put lace through my washing machine. But usually on its own, and I know that I have a very gentle hand wash cycle. I tested it by starting washing things I wasn’t that bothered about, and then gradually used it to wash items I was more and more concerned for. I’m still not sure that I would put a lace shawl that beautiful in my machine though!
I always tell other people to block as you describe – hand wash and gently. Not everyone is as kamikaze as I am!

Comment on Blocking Shawls – Experiment no. 1 by siga

siga — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:36:42 +0000

I wonder what knitting experiment no.2 might be. Brave you.

Comment on Blocking Shawls – Experiment no. 1 by Birgitte

Birgitte — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:44:23 +0000

Wow! I’m one of those who said ‘put it in the washing machine’ because my knitting always comes out of my washing machine the way it came in (bar some spinning oil which us partly why I do it), but with this result I clearly see why you wouldn’t do that! :)

Comment on Blocking Shawls – Experiment no. 1 by Elaine

Elaine — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:16:56 +0000

Oh. My. God. That really was an upsetting photo – you should have some kind of warning for knitters of a nervous disposition!

If that was my shawl I’d be fetal and crying for weeks … you’re such a brave scientist!

I think my machine spin cycle would probably mangle lace in the same way, and I never block using it. Use the wool cycle all the time for my handknits though – but I’ve always pre-tested on a tension square first.

Comment on Blocking Shawls – Experiment no. 1 by Stephanie (foggyknitter)

Stephanie (foggyknitter) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:02:26 +0000

I don’t trust our washing machine with anything I’ve knit, it tends towards the vicious and I’ve become wary of it. Even my socks are hand washed.

I will admit to having pressed a shawl with the iron instead of carefully pinning it out, mainly because of lack of energy and space. With my tough as old boots, sock yarn shawl that gets worn and worn I sometimes pin it out on the washing line stretched out and hanging down and it looks fine to me.

I may be a bit of a Philistine…

Comment on Blocking Shawls – Experiment no. 1 by Emma

Emma — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:34:23 +0000

Noooooooooo!
I’ve never tried putting anything I’ve knit in the washing machine. I have a pair of wool mittens and socks from various Baltic trips that I put in the washing machine on the wool cycle and indeed they came out slightly felted, but in both cases they were originally to big and not quite warm enough and now fit perfectly and are very warm. But I suspect if I tried to do that on purpose it wouldn’t work.

Comment on Blocking Shawls – Experiment no. 1 by Rhiannon

Rhiannon — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:18:53 +0000

Is it wrong that I think it looks kind of cool felted?

I do soak and spin out sweaters and socks in the washer, and I’ve never had much trouble there, but I would never do it to a shawl. Soaking it in a bowl is so simple, and I like seeing the lace come alive in my hands as I pull it out of the water.