If all you can afford right now is bargain basement yarn, don't despair, your projects don't have to turn out scratchy. With just a few expert tips and tricks, you can achieve soft, silky work even with dime-store yarn.
Some of these tips have been used for generations to achieve a luxurious effect with basic material, and some are new ways round an old problem. Whichever you choose, you'll enjoy the effects - and so will your bank balance.
Advertisement
1. Soften it up
Sometimes your pattern calls for a large range of colors, and you don't want to break the bank, and sometimes funds just run short. For many reasons, you can find yourself with only cheap acrylic yarn on hand and let's face it, it can have a harsh texture. This is a great method of taming those scratchy fibres.
Sometimes your pattern calls for a large range of colors, and you don't want to break the bank, and sometimes funds just run short. For many reasons, you can find yourself with only cheap acrylic yarn on hand and let's face it, it can have a harsh texture. This is a great method of taming those scratchy fibres.
First, wash the finished project twice with shampoo. Even a basic shampoo will work fine. Then work conditioner through the entire project, allowing it to saturate the fabric. Again, any conditioner is fine. Now leave the project steeping in cool water for an hour. Wash in your machine on a very gentle cycle, using a small amount of detergent. If the yarn band says the acrylic can go in the dryer, then tumble it, with dryer sheets if you like. You should now find it is beautifully soft.
2. Blocking
Traditional blocking, though never a crocheter's favorite chore, is a sure-fire way of getting the most unyielding of yarns to relax and achieve a satisfying drape. As always, you'll need to check the manufacturer's band to see whether the yarn can stand immersion in water, what temperature it can be washed at, and whether or not it will tolerate steaming or pressing. Some fibres that can't be washed fully can still be steamed or pressed and will lose much of their stiffness in the process. If your yarn can be washed, then try adding a good dose of fabric softener to the final rinse. Then block by pinning out your project to the dimensions you want and allow it to air dry. This is a long process but the end result will be worth it - the fabric of the work will be softer, more flexible and a lot more covetable.
Traditional blocking, though never a crocheter's favorite chore, is a sure-fire way of getting the most unyielding of yarns to relax and achieve a satisfying drape. As always, you'll need to check the manufacturer's band to see whether the yarn can stand immersion in water, what temperature it can be washed at, and whether or not it will tolerate steaming or pressing. Some fibres that can't be washed fully can still be steamed or pressed and will lose much of their stiffness in the process. If your yarn can be washed, then try adding a good dose of fabric softener to the final rinse. Then block by pinning out your project to the dimensions you want and allow it to air dry. This is a long process but the end result will be worth it - the fabric of the work will be softer, more flexible and a lot more covetable.
3. Combing
This is a great tip from the crochet blogger Craftster, whose Depression era grandmother used to set about cheap crocheted fabric with a hairbrush. By brushing the fibres very carefully, you can achieve the look of a super-expensive mohair. If you go too far, you can trim back the fibers using nail scissors. You need a nylon brush, not the type with bobbles on the end of the bristles, as this will pull your stitches too much.
This is a great tip from the crochet blogger Craftster, whose Depression era grandmother used to set about cheap crocheted fabric with a hairbrush. By brushing the fibres very carefully, you can achieve the look of a super-expensive mohair. If you go too far, you can trim back the fibers using nail scissors. You need a nylon brush, not the type with bobbles on the end of the bristles, as this will pull your stitches too much.
Advertisement
