Today I'm mostly working on definitions and small examples of all these rigidity terms I'm trying to remember. Stuff like matroids, self-stresses, generic independence, etc.
For short breaks, I'm reading the Yarn Harlot's latest book, "the secret life of a knitter," which is composed of short "essays".
The second one has struck fear into my heart.
"The Wedding Sweater Saga" tells of the harlot and Ken knitting matching wedding sweaters for friends. Most of the essay I can handle, but then she discusses the blocking of Ken's sweater. Where she wets it, and it grows to ENORMOUS dimensions, and looks like lace. She writes about how other knitters have mentioned this problem with superwash wool. Superwash wool being machine washable because it's somewhat "slippery," and thus you need to knit it at a tighter gauge.
I've been working on a superwash wool baby blanket. I've been careful to keep my stitches nice and loose. Yes, you heard me. LOOSE. (Because I used to crochet too tightly.) What will happen when I wash it? Will it survive? Will it grow to enormous proportions? Now, I realize that exact proportions are not essential for a blanket... but *lace* won't exactly keep the baby warm.
On the good side, it turns out you *are* supposed to put superwash wool in the dryer, no matter what the label says. At least, according to the Yarn Harlot's friends.
Given that it's going to be somewhat dusty from lounging around my house for months, and being laid out on the floor for photo ops, I really need to wash it before giving it to my friends. But I think I'll take lots of pictures first, so I have evidence that I *did* initally create something nice for them.
Yikes.
2 comments:
In my experience, when wet, Superwash wool grows about 30% and becomes strange, flat, and thin. If allowed to air dry, it stays this way. However, if dried in the dryer, it returns to original size and fluffiness, and seems none the worse for wear. The various transformations can be repeated endlessly.
Thanks! That makes me feel much better... both that the blanket won't be destroyed, and that it really is easy care.
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