Blocking mohair

LottyF wrote

on Nov 29, 2007 3:53 AM

I'm cracking on with Cinnabar from Doris Chan's Everyday Crochet in a 65% Courtelle acrylic and 35% mohair blend. It's getting there - a few more rows, edging, and sleeves and it's all done, so now I'm thinking about blocking it. What's the best solution for blocking mohair? I don't have a bed I can pin it to, so it'll be on an ironing board (yet another excuse not to do any ironing ;) ). If I'm happy with how it looks when finished, do I actually need to block?

As always, your help would be most gratefully received!

Soleil38 wrote

on Nov 30, 2007 8:42 AM

Found this comment on a website:

http://www.knitlist.com/tips/finishing.htm#9

Soleil

LottyF wrote

on Dec 7, 2007 7:06 AM

Thank you heaps! I did exactly as directed. I ran it through the machine on a super quick hand wash programme and turned down the spin speed, then I laid it on a big towel and put it on my clothehorse/rack thing for drying laundry, eased it into shape, and let it dry. I am overwhelmed by the results! The stitches are all laying nicely and the cardigan has lost its puffiness. It's still nice and fluffy, but smooth fluffiness. My husband described it as looking "much less angry". Who would have believed that a little attention post wash could yield such results!

JoyB wrote

on Dec 23, 2007 8:25 AM

I had the same experience with the mobius I just finished. I used almost the same yarn, but I just soaked mine in the sink, then rolled in a towel and laid out on the ironing board. It made a huge difference in the finished piece and because of the acrylic content, it dried very quickly. I'm now a firm believer in wet-blocking!

Soleil38 wrote

on Jan 7, 2008 3:22 PM

Soleil

JoyB wrote

on Jan 7, 2008 8:32 PM

How very nice of you to ask! Thank you. Here is the moebius.

And this is kind of a close-up of the stitch pattern.

And here is a scarf that I just finished yesterday and is now being blocked. Same yarn, different stitch. This actually stretched quite a bit in the blocking process.

That's a queen size bed it's drying on and it stretches almost all the way across!

Anyway, I loved working with this yarn and the finished objects turned out beautifully. But I finally get to start back up on my 4-S vest tonight, so I'm going to leave the lacework for a while. Thank you again for asking!

- Joy

JoyB wrote

on Jan 7, 2008 8:39 PM

Well somehow the photos didn't come over in the previous post. I'm trying again....

JoyB wrote

on Jan 7, 2008 8:51 PM

Finally!! Thanks for your patience.

- jb

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2323/2177141300_416c7cee0e.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2060/2177139192_bc42de30e4.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2260/2177149724_00241eb93a.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2075/2176351483_a35163e926.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2340/2176354349_f73d1f0756.jpg

PaulineL wrote

on Jan 7, 2008 9:17 PM

Very pretty, Joy B.

Is the pattern for the moebius on the net? I'm curious about how to get the twist in it. I've read about one, knitted I think, that was done from a centerline out with no seams. Others are seamed. Um, I don't want to hijack this thread, though.

JoyB wrote

on Jan 8, 2008 7:13 AM

The pattern is from Doris Chan's Amazing Crochet Lace. If you want to e-mail me privately you can at labmother6@yahoo.com.

PaulineL wrote

on Jan 8, 2008 1:08 PM

Shoot! I have that book. Thanks for pointing it out.

LottyF wrote

on Jan 17, 2008 3:02 AM

I've finally got round to taking photos of my Cinnabar (I've been wearing it too much to take it off and photograph it!), so I've put a post with photos in the FO section. Here's a little taster though...

Soleil38 wrote

on Jan 22, 2008 1:10 PM

Soleil

DeeT@7 wrote

on Aug 29, 2008 12:56 PM

Oh, girls! those are beautiful!! I just finished Doris' Sera Lace Top which was featured in the Fall issue of Interweave Crochet. Now I need to block it, so I was reading up on how to block. I ran across your posts. I will have to post a picture of the Sera Lace Top when I am finished blocking it. :o)