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py-knitter
New Pal
26 Posts |
 Posted - 10/20/2004 : 12:53:46 PM
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Hello all 
I'm down to the final stretch (no pun intended...really!) on my sweater! I think that I may have underestimated my gauge in the beginning because I'm noticing that I'm about 1 1/2 inches 'short' in the width.  But that's neither here nor there since I'm done...just a learning lesson for the future. For now, can I stretch it an inch in width? Is that usually too much?
Thanks for your help!
Jessica |
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Roxanne
Seriously Hooked
Canada
714 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2004 : 9:17:08 PM
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Probably some yarns will stretch more than others when you block them but give it a try and see what happens...I haven't blocked a lot of garments but I could easily stretch the cotton sleeveless turtleneck when it was wet...into whatever shape I wanted...
What kind of yarn is it? Maybe some of the other seasoned knitters have a better answer for you.
"Success is a Journey; not a Destination"
Finished Projects: http://photos.yahoo.com/roxanne_delorme
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Sportweight
Chatty Knitter
125 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2004 : 04:54:04 AM
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I'm a fairly new knitter and haven't done a lot of blocking yet. However, I recently finished and blocked a 100% wool bulky weight cardigan and was surprised at how much it "grew." So, depending upon the properties of your yarn, I think it would be pretty easy to get an extra inch and a half just from good steam blocking.
Sportweight |
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BessH
Permanent Resident
3095 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2004 : 06:07:04 AM
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Try wet blocking. Wet or wash your sweater. Put it in the washing machine on the spin cycle and TURN OFF the main valve that lets water into the machine. Let it spin dry then lay your garment out on thick terry towels. Spread it to the shape you want. Remember, if you pull it wider it will shrink shorter. But like Sportweight said, you might be surprised at how much wider it grows just because it's been wet blocked, without any stretching at all.
Of course, getting gauge is, IMHO, the hardest thing in knitting. And congratulations on having an FO.
Bess
http://likethequeen.blogspot.com |
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moxie
Seriously Hooked
844 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2004 : 07:13:05 AM
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Some think that stretching can even improve the drape of a knitted garment (sometimes the fabric is too thick and stiff.) While that may be just making lemonade out of life's lemons, why not think of it that way?
Stretch away if it's the difference between wearing or not wearing the sweater.
Moxie |
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Momma78239
Permanent Resident
USA
4859 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2004 : 08:06:50 AM
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If it's anything but cotton, adding some heat, especially steam (easy to do with a damp towel and an iron) will help set the stretch.
No matter what fiber, you HAVE to make sure it's completely dry and cool before moving it at all. |
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py-knitter
New Pal
26 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2004 : 09:52:11 AM
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Thanks for your advice, everyone! I've got the front panels blocked pretty good and my next obstacle is find a space large enough to block the sleeves and back. I think that I'll use a towel and just put it on the floor...I read some past postings and that seems to have work for some people.
Jessica |
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carpe diem
Permanent Resident
1158 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2004 : 10:33:14 AM
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Hi Jessica,
I usually share the LYS community blocking table and learned to STACK my pieces on top of each other to save space. I wet block and set say sleeve #1, and use the same pins to lay sleeve #2 on top of my first. Same goes with my front and back pieces too. This method also maintains the integrity of my measurements  .
Btw, Congratulations on your FO!!
~ Lisa, Seattle |
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Dom2
New Pal
10 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2004 : 4:17:13 PM
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Congratulations on finishing a sweater! I always block my sweaters on a large towel on the floor. I find that washing them with something like Eucalan and spinning in the machine to get the excess water out speeds drying and leaves wool sweaters softer and smelling great. (I have the lavender scent)
I blocked sweaters and added at least a couple of inches in width and length - depending on the wool and the pattern. I just stretch them to the right size and pin the edges with blocking pins until dry. This even works for store bought sweaters that are a little snug. I hardly ever use steam because I think it flattens the fibers. Maybe I just never learned to do it correctly.
I bought a sweater blocker (one of those wooden tree-like tools) several years ago for blocking finished sweaters and it works okay but I still use the floor most often.
Good luck!
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cajpc@bellsouth.net
Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2004 : 5:46:30 PM
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| Be careful on the ribbing. I have stretched out the ribbing when steaming so I now assemble the garment and dryclean it. I no longer block as I like the way the drycleaning comes out. make sure you have a reliable cleaner. I know die hard knitters are totally against this but it works for me the modern knitter and I take my cottons, blends, wools, everything. |
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KnittingBug
New Pal
USA
33 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2004 : 08:02:07 AM
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What about blocking to "shrink" a garment? A few months ago I finished a 100% wool (Paton's Classic Wool all merino) cardigan for my husband. My gauge was spot-on for the front pieces and back, but "somehow" my sleeves ended up 6-8" too long!!! Since my husband is unwilling to have his arms stretched to fit, I was planning to just rip out and redo the sleeves to make them shorter, but what about blocking? Do you think I could block them shorter or would this also result in the sleeves becoming unbearably wide?
I appreciate your wisdom . . .
Mary |
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mokey
Permanent Resident
15375 Posts |
Posted - 10/25/2004 : 09:56:49 AM
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Mary, I think that would be too much to shrink. Why would you rip out the sleeve instead of just starting to rip from the ribbing? That's what I do if needed.
"There is no beauty in the finest cloth if it makes hunger and unhappiness." Gandhi |
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KnittingBug
New Pal
USA
33 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2004 : 08:50:30 AM
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Thanks Mokey! *Sigh* That's what I thought the answer would be. Also it's not feasible to rip out the cuffs only because they are meant to be folded back. Also the upper sleeve is too wide too, so I think I just need to ignore the pattern and knit sleeves to fit, as long as they still can be attached to the armhole.
Thanks again!
Mary |
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py-knitter
New Pal
26 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2004 : 3:39:37 PM
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Just a follow-up if anyone is curious...the blocking went great! It was my first experience and I'm not scared of it anymore.
Thanks to everyone for your help! The sweater turned out wonderfully!
Jess |
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BessH
Permanent Resident
3095 Posts |
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trisha
New Pal
39 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2004 : 7:27:10 PM
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| just wondering, do i have to block my acrylic sweater (my first one so i didn't want to spend money on wool yet) |
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SerMom
Permanent Resident
Canada
6412 Posts |
Posted - 11/14/2004 : 6:28:40 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by trisha
just wondering, do i have to block my acrylic sweater (my first one so i didn't want to spend money on wool yet)
The accepted wisdom is that acrylic doesn't really block, as the fibre has no memory. However, as long as you don't melt it, it can't really hurt, and may even out the stitches.
Barbara
Remember, we're self-selecting!
My photos: password: sermom
My blog:
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kristajo
Gabber Extraordinaire
Canada
436 Posts |
Posted - 11/14/2004 : 8:13:09 PM
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Acrylic has TOO MUCH memory - it bounces back to the way it's 'supposed to be'. Wool has the perfect amount of memory, and Cotton has none at all - which is why it stretches... and stretches... and stretches...
Krista Jo |
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