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WendyB
Permanent Resident
3262 Posts |
 Posted - 01/01/2006 : 10:37:21 PM
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I first thought that making a full-sized afghan with Cascade 220 would be perfect because I like the feel of the wool, its colors, and the way it looks knitted up. Also, it is relatively cheap. Now I'm wondering if I'm nuts not to do it in something like Encore or even an all-acrylic yarn like Canadiana, because of the awkwardness of safely washing the finished product. I have seven of 25 12" squares done, and need advice - should I forget the idea of making the entire Great American Afghan in wool and make large pillowcases instead with the squares? I'm getting cold feet at the thought of handwashing such a big thing. Am I just being a wimp about it?
WendyB
Knit to your heart's delight. |
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Felted-Bag
Seriously Hooked
640 Posts |
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anderknit
Permanent Resident
USA
2557 Posts |
Posted - 01/01/2006 : 11:12:49 PM
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True, but how often does one have to launder an afghan? Once a year, at the end of afghan season, maybe? If your budget allows for the dry cleaning, I think a Cascade 220 afghan would be wonderful.
"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.' " |
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Lissa
Permanent Resident
USA
4942 Posts |
Posted - 01/01/2006 : 11:31:32 PM
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Why not use Cascade 220 superwash?
Lissa
During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a
revolutionary act. -- George Orwell
Oh, and I now have a blog:http://knittnlissa.typepad.com/knittnlissa/ |
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Felted-Bag
Seriously Hooked
640 Posts |
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SaintJay
Chatty Knitter
113 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2006 : 07:05:13 AM
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I've been thinking about this very thing! I want to make an afghan for my home. I'm not fond of acrylic for various reasons and would prefer to make it out of wool.
I wonder if the delicate cycle of a front loading washing machine would wash it w/o felting? |
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Boogie
Permanent Resident
USA
3073 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2006 : 07:59:02 AM
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I wash woolens in the washer. Fill with hot/warm water and soap - DO NOT LET THE MACHINE AGITATE - I swish it around a bit and let it soak for 15 minutes or so. Drain. Fill with cool water (not letting it get on the woolen item) Drain and spin. The woolens are half dry because most of the water is spun out - they only take half a day to completely dry when laid flat.
amy
http://theboogerblog.blogspot.com
http://www.spunkyhats.com |
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Aseneth
Chatty Knitter
157 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2006 : 08:28:22 AM
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I wash mine just like Boogie! Yes, over time I get some pilling/fuzzing, but I hate taking things to the dry cleaner. And, since I spin it on the most vigorous spin cycle they are almost dry when the come out! I spread them on my largest bed with a sheet under them (I don't know why I do that, I just do!) and turn my ceiling fan on, shut the door to keep out the cats, and they are dry in a matter of hours. Don't hesitate to use wool, it is the warmest you can get. I have made them from Encore, but they fuzzed even more than the wool (and a lot quicker I might add. Don't get me wrong, I like Encore and use it for kids things, but love my wool for afghans.)
Anyone else making or had made an afghan from Barbara Walker's Learn to Knit Afghan book?
[img]http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/knit.gif[/img] |
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WendyB
Permanent Resident
3262 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2006 : 09:10:37 AM
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Thanks for your replies!
Felted-Bag and Anderknit, Clara says on her yarn washing page that dry-cleaning "can significantly damage natural fibers," so I want to avoid that. I already bought all the yarn, so I COULD not finish the afghan and make a couple of dozen felted bags or a sweater with it instead. BUT.......Amy and Aseneth, if you swear on a stack of Barbara Walker Treasuries that my afghan is treatable in the manner you describe, I might go ahead with it. Our washer does have a "handwash" cycle, which soaks and occasionally moves the clothes around, then spins. I could skip using even that little agitation, just to be safe.
WendyB
Knit to your heart's delight. |
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Boogie
Permanent Resident
USA
3073 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2006 : 09:42:04 AM
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Yup, I swear on my knitting books I've not felted anything in that manner. That's similar to how I wash fleece right off the sheep (which is usually even easier to felt than yarn)
I think you could use the delicate cycle and cold water (maybe putting the afghan in a pillowcase so it won't snag on anything in the washer).
amy
http://theboogerblog.blogspot.com
http://www.spunkyhats.com |
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The Irish Ewe
Permanent Resident
USA
1052 Posts |
Posted - 01/02/2006 : 3:51:53 PM
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This is also how Green Mountain Spinnery washes ALL their yarns - it works! If you need the practice, grab an old wool sweater, measure it all over, wash it as posted above, and compare.
The Irish Ewe
Norway, Maine
http://www.TheIrishEwe.com |
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spindyerella
Seriously Hooked
601 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2006 : 09:24:42 AM
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| I'm thinking of doing one in superwash. I just think wool would be so much nicer than acrylic or even acrylic blend. |
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Elaine in NJ
Gabber Extraordinaire
584 Posts |
Posted - 01/03/2006 : 11:34:50 AM
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I wash woolens in the washing machine, too, but in COLD water, delicate cycle, gentle spin. I let it go the full cycle. Works fine. as long as the afghan's not too big to go in the washer, it should be fine.
Life is too short to waste it on acrylic. |
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