How to Block Silk Yarn
Silk is a luxury fiber, which when spun into yarn and knitted or crocheted, creates a durable fabric with a heavy, flowing drape. Most knitting and crochet, particularly pieces made of natural fibers like silk, benefits from blocking after the project is complete. The fundamentals of blocking a piece of needlework entail wetting and pinning it into shape. The most common way of preparing an item for blocking is by hand washing it, but silk has a tendency to lose dye when submerged in water. A spray bottle allows you to dampen your silk piece while minimizing dye loss.
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Instructions
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Flatten a heavy cardboard box, such as a moving box, and lay it on the floor to create the surface into which you will stick your pins.
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Cover the cardboard with a heavy bath towel. Use an old one so it does not matter if the dye from the silk yarn leaches a bit.
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Lay your knitted or crocheted silk piece on top of the towel, stretch it into shape and secure the edges with straight pins. Pin directly through the towel and into the cardboard.
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Fill a spray bottle with room-temperature water and spray your silk piece until it is damp but not soaking wet.
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Allow the piece to dry thoroughly, which may take several days depending on climate and the gauge of your knitting.
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- Photo Credit green spray bottle image by Jim Mills from Fotolia.com
