Blocking Acrylic Yarns

I love blocking knitted objects. The lumps and irregularities smooth down, the texture pops up, colors mesh and define, the fit of the garment comes true. All the attention to detail (every single stitch was made just so) bears fruit.

Blocking teaches the fibers, the stitches, and the shaping how to express itself. Wool's memory is directed with water. I add starch to cotton and linen to make the lesson stick. Acrylic, I recently learned is best blocked with steam. I knit a lace shawl called "Kimono Shawl" by Cheryl Oberle for our PSM at UUCSB with Vanna's Choice. In my ignorance, I wet blocked it. As I pulled out the pins the shawl sprung right back to its unblocked state. For about a day I pretended that it was blocked. Then I cast off my delusions, read my reference books, and Googled. I found this forthright and useful article: You Can Block Acrylic. I followed Beadknitter's advice and my shawl is beautifully and permanently blocked. At least, she says it is permanent.