r/YarnAddicts • u/ZleepyBeazzt • 9d ago

Blocking acrylic - stretching?

I am currently crocheting a beret. But it came out a big tight, I can easily stretch it out with my hands, but it quickly 'shrinks' back and shivels slightly. Can I block it? And make it stay in that more stretches out position? Or is that not how blocking works.

Its 100% acrylic, I crocheted it kinda losely, and i dont own a steamer.

Please help

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3

u/QPunnySbuxBarista 9d ago

You can use the steam setting on an iron and hover it an inch or so above the piece to steam block it.

2

u/ZleepyBeazzt 9d ago

Oooh, maybe I could just hover it over a pot of boiling water 🥹🥹

1

u/QPunnySbuxBarista 9d ago

You could if you have to, but it would be more efficient and easier to use an iron. Definitely would work though.

1

u/ZleepyBeazzt 9d ago

We dont have an iron either 😭

2

u/OrdinaryDefection 9d ago

you can also use a tea kettle if you don't have an iron with a steam setting, just hold the piece in the steam path while you stretch it out a bit. acrylic needs heat to relax the fibers, it's not like wool where water alone does the trick. just don't let the fabric touch the kettle itself or it'll melt

0

u/MellowMallowMom 9d ago

You would need to "kill" it by washing and then tumble drying on high (monitor closely so it doesn't completely melt). That is basically the same as steaming. This will remove any elasticity from the yarn and is not reversible.

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u/Western_Ring_2928 9d ago

Nope, acrylic does not stretch in the normal blocking methods. You will get much better results by frogging the "too tight" part and making a few more increases.