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Question:

Help me with my knitted scarf?

Ok, I just knit a scarf made out of yarn that's 72% Acrylic, 23% Polyester, and 5% Lurex. I used Stockinette stitch and gave it garter stitch borders so it won't curl but did anyway, I wanted to flatten it out a bit and give it a softer touch by ironing it, I put a damp cloth over it and ironed it on med-low heat, so now the scarf looks lifeless and not so neat, it got really flat. Please tell me what I can do to save this scarf, will washing it do the trick? Also, can you tell me the pros and cons of using Acrylic yarn. What type of yarn do you consider best for knitting scarves and handbags? Your input is highly appreciated, thank you!

Answer:

using stockin stitch with a garter stitch boarder will still have the piece curl a little. try making the scarf in stockin stitch and then pick up stitch all around the scarf and work 2 inches or so of garter stitch. that way the scarf wont curl.
There probably isn't anything you can do to restore the life and bounce to it now. Heat alters acrylic and *kills* the memory and crimp in the yarn. It loses a lot when heated like this. BTW, those fibers are all acrylics of some form, IOW, plastic. While acrylic is cheap, widely available, and comes in lots of colors, it isn't warm when wet, loses it's life when heated (dryers do this to it too), and will not extinguish itself when removed from the source of fire. It also pills easily. It may last forever, but that may be its only good point. For scarves, and I admit fully that I am a natural fiber knitter, wool and wool blends with other animal fibers, make nice, warm, well behaved scarves. Purses, well, cotton or wools make nice purses. I've got a felted bag right now that I love made from 100% wool. As for stockinette stitch and rolling, you need a good inch to inch and a half worth of garter stitch to prevent rolling. The thicker the yarn, the wider the border needs to be.
i'm no longer responsive to a 'consumer-friendly', altho there could be one. For any variety of headscarf (knit, crochet, sewn), I generally objective for 31/2 to 4 feet long and around 9 huge. I generally initiate with a length that would artwork for me and regulate it for the adjustments between me and the recipient. in case you like it extra dramatic, make it longer (extra effective than 6 feet starts to get risky, tho).

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