It will also need to accommodate you pinning your project down. You are going to want this surface to be able to absorb the moisture from steaming and to breath as the project dries. You are going to need a surface big enough to accommodate your project. You can still damage or over relax your yarn so diligence and attention are required in the technique and if you choose to use an iron that produces steam over a steamer (more about those choices in a bit) you should never touch the iron to your work. Acrylic yarn melts at 500 degrees Fahrenheit, the steamer I use only reaches 395 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it’s not something you can do as easily on accident as you might think. Sometimes this technique is used on purpose to set certain pieces such as masquerade masks or crocheted letter and number appliques. What this means is that you use the heat to literally melt the plastic fibers in the yarn, flattening and smoothing out the stitch definition, and removing stretch from the fabric of your work. Steam blocking acrylic often gets a bad rap because you can use this technique to ‘kill’ the acrylic. It’s truly a fantastic technique! This means that you can block a project, wash it (sometimes even dry it), gift it, and it will hold its shape! As you steam you can gently tug your stitches into place and when they cool they will “lock”. During steam blocking you will notice that your stitches relax and soften. Steam blocking acrylic, if done correctly is safe and permanent. This led me to research and experimentation into a way to block that lasts because I certainly couldn’t ask someone else to do it after every wash! As a result, in this past year I’ve discovered steam blocking and I’ll never go back. I use primarily acrylic yarns because the bulk of my projects end up being gifts or donations and I’ve found that it’s hard to pass on complicated care instructions. I love the finished look, the straight edges, and softer feel. I’m serious, I block everything, even if it doesn’t really need it. I’ve been crocheting for many years but I’ve only been blocking for the last two years and I have to tell you that I’m addicted.
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