Is Dry Cleaning OK for a Lace Gift?

Dry Cleaning is Wet
by Jackie E-S

QUESTION —

Bettie Sue wrote about the Colorful Splendor Lace Scarf with this question:

What a wonderful choice for my first choice for my first lace project! The combination of written and graph directions was a great way to learn … Now that it is all blocked, should I advise the wearer to have it dry cleaned when necessary, since she won't have blocking materials? I made it from KnitPicks'Shimmer -- alpaca and silk.

ANSWER —

Thank you for taking the time to write. I am glad you enjoyed making the Colorful Splendor Lace Scarf.

Usually I don't trust dry cleaners. Besides the fact that your recipient would be trusting your precious gift to harsh chemicals, the dry cleaning process is really done with a wet solution!

If you have blocked the scarf well to begin with, the next times it usually won't take much blocking to get it to look nice again. Especially with the alpaca and silk, probably just a light finger blocking on a flat surface (i.e. no special equipment needed) will be enough.

I'd advise the recipient to soak in mild detergent, then rinse (no agitation), press out majority of water while wrapped in a towel (don't twist), then finger block on any flat surface where some moisture will not be a problem.

Leave the scarf lying flat until thoroughly dry. If the recipient does not have a large enough surface to lay the entire scarf flat in a single layer, it can be laid in a double layer so as to take up less space.

Do you have a Question about knitting technique or skill? Please email me and I will consider it for an upcoming Q&A.

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