euroflax linen

[removed10]

Silly me - I bought two skeins and when I got home, sat down to begin knitting with the beautiful purple - and my stars, it is so stiff and won't cooperate - I can't even cast on...how should I soften it up so I can actually knit with it?? I know the finished item will soften with use and washing but how the heck do I get it softened up enough to start knitting!? Thanks!

[MissDee]

Hi Cosmic,
euroflax linen?? What's that?? Maybe you have to chew it and the saliva softens it!!!!! No joking!
Perhaps gentle handwash..I know cemicals (colours and sizing etc) are used in production so perhaps it's just that?
Leaving in fabric conditioner/softener? You've probably tried these already...Have you googled or wikipedia it...I'm about to as it sounds interesting!

[MissDee]

Hi cosmic,
try reading this
http://http://www.knittersreview.com...TOPIC_ID=52444

so you've to knit it up first then wash....

[removed10]

euroflax

Knitters Review is a nifty site - thanks!

Well, I just happened to see Euroflax linen at Patternworks.com and they had this new blurb:

Louet
The finest linen available, this old favorite has a new feel! This 4-ply, custom-spun, long-line,wet-spun linen is now processed with a softening agent...

Well. Maybe I am not the only person to have difficulty using it, and obviously I have two skeins of the OLD version, NOT the new more manageable one. Blast.

Okay, so I have twisted it in a towel, I have whacked the skein against the back of a kitchen chair...I crumpled it up as much as i could - I think it may be a tad looser now...but you're right, I should just go ahead and wash the skein. Then I can advertise the towel as made from "prewashed linen for luxurious softness."

[MissDee]

Hi Cosmic,
I was thinking about washing the skeins....I remembered I used to rip out my daughters grown out of woollens, skien them up and leave to soak, then rinse and hang to dry on the washing line. They knitted up as new!
jacqui

[removed10]

euroflax

Have not gotten up the courage to wash it as yet, don't ask me why. Afraid of tangles I guess. My plan is to tie it up really well in several places, because of course I had untied it...and put it in a mesh bag and of course use the gentle cycle. But with my luck, it will be a big wad of knots anyway. Doom and gloom.

There was a rather successful etsy person a couple of years ago who unraveled thrift store sweaters and knit new ponchos out of them! They were very attractive despite being made of such varied yarns - in fact, it added to the somewhat whimsical charm of the poncho!

I get the occasional wool sweater at Goodwill to felt and then cut out shapes to stitch onto things. Now, with the new legislation over here regarding the testing of anything meant for children, I can't buy used kids' wool sweaters...which was a good source for felting material.

[ElaineJ]

My mum used to unravel knitted garments and put the skeins into a pressure cooker - no movement as in washing.

If you rewound the skein round 3 0r 4 pegs as in preparing a warp for weaving and tied with the figure 8 threading then you could steam them - no risk of tangling. This should soften the yarn I would think.

[removed10]

euroflax

What a fascinating idea!! I'll try it!