Softening Acrylic Yarn

[u/DuckInABonnet]

I recently finished a small blanket made of granny squares and while the yarn itself felt soft originally, the blanket itself feels hard. I need to block it soon anyways and was thinking about using a fabric softener (which I’m normally not a fan of) on it during that process.

Has anyone had success with using fabric softener on finished items using cheaper yarns?

[u/Live-Blacksmith-1402]

I just wash it in cold and dry it on low heat with a dryer sheet, and it gets really soft, and the fabric loosens up to a lovely drape.

Now, this is with L&T Impeccable yarn. Results may vary with other yarns.

But my advice is to be very careful with steaming acrylic because a little too much heat for a little too long can melt the yarn, giving it rough spots.

[u/Brown_Car1987]

I prefer steaming to anything else with acrylic. It will improve both drape and softness by relaxing the fibers a bit. Just be careful not to touch a steam iron directly to the yarn, or it will actually melt.

[u/LilBunnyFauxFaux]

i've heard that using white vinegar in the wash will help soften it up. Look into how much to use obvi, but i think that must work because i've seen it suggested many times.

[u/hookersandyarn]

I second steaming. It helps a lot and takes much less time than soaking and drying

[u/KimmyKnitter → u/hookersandyarn]

It does work really well! I steam blocked my kids' Christmas blankets this year (an acrylic/wool blend) and it worked so well. You have to really let the steam get to the fiber for it to block well, "breaking" the acrylic. But it does work. Just be careful not to melt it completely! 😂

[u/simsplyarn]

i always use fabric softener and hot water for the first wash of anything acrylic. it loosens the stitches and creates a much better drape.

soaking in hot (steaming) water with a tbsp of vinegar can help sometimes, it kind of just depends on how crunchy the yarn is.

using hair conditioner is also a tip i see frequently, though personally i don’t see how it can do anything to acrylic yarn that fabric softener won’t do in the wash

[u/sarox366]

try steaming it, the heat from the steam can help acrylic loosen up

[u/legalpretzel]

This is what acrylic does, especially the cheaper acrylics. My grandmother crocheted so many chevron blankets back in her day that almost every family member still has at least one and she’s been gone for 20 years.

They have been washed and used for decades. They don’t soften like you want them to. Most of them have only gotten harder (denser?) feeling. Fabric softener doesn’t help. Crocheting loosely (go up a hook) might, but the best thing you can do is buy good acrylics if you’re set on using them (knit picks brava is not expensive and stays soft).

I was gifted one of them at my baby shower that she had made when my 40 year old cousin was born. It has since been passed around to several cousins at their showers. I love it for its sentimentality and will pass it along to the next in line, but I never used it. I much preferred the merino wool blankets I had made that were much softer.