For many needlewomen, the need to unravel a product they have tied, be it a dress or a children's sweater, becomes a real challenge. The fact is that most types of yarn, after they have been used for their intended purpose, become absolutely unsuitable for re-knitting or crocheting due to the fact that they lose their shape. Let's find out whether it is possible to restore a presentable appearance to the threads from which something has already been knitted.
How to straighten yarn after unraveling: popular methods
Many craftswomen, having heard from one of their friends that they are unraveling old sweaters, may wonder why this is necessary. In most cases, reusing knitting threads will save money. In addition, the desire to loosen a thing and knit something new may be dictated by new fashion trends or changes in the figure. In addition, even a product that has not lost its fashionable position can be torn or dirty, which will make its recycling a priority.
Before you rack your brains over ways to straighten yarn, you need to know how to unravel knitted items correctly. Simply untying the knot on the last loop is not enough; there are several nuances that need to be taken into account.
Advice! Before processing, the product must be washed and dried, laid out on a hard and flat surface.
If the product is knitted on the machine, it will unravel with the thread coming off. This can be indicated by special marks on the edges. Whole things unravel very quickly if you find a thread to pull.
To make it easier to work with the freed yarn in the future, it is recommended to roll it into balls when unraveling. You can use foam rubber, cotton wool or a plastic bobbin as the basis for the ball.
One of the easiest ways to straighten threads is washing. This type of processing helps not only return the threads to their original shape, but also removes dust and dirt.
Important! Before washing, the yarn must be collected into skeins by winding the thread around the bend of the elbow.
The resulting skeins are washed in warm water, to which a few drops of a special detergent for washing delicates and woolen items are added. Rinsing can also be done in water to which conditioner has been added, which will make the threads softer and more manageable.
Important! Yarn, especially those made from natural fibers, should not be wrung out. Such threads must be dried on a hard and flat surface away from direct heat sources. You can place a terry towel under them to absorb excess water.
The second most polar and effective method for straightening used threads is the “colander method.” To work you will need the following tools:
- a wide and deep saucepan or other heat-resistant container;
- metal colander with a fine mesh;
- a metal bowl whose diameter matches the colander;
- some water.
Process step by step:
- The yarn wound into a ball is placed in a colander, which is placed over a pan of water.
- The top of the thread is covered with a lid.
- The structure is placed on the stove and the fire is turned on at full power. The water should boil.
- After the water boils, turn the heat down and leave the pan on the stove for 2-3 hours.
Important! It is necessary to monitor the water level in the pan, as it may boil over.
After the required time has passed, the yarn is taken out of the water and dried on a radiator.
Advice! You can add a few drops of aromatic natural oil to the water.
Those who do not trust new straightening methods should resort to their grandmother’s method, which involves using a stool as a working machine. The loose threads are reeling around two legs of a stool and left in this form for several days. From tension they will straighten and smooth out.
How to straighten threads after unraveling in the microwave
For those who have a microwave in their kitchen, you can significantly speed up the long process of reviving previously used yarn. To work, you will need several plastic bags and small pieces of cotton fabric (a kitchen towel or a baby diaper).
Process step by step:
- the fabric is moistened in water, skeins of yarn are laid out on it;
- everything is placed in a plastic bag and placed in the microwave;
- The oven is turned on to maximum mode, the timer is set for two minutes.
If the specified time is not enough, the procedure can be extended for another couple of minutes.It is important to monitor how the thread “reacts” to such processing.
Various methods of steaming yarn for straightening
If none of the methods described above helped, there are several more techniques that are used by experienced needlewomen to save previously used threads. Here are a few of them:
- Using an iron. This method is best used on individual sections of thread that were used to knit certain elements. It is also worth considering that after ironing the threads become flatter. The twisted thread is placed on an ironing board and covered with damp gauze on top. The ends that do not need processing are secured on both sides so that they do not interfere. The iron is moved along the gauze, trying not to stop for a long time in one place. If the iron has a “steam” mode, it is better to turn it on.
- Steaming over a saucepan. Yarn wound into small balls can be held over a steaming pan, which will help quickly and efficiently straighten twisted threads. As a handle, you can use a long fork with two prongs used for cutting meat and poultry.
- Steaming in a kettle. A small teapot with boiling water poured into it will help restore any threads to their former presentable appearance. To do this, you need to insert the end of the thread wound into a ball through the spout of the kettle and pull it out of the hole at the top covered with a lid. You need to pull the thread very slowly, giving it time to come into contact with steam and hot water.
Natural wool can become much denser from contact with steam. Artificial acrylic, on the contrary, will only become softer and more elastic from taking steam baths.
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