soften Red Heart yarn?

[rhiandmoi]

If you wash the FO in a heavy agitation load like with just it and a pair of jeans that goes a long way to softening it. You are basically thrashing the heck out of it.

[KatintheCappello]

lol thanks guys!

everyone keeps suggesting simply soft but we don't have it around here. =(  It's either Red Heart, Lion Brand or really super nice and REALLY super expensive handspun local yarns.

so I'm thinking cheapo $ store fabric softener in a spray botter and a few runs through the wash? Or should I splurge for nice softener?

[nataleeza]

What I tend to do with the blankets I crochet (I always make them out of acrylic, ppl can't be trusted to treat your lovingly handmade stuff properly!) is to get the iron, set it to steam, then steam the heck out of it.  Make sure you don't touch the yarn as it will melt.

But, if you pass lots of steam over it a few times, it softens, and goes a bit shiny.  Try it on a swatch if it worries you, but I discovered it by accident, and I've done it ever since.

[jmkelsey]

Think about maybe return some of the red heart yarn, then go to Wal-mart and buy "Caron Simply Soft",  yarn.  They are comparable in price but incomparable in cuddliness.  Otherwise crochet with looser stitches.  This will add flexibility to the end product.

[givemegrace]

I'm a fan of Caron's Simply Soft, as well.  It's perfect for hats, but it tends to spilt after a lot of wear.  I absolutely love TLC Essentials for scarves.  It's a soft, almost fluffly acrylic and it runs anywhere from two to three dollars.  It comes in beautiful colors, too. 

This probably isn't the best way to treat a handmade scarf or hat, but after handwashing any item I make from a rougher-feeling yarn I soak it in warm water and liquid fabric softener for about ten minutes.  (The fabric softener breaks down cotton over time, and I'm guessing it does the same with acrylics.)  I rinse the item well and hang it to dry or put it in one of those mesh laundry bags and stick it in the dryer on delicate or gentle. 

[PlayItGeorge]

Might I suggest ordering online?  You can get some really cheap stuff online particularly at smileysyarns.com.  It's a minimum of $40/order...but $40 there will buy you enough yarn to last a year or two.  There are other websites that offer low end yarns for cheap and sometimes you'll come across free shipping.

Also might want to sign up for JOann.com.  You can buy online from them and they often have online coupon specials and free shipping specials.  They have more yarn available online than in the store in my experience.

[diosaperdida]

I sometimes brush it..it makes it kind of mohair-like....and alot softer.
You have to use a "regular" brush...not a vent type brush. One with bristles is what I mean. It really does help..and bright colors soften in yummy ways.

[jeanniepep]

I'm with you George, try shopping online!  You can often find good discounts.  I've bought huge batches of Lion Homespun (my favorite) on Ebay, enough for an afghan and all the same dye lot, for a fraction of the per-skein price at Walmart or Joann.  I didn't think the Caron Simply Soft was such a good deal online, simply because it is so cheap in person the shipping costs take it up too high.  It is super sweet yarn though!  My Simply Soft afghan is my hands-down favorite.  Sooooo soft and really heavy.

Mary Maxim online has fantastic sales sometimes too, as does Herrschners (sp?).  Google them to find their sites, then look for clearance and sale links.  They often have really high-end stuff on clearance.

Another good place to shop, in my experience, is garage sales and Goodwill!  You never know when some knitter/crocheter is going to give up the hobby, or abandon a project that they stocked up for and never made.  You can often find stuff SUPER CHEAP that way.  It's harder to find enough in one color, so you have to be creative with patterns.  It's a bit of an exciting treasure hunt though!

[goldencrafter]

lol thanks guys!

everyone keeps suggesting simply soft but we don't have it around here. =(  It's either Red Heart, Lion Brand or really super nice and REALLY super expensive handspun local yarns.

so I'm thinking cheapo $ store fabric softener in a spray botter and a few runs through the wash? Or should I splurge for nice softener?

I know your frustration, I too have to squeze every pennie dry. Use Red Heart Super Saver it won't kill anybody. While I have never tryed brushing it does sound like it would work best on a small project. I have just finished a round ripple and it was a little itchy so I put it in the washer with a couple of my daughters clothes (jeans would work too) and washed it. My daughter is alergic to liquid fabric softener so I don't use it, when it was done I then put it in the dryer with two dryer sheets and perfecto it's softer. Everytime you wash it try useing two dryer sheets I have done this for years and every afghan I have made with RH come out great.

[KatintheCappello]

I know your frustration, I too have to squeze every pennie dry. Use Red Heart Super Saver it won't kill anybody. While I have never tryed brushing it does sound like it would work best on a small project. I have just finished a round ripple and it was a little itchy so I put it in the washer with a couple of my daughters clothes (jeans would work too) and washed it. My daughter is alergic to liquid fabric softener so I don't use it, when it was done I then put it in the dryer with two dryer sheets and perfecto it's softer. Everytime you wash it try useing two dryer sheets I have done this for years and every afghan I have made with RH come out great.

Thank you for actually reading the thread. =)
I will definitely try this!!