how to soften mercerized cotton

It'll be cleaner AND softer.Cotton yarn tends to slip around too much on crochet hooks that have a slick, polished finish.

Measure 1/2 cup of salt in a measuring cup and pour it into the water.Mix the salt water with a wooden spoon and add the shirt.

Not only are these shirts uncomfortable, but they can also drape in unnatural shapes and show unusual wrinkles no amount of ironing will remove.

Cotton yarn tends to be heavy, especially when wet. While it may be tempting to skip, a good blocking is the key to taking your crochet projects from a homemade vibe to a polished and professional one. Doing so is not only a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, it's also a great way to use your stitching skills for good.

It is very strong and durable weaving yarn and has a nice sheen. Our 10/2 and 5/2 mercerized cotton yarn from Ashford is a high quality weaving yarn that is great for fine hand woven projects like tablerunners, curtains, napkins, scarves or fine crocheting projects. If you make something that feels too rough, throw it in the washing machine a few times. She has worked for the minority publishing company Elite Media Group Inc., Ball Bearings online magazine, "Ball State Daily News" and "The Herald Bulletin." If you are making something where strength of the fabric or structure is important than mercerized cotton will be a better option. Allow the fabric to soak overnight. Crocheting a flat circle seems pretty straightforward: crochet in rounds, throw in some increases and — bam!

Place about 3 cups of water in a quart jar, then add about a cup of apple cider vinegar and 1/2 cup of regular hair conditioner. Using this process dyes are better able penetrate the fibers. The colors of fall look great in foliage, but the warm hues are even prettier in crochet projects.

And while you might assume it's as easy as picking a button and sewing it on, adding buttons to your crochet takes a bit of planning.

Here are some must-know tips to get you started.

Sometimes simpler is just better, and this crochet necklace proves it.

Although hot water is better at softening fabric, it can also cause unwanted shrinking.Add the shirt and a softening dryer sheet to the clothing dryer.

Ambrose holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Ball State University. Oh, and you can make it in under an hour! Dryer sheets have no effect on fabric colors.Vinegar, fabric softener and dryer sheets all remove stiffness from cotton fabric.

If the fabric is delicate, wash it in a tub or basin with cool water and add 2 to 3 tablespoons of the fabric softener, then allow it to soak for 20 to 30 minutes. It'll just stay droopy, like a big yawn. Put the wet cotton fabric in the dryer and add one or two dryer sheets for an added boost of softness or as a substitute for using the vinegar or liquid fabric softener.

My mother was allergic to the chemicals that kept clothes looking nice on the store racks, and her dermatologist gave her this advice many years ago. The primrose stitch, a variation on the shell stitch, is perfect for beginner crocheters who want to get into intermediate-stitch territory.

If you want Easter to be the cutest it can be, you've got to make a few amigurumi projects.

Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. It's also a go-to for seasoned stitchers, as it helps bring lots of gorgeous texture to projects. Vinegar dissolves stuck-on soap.

These patterns are all easy to whip up too, so choose your fave and get going. Other fabrics such as denim or canvas are naturally stiff and heavy.

The process was devised about 1844 by John Mercer, who treated cotton with solutions of 55–65 °Tw (20–30%) sodium hydroxide, followed by washing.

So start perfecting that magic ring and pick your favorite pattern below!

Let the shirt soak in the bucket for up to three days.