Tip: Blocking Amigurumi
Ever wondered whether or not you need to block amigurumi projects? This question came up on a Ravelry forum, and my reply seemed to be helpful for a couple of people I thought I’d share my technique with you here.
For many amigurumi projects, you may choose to work with acrylic. Acrylic yarns, unlike wool, are generally not blocked. However, I’ve found that sometimes my amigurumi projects need a little extra help retaining their shape. Even with liberal stuffing, amigurumis can lose their shape “memory” after awhile.
I developed the idea of blocking acrylic when completing the Nest Box pattern. I wanted to give the piece form without stiffness. I tried spritzing the piece with water. This helped somewhat, but I wanted more body than water could provide. I turned to what I had on hand: sizing.
If you’re not familiar with sizing, it’s a laundry and ironing aid that provides body to fabric without the stiffness of starch. It’s commonly available at grocery stores next to the laundry detergent and spray starches. I happened to have Niagara brand sizing at home. I use it around the house all the time to release wrinkles from t-shirts and other clothes. I’m not a big fan of ironing. 
I sprayed a liberal amount over the piece, covering it completely but not soaking it. I shaped it and put in some clean paper to help the box retain the shape as it dried. I allowed it to dry overnight, and ended up with the desired effect: a blocked acrylic crochet project without stiffness. The sizing does not cause a color change to the yarn, nor is there a discernable difference to the touch once it’s dry. There is a fragrance, like fabric softener or dryer sheets, but this dissipates over a couple of days.
Be sure to try this technique on a swatch first before you spray down a project that you’ve spent hours creating. Hopefully, you’ll be as pleased with the result as I was.
Good luck!
