Murielle wrote:

I have just been looking at the shawl under a magnifiying glass. I think it
must be man-made because of the way it's behaving. The fiber sticks
together, though I can separate it, but then it just sticks again. The
colour is a mix of blues and there appears to be a couple of nylon strands
mixed in with the fiber.

I used the baking soda in the water--not much, maybe half a cup in a washer
full of water--because I know baking soda softens water. The yarn is rough
and scratchy, it never used to be. I thought it would soften the fibers.
It didn't.


Murielle

In that case, I would definitely try a liquid fabric softener. They are
designed to smooth out made-made fibers. I would put a healthy dollop
of liquid fabric softener in a bowl or sink of fairly warm water, and
leave it to soak for a while, to make sure it gets into all the fibers.
Then I would rinse it in clear water, roll it in a towel to get out the
worst of the water and lay it flat to dry. I know that the folk who
rescue old dolls from yard sales and thrift stores, to clean them up and
dress them for charity, use this method every time for tangled doll hair.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.