This will help you to line up seams and to even out the garment to make the joining easier. Advertisement. How to block a sweater Fill your sink or basin with lukewarm waterand wool wash if desired. I ended up with this … Seeing as I’ll be blocking my sweater soon, I’d love to hear your tips and tricks for blocking! In anticipation of blocking a blanket I'm working on, I started shopping around for a blocking mat. When you block a sweater, you are setting the stitches and evening out the fabric in addition to preserving the correct sizing. For most items, a quick smoothing/stretching with your hands, before letting them dry flat is enough. Knit Picks has mats that pack up into a carry case. ALL IMAGES AND MATERIALS ARE COPYRIGHTED BY CRAFTS AMERICANA UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. However, you don’t need to invest in blocking boards to block your crochet and/or knit project. After 20 years of teaching knitting, I’ve never grown tired of instructing my Using wires and T-pins, pin the knitting on your blocking mat, according to the project schematic. This often involves blocking the sweater to the proper dimensions. You may need to block again if your project gets wet (like if … If your knitting is still damp, allow it to dry before removing. Probably not. Lay the garment flat on a towel and roll the towel up. It also gives a good idea of what your finished project will be like when it’s washed later. Yarns, especially wool ones, can change shape much more easily when they’re wet. Using too few pins if you’re trying to stretch your project will result in an undesirable final shape. This is great for drying my handwashed sweaters. Your blocking board will need to be in a location where it can remain undisturbed until the blocking is finished, which can range from just a few minutes to more than a day, depending on the circumstances. In hot weather, blocked knits will dry in a few hours. You should always consult the washing instructions for your yarn before blocking or washing your sweater. The sweater will dry more quickly in a warm, dry location. The reduction remained after the blocking pins were removed. 99 £32.99 £32.99. ( Log Out /  Stainless steel T pins or Blocking pins. I’m not counting them as special equipment, but, it’s worth getting some with large, easy-to-see heads if you don’t have them already. (Hey—my favorite method for hand-washing is in that wool article too—good timing!) Use the spray bottle to mist the knitted fabric surface until it feels most. I have a shawl to block and I have been looking for some alternative methods; thanks! We show you how a curled-up shawl can be stretched and placed on a towel. £29.99 £ 29. Blocking is the final step of making your project. But I know that the results will make all of the hard work worth it! When you have pressed out as much water as is appropriate, spread your project on a dry towel (or on a blocking board). STEP 2: Fill a spray bottle with water, and spray your project until it is damp. A blocking mat is a great choice. Test out your blocking method on a small swatch first. I hope this helps demystify blocking for you! Happy knitting! A Frugal Knitters Wooly Board is a great way for crafty types to make their own Sweater Blocking Frame out of PVC pipe and fittings instead of the traditional wood. I’m really glad it was helpful! Today’s topic: Blocking. I brought 2inch t-pins from Joann fabrics, but they were not 100% steel, but nickel, and steel. great ideas, here! Hold your iron over the part you want to adjust (don’t flatten it) and fill it with steam. Sometimes more dramatic blocking is part of what makes a pattern shine, like stretching lace as much as possible to make the most of the open areas in the pattern. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ), You can also stretch/shape your object while it’s dry, and then steam it to set the shape. This can be as simple as gently stretching and patting a sweater so that it looks good flat, and leaving it to dry. Using a large spray bottle of chemical-free water, mist the piece thoroughly until it is lightly wet (semi-saturated). Spray blocking is the most gentle blocking process and is great for expensive and delicate fibers like silk and cashmere. After blocking, sweater parts lay flat, stitches even out, and what looked like a wild mess now behaves nicely. get it completely submerged in water, then press in a towel to semi-dry (do not wring) Could they possible rust? It's true that some of your sweaters might require re-blocking every time you wash them (consider wearing a bib next time you order soup!). In general, to block you wet the item, then reshape it on a flat surface to the shape you want it to take when dry. This is why for most cases you should block your swatch the same way you will wash the finished thing. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! As for your Georgina, I have a few words to say about that. With a little care and attention, you can transform a crumpled piece of knitting into a bea… If your knitting is still damp, allow it to dry before removing. Favorite Add to More colors Granny Square Blocking Board, Afghan Squares Wooden Blocker Custom HiBusyBees. Note: do not do this in stocking feet. You have a … Feel free to look around here for tutorials and inspiration, and to reach out if you have questions! Allow the sweater to dry for at least 12-15 hours on one side. Your knitting should dry in a day or 2 depending on the climate (I love blocking outside in the summer, it’s so quick!). Wet Blocking . (You can use several towels layered over one another to create an appropriate blocking surface.) Lace may need to be re-blocked to look its crispest, but it won’t go all the way back to how it looked before you blocked it the first time. You could purchase a blocking mat specifically marketed for blocking, but a similar item will suffice. How do I block something without special gadgets? During its first wash, a knitted garment will undergo a profound change — for a woolen handknit, the fibers will plump up and cohere into a beautifully even and sturdy fabric. Thanks for letting me know. Blocking makes … This way, if you misread the yarn label, melt your yarn, or twist it out of shape, you’ve only messed up your swatch and not the sweater you’ve spent months making. I'll probably say yes. I have a few seams to finish up and ends to weave in, and then it is going to need a good blocking session. If you need just one smaller blocking mat, this 12″ x 12″ would work just fine. February News: Cabled Accessories & Limited Edition Hawthorne. Favorite Add to More colors Granny Square Blocking Board, Afghan Squares Wooden Blocker Custom HiBusyBees. ), I knew I still had a bit of work ahead of me. Mesh Hanging Sweater Dryer - Large. Use some no-rinse wool wash if the garment needs to be cleaned. The video also shows you what to do for the three different blocking methods (wet, spray and steam). Blocking with steam can work well too, we just prefer to wet-block because it is very effective and thorough. Stretch and shape it with your hands, patting wrinkled areas out, smoothing ridges parallel, etc. This often involves blocking the sweater to the proper dimensions. Above are two pixie bonnets. A sweater before blocking. Blocking Knitting Without Special Equipment. ( Log Out /  First check your yarn label to make sure that the yarn/wool can get wet/be washed. Try again, this time squeezing more water out before pinning. Before blocking knitting, weave in all loose ends; the blocking process will help secure the ends in place. In the pattern, I say to block the lace portions before attaching the … STEP 3: I used to demonstrate blocking with pieces of carpet, but … After subsequent wearing of the sweater, wash the garment as the yarn label indicates. Will I have to block my knitting every time I wash it? When it comes to man-made fibers, I follow the washing instructions on the yarn label, which don’t usually require hand washing and setting out flat to dry. When your finished project is clean and damp, it’s ready to block. Don’t be intimidated by blocking. First, you’ll set up your foam blocking boards (or whatever you’re pinning to). It was fiddly to reduce the size of the swatch, but it was successful. When it comes to acrylic yarn, I always thought you had to block by spraying water on it and letting it dry on a blocking board! Take 2 of the 90cm rods, drill a 6mm diameter, 2.5cm deep hole into one end of each rod. Bring your hand knit items to their full potential with blocking pins, wires and boards. Pin in place any pieces that try to shrink back, away from the shape you want. Wet blocking is one of the most transformative processes in knitting. It’s like magic! For medium/heavy blocking, leave the cloth in place until it has dried. As you knit, you make a new structure—a fabric—with your yarn. Lay out your piece on your blocking boards and begin pinning it to the measurements the pattern specifies. (This is my Indigo Boomerang, made with handspun. To block large items such as afghans or shawls, for example, a guestroom bed or a large, well-padded … These results would probably not have been the same if the swatches had been made of another fiber, or I had used another blocking method. I believe that by making and mending our own things, we can bring some much-needed joy and thoughtfulness to modern life. I usually just put my blocking board on my king-sized bed, and allow the piece to extend past the blocking board on to the bed, as it will. Instead I decided to experiment with different sizes of rolled up towels, and found a combo which was the right size to block it around. In blocking we take advantage of the fact that the yarn can form new shapes, and influence those shapes in the direction we want. It finally looks good to me; the fabric has opened up and moves more now. What are your secrets for blocking your sweaters into shape? Regardless of whether you block with or without steam, make sure your pieces are dry before moving them. Although I cast off all of my stitches (and felt like celebrating! Cover a clean area of carpet or mattress with a bedsheet or pin straight into your blocking board or blocking mats. Choosing a Blocking board. I think if I knit a lot of lacy shawls and things then getting a “real” blocking setup with wires etc. To block your project, you’ll need just a few supplies. It takes a little practice to get a sweater off and on without help, it is much easier with a helper. To wet block your sweater you will need several colorfast towels and a surface that you can sink pins into. Step on the towel to gently press out excess water. If you’re working with a piece that has a lot of texture or cables, you’ll want to pin it right side up. Regardless of whether you block with or without steam, make sure your pieces are dry before moving them. For my sweaters, the weight of the bottom bar pulling down on the sleeve seam works fine. It was a bulkier gauge sweater, and hadn't relaxed enough during steam-blocking. Everyone should have sewing pins, they’re useful for all kinds of things. You can buy fancy blocking … Blocking allows you to straighten yarn projects without ironing, as ironing could damage the fibers. Ask me how I know this. If you are making numerous granny squares or motifs, why waste time pinning and blocking each one individually? It is lumpy and ill-fitting. Wet Blocking. (Forgive the weird indoor lighting. What should I do? (Note: the underside of the fabric should be damp). 1. I like plain flat-head pins for sewing, but they get lost in the structure of hand knits. Blocking is actually a simple concept. For medium/heavy blocking, leave the cloth in place until it has dried. I will say that my frugal self searched for the least expensive, largest foam mats I could find. FREE Delivery by Amazon. Doing so may distort the stitches beyond correction. Some pins and a place to hold them will do, and sometimes you don’t even need that. Get it Tomorrow, Feb 8. If your garment is going to be pieced together, you should block the pieces before sewing them up. After investing a great deal of time into knitting a sweater, you want to give it a beautiful finish. All content and images are copyright Tasha Miller Griffith, unless otherwise noted. They allow you to block things to shape, maximising straight lines without the dreaded pin pulled v-shapes you get if you only use pins. If your project does dry with wrinkles, a little steam will fix that right up. That way you can match a blocking technique that is best suited for the fiber type of your sweater. This allows these rods to be pinned together. Using a hot iron, press lightly down on the pillowcase, forcing steam through the fabric. Jan 24, 2019 - Do It Yourself and Save! When you block a sweater, you are setting the stitches and evening out the fabric in addition to preserving the correct sizing. It is perfect for people who hate pinning crochet blocks down (or are too lazy to block them as they make them – like me). Usually after the initial drying period, the pins are not as crucial. Your knitting will have a not-so-fresh smell to it. If you are worried about touching the knitting with the steamer, you can place a thin towel or sheet between the heat and the sweater. After blocking, sweater parts lay flat, stitches even out, and what looked like a wild mess now behaves nicely. Blocking mats are made of foamy material, easy to pin into. sold specifically for blocking, you don’t need to use any of those to get good results. To wet block your sweater you will need several colorfast towels and a surface that you can sink pins into. I read that some have caused rust. It works really well for squares that are the same size and just need a bit of encouragement and TLC. For big items I stretch an old sheet over my bed (see below). PUMEO 12" x 12" Blocking Mats - Pack of 9 Extra Thick Grid Boards for Knitting, … The sweater will dry more quickly in a warm, dry location. I use children’s play mats to block my projects, like the Pineapples for Everyone Shawl, a free … I tuck a doubled-over old sheet in tight over the bed covers. Any fan will do, position it a few feet away from the blocking board so the air is blowing across the garment. As I noticed that many crocheters did not know how to block acrylic yarn, I decided to write a tutorial for you on how to do just that. If you don’t have a spray bottle, you may also lay damp cloths or towels on the sweater to achieve the same results. ... You can buy blocking boards or mats, or repurpose other items you may already have in your house, like a padded ironing board or children’s foam play mats. I’m in love with this soap and can’t wait to start washing all my delicates in it. Usually I just stretch out my FOs on the floor but this one involves lace and a lot of stretching to get the right shape, so I figured it was time to be a grown up and get an actual blocking mat and pins. Haley Pierson-Cox from Red-Handled Scissors is a maker of crafts, a lover of cats, an avid swearing enthusiast, a cross-stitch book author, and a general purveyor of quirk. Many patterns come with … Blocking boards are helpful because they have a grid and you can use the measurements to stretch your fabrics to size. Use some no-rinse wool wash if the garment needs … You don’t want to touch the steamer or iron directly to the fabric because it could flatten the stitches or create an undesirable sheen. Most knitting patterns will include a schematic that tells you the blocking … The board needs to be able to handle pins, moisture and heat. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The more we can all understand what’s going on with our yarn at various stages and why, the more we can get the results we want. Unless something extreme happens to it, it will stay more or less how you blocked it, with the additional influence of how it’s worn. Over the weekend, I finished up a sweater that has been lingering on my needles for ages! © 2021 BY CRAFTS AMERICANA. A lot of times I use the same folded piece of flannel that I iron on. Also I am featuring the awesome blocking boards from Chetnanigans as they are truly the best to work with.. Do this twice if the first towel does not remove all of the excess water. You will see, lower down, that this method does … There are also tutorials for making your own blocking board. In blocking we take advantage of the fact that the yarn can form new shapes, and influence those shapes in the direction we want. But I don’t, I’m into making and wearing more “everyday” things (and I don’t want to buy and store equipment I won’t use very often), so blocking with what I have on hand makes more sense to me. It’s gentler on the fibers, and gives them a chance to relax before being under tension. You can ask me how I know this tidbit, too. These are a marvellous tool and well worth the financial investment. To steam block a garment, you will prepare it just as you would for spray blocking above. $8.99 Fork Blocking Pins. Pin the pieces out to desired dimensions, wrong side up. ** Spread out your knitting to … At any time of year, blocking is a waiting game. A damp yarn object is easier to shape. I use cold water and my favorite wool wash, for at least 15 minutes. When the sweater is noticeably drier on the front, I flip the sweater over and leave it flat to dry for another 8-10 hours — without blocking pins. This is a way of squishing out the extra water without wringing. For example, if you're blocking a blanket that needs to be 3 by 3 feet (91 cm × 91 cm), line the corners of the blanket on the corner of the board and pull the blanket flat to that size. 4.4 out of 5 stars 65. Blocking Mats / Blocking Boards. Towel (or blocking board, if desired) Spray bottle; STEP 1: Lay your project out on a towel (or a blocking board) and pin it down. (see more on the difference, and felting here.) Always block a swatch first. Wet an old sheet or pillowcase & wring out so it's damp. Wet-blocking is easiest for adding length. ( Log Out /  Or, if you don't mind sticking pins through your carpeting, spread a clean towel out on the floor and use that as your blocking board. As you can probably tell, I’m not into buying extra things either … good luck with your scarf! (If your project needs to be fully soaked to block and stretch well, you should use wet blocking instead of spray blocking). Smooth out the fabric and gently coax your project into the desired size and shape. It is preferable to block individual pieces before sewing them together. Investigate how much extra width and/or length can be added to a garment, by stretching it while blocking, without ruining the look of it. Learning about the process of how to block knitting smooths and evens your stitches, sets the final dimensions, and gives your project that professional, finished look. I find I can control the shape and size better, but each project is different. In general, I prefer the wet method for a few reasons. A blocking "board" needs to be a flat surface that's large enough to hold the piece or pieces you want to block. This is especially important when you’re making something like a sweater, where the final size/fit/drape is crucial to success.). 5 out of 5 stars (30) $ 23.00. As I noticed that many crocheters did not know how to block acrylic yarn, I decided to write a tutorial for you on how to do just that. Not really. Having just spent what felt like weeks waiting for a sweater to dry after blocking in a cold, damp house, I decided there must be a better way than drying them flat - especially when they need a bit of stretching in particular direction. ( Log Out /  Spray Blocking . Follow along and discover your next inspiration as we cast on for projects we love, explore new techniques, and dish about the latest and greatest from Knit Picks. If you’re working with a square or rectangular piece, you can double check yourself by … Pin to blocking boards. First-time blockers are always amazed by the difference blocking makes to the final appearance of their knitting. Shaping and Pinning. And to make sure that your first sweater blocking session is a success, we have a handy video tutorial that walks you through all of the steps! The only thing that I think could be approved is that the ends of the sleeve section do not connect. Perfect size and shape, open up lace, show off textured stitches in your knitting. Usually after the initial drying period, the pins are not as crucial. Perfect those sweater shapes and lace repeats on a dedicated pin-friendly surface with this helpful DIY blocking board tutorial from Jessica Joy! This can be as simple as gently stretching and patting a sweater so that it looks good flat, and leaving it to dry. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Lay out your piece on your blocking boards and begin pinning it to the measurements the pattern specifies. Wool and cotton yarns often have the best results when blocking. would make sense. What you use as a blocking mat is totally up to you. Steam-blocking. I just added four inches to a sweater sleeves and body by wet-blocking and re-proportioning the garment. When your blocked knitting is dry, take out the pins and check out the shape. For the cowl at the top of the post, I wanted to stretch the lace sections, but not the plain knitting in between. You may have to move the pins as you smooth out the whole project, and that’s fine. Gently wet your sweater. This is because of the structure of the fibers themselves. To recreate dimensions that may have been lost during laundering, reshape the washed garment and dry flat. Do not rub, twist, or wring a handknit. Set up your blocking mat with your towels covering the surface. An ironing board is also a useful alternative. And in particular, how to block sweaters with “non-edge” shaping. Perfect those sweater shapes and lace repeats on a dedicated pin-friendly surface with this helpful DIY blocking board tutorial from Jessica Joy! Stretch your items out and pin them to the correct dimensions on a blocking board or other colorfast, absorbent surface. Socks, for example, are meant to be a little smaller than my foot, and to take on the exact shape of my foot when I wear them, so I don’t see much point in carefully shaping them before wearing. The board needs to be able to handle pins, moisture and heat. Blocking acrylic yarn might be less noticeable. Generally, sweaters can be wet blocked (good for cotton and linen), spray blocked (good for wool and alpaca) or steam blocked (good for wool and alpaca) depending on their fiber content. I'm Tasha, I'm a maker, teacher, and writer. And although there are a bunch of gadgets (special mats and pins, forms, blocking wires etc.) You can use one of the following: a mattress, a yoga mat, a foam board, etc. Satisfaction — Restoring a Treadle Cabinet. She's also … 5 out of 5 stars (30) $ 23.00. $14.25 $11.40 20% off Blocking Basins - Deep, 7 Gallon. An ironing board or a couch cushion covered with a towel are good choices for small projects. The only other thing you need is a surface where your knits can dry that you can pin into. When the sweater is noticeably drier on the front, I flip the sweater over and leave it flat to dry for another 8-10 hours — without blocking pins. Sometimes it can change quite a bit, expanding or relaxing in response to the tensions (or lack of) that are now on it. I’m going to take you through how to block a sweater … any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thank you, sincerly dorian. You also can steam block without a protective layer of fabric. Easy Crochet Blocking Boards for Knitting and Crochet Projects - Wooden Blocking Mat for Knitting with 20 Stainless Steel Pins and Pin Holder - Bonus Crochet E-Book - 11 x 9 Inches. Really soaking the fibers results in … Thanks! Remember, don’t stretch out any ribbing while you are blocking as it will lose its elasticity. (And speaking of good timing, Karen posted an eloquent argument this morning about why you should wash/block a swatch before embarking on a big project. In fact, the technique of blocking is one of my favorite things to demonstrate. Ask me before you use anything! If your piece isn’t very textured, wrong side up works just fine. When the fabric gets wet, the yarn has a chance to settle into its new shape. I like to drape bigger things like the shawl over the top of a wooden drying rack, using lower bars of the rack to hold the ends so that no part gets too stretched by gravity, or too folded and wrinkly, while it’s drying. That’s the only steadfast rule. Make sure that the surface is slightly larger than the measurements your piece needs to be blocked to are. After 20 years of teaching knitting, I’ve never grown tired of instructing my students on finishing techniques. www.joannesweb.comA very simple way to 'block' your knits. That provides enough tension to hold in place when I pin onto it. Then pin, if necessary, and leave to dry. I do wash all my finished knitting projects, shape them gently with my hands, and then leave them to dry. Pieces should not hang over the edges of the blocking or ironing board. Blocking allows you to straighten yarn projects without ironing, as ironing could damage the fibres. This is basic blocking, but there other, more exacting, ways to block … (This helps conserve water and reduce hassle!) Your blocking board will need to be in a location where it can remain undisturbed until the blocking is finished, which can range from just a few minutes to more than a day, depending on the circumstances. When I mention blocking your knitting, I get a lot of blank looks from my students, and concern about how to do it and what they need to make it happen. Take special care when blocking Alpaca, because the fiber becomes weak when wet. The one on the right is just off the needles and super shlubby. Several People: I don’t block because it often makes things worse, if by worse you understand that I turned a sweater into a dress with blocking or my hat turned into a hood. For light blocking, you can now lift the cloth and allow the knitting to dry. More details are on Ravelry, and pictures of it worn are also in this post on slowness.). My Frugal Knitters Wooly Board is fully adjustable, so it can be used for your petite AND your husbands Need a knitting or crochet blocking option that’s more sturdy than your favorite fluffy towel? Also I am featuring the awesome blocking boards from Chetnanigans as they are truly the best to work with.. The process is not complicated, and the results are well worth the effort. With your knitting still dry, pin it down while shaping it based on your needed size or instructions. Once the sweater is secured in the shape that you want, use a spray bottle to evenly dampen the surface and allow to dry completely before you remove the pins. You want the sweater to be damp, but not dripping wet. Wooly Board Sweater Blocking Frame DIY Instructions IndigoFiberCottage. Wet blocking knitting is an appropriate method for blocking man-made fibers, novelty yarns (except for some very delicate novelties that may fall apart when wet—check the label for care instructions and don't wet anything that says it shouldn't be wet) and some wools and wool blends if done carefully (remember heat and agitation can cause wool to felt). If your knitting takes more than 3 days to dry, start over. When it comes to acrylic yarn, I always thought you had to block by spraying water on it and letting it dry on a blocking board! On the side of each rod, starting at the ‘join’ end, drill 10 6mm diameter holes, centred 2.5cm apart, starting 10c… To help me block the squares from the Block a Week CAL 2014, I have made myself a DIY Blocking Station. Find a place for your knitting to dry WHERE YOUR PETS CANNOT GO. Tips and Tricks. The one on the left has been crisply blocked and is ready for finishing. For this shawl, I pinned it at regular intervals along the straight edge, and intermittently along the other two edges. To block large items such as sweaters, afghans or shawls, for example, a guestroom bed or a large, well … (If you’re curious about the science of wool and haven’t seen the wool article I wrote for this month’s Seamwork, check it out! I wanted to show how I actually do this, but our bedroom is not ideal for photos …). Essentially, blocking is getting your knitting wet, shaping it how you want it to be, and holding it in that shape until it dries. For light blocking, you can now lift the cloth and allow the knitting to dry.

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