KnitPro KP10878 Rainbow Knit BLOCKERS PK20, Assorted

Product Information

If learning by video is more your thing, my friend and crochet mentor Joanne Scrace from the Crochet Project has a video based coursed on blocking. Items like amigurumi rarely need blocking, where as accessories and homewaers are more of a grey area.

It is the most common blocking technique, and is generally considered the best way to block most hand knitting projects. You may not reach the exact dimensions specified in your knitting pattern, and it will be significantly harder to create panels of exactly the same size for seaming. If the project is exactly the size you need it, avoid stretching it – just lay it flat and smooth any bumps down. If you’re wet blocking with wool wash, not only does it clean the garment from the oils and residues from your hands as you knit or crochet, but it showcases the true dimension of the piece.It’s not recommended for fabrics knitted with cotton or delicate yarns that may lose their shape when wet. Note that if blocking is an essential part of a pattern then the gauge statement should tell you if it relates to the blocked or unblocked stitch pattern – sometimes you will get one gauge measurement for each. I have used glitter glue mixed with water (I’m not sure what sort of glue gorilla glue is so not sure if it works) to stiffen small items such as decorations – I talk about it briefly in my little Christmas trees post https://doradoes.

You can steam the fabric first to relax the fibers before you pin it, or you can pin the garment to your desired shape and then steam it to set the shape. You can use any flat surface as long as it’s water resistant and large enough to spread your work out fully. Carry on using your fingers to manipulate that fabric and place the next pins half way between the previous pins. The blocking process flattens and finalizes the shape of each panel, which makes stitching them together easier.

If the gauge doesn’t mention blocking, you might want to check in with the designer, especially if it’s a lacy pattern where blocking will change the gauge. Blocking can increase the size of an item by a small amount (depending on the stitch pattern), but it cannot generally make an item smaller. Knit Blockers are an innovative solution that allows users to easily and quickly block their projects. If you sew in your ends after you have blocked your work then you know you are working with the final tension. My argument is: If the identical item is bought elsewhere and for more money, do you really believe the more expensive one was made by a better paid/treated crew?

Personally I like to block crochet panels before joining (so I know the pieces are the same size and will join easily) but it would depend on the specifics of the project and your preference. As the name suggests, soak blocking is a kind of ‘wet blocking’ which involves completely submerging your project in cold or room temperature water. To block your knits without a blocking mat or board, simply find a towel and a flat surface that you don’t mind getting a little bit wet. None of these blocking methods are complicated, and the results are definitely worth the time invested.When pinning out, place the pins around a cm or more in from the edge to minimise this dipping, particularly if you are bringing quite a lot of stretch to the project .