For blocking large projects, use a firm mattress or a carpeted floor (away from pets). Plus it protects the covers from pin marks or any dye transfer from the yarn. $8.99 Fork Blocking Pins. Grab your tape measure and t-pins. 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. You can use one of the following: a mattress, a yoga mat, a foam board, etc. 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. Smooth out the fabric and gently coax your project into the desired size and shape. Lay out your piece on your blocking boards and begin pinning it to the measurements the pattern specifies. Then decide if you want to wet block or steam block your piece. 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. Then pin, if necessary, and leave to dry. 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. After blocking, sweater parts lay flat, stitches even out, and what looked like a wild mess now behaves nicely. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. (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! To block large items such as sweaters, afghans or shawls, for example, a guestroom bed or a large, well … Try again, this time squeezing more water out before pinning. The board needs to be able to handle pins, moisture and heat. To help me block the squares from the Block a Week CAL 2014, I have made myself a DIY Blocking Station. What a relief I don’t have to buy a bunch of extra “things” to do it. If your piece isn’t very textured, wrong side up works just fine. 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. 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. Hold your iron over the part you want to adjust (don’t flatten it) and fill it with steam. 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. To wet block your sweater you will need several colorfast towels and a surface that you can sink pins into. When you have pressed out as much water as is appropriate, spread your project on a dry towel (or on a blocking board). In the pattern, I say to block the lace portions before attaching the … Dec 4, 2016 - Use this incredibly easy and inexpensive DIY blocking board to block crochet or knit hexagons, granny squares or any other smaller projects. If you need just one smaller blocking mat, this 12″ x 12″ would work just fine. Thanks! Steam-blocking. Wooly Board Sweater Blocking Frame DIY Instructions IndigoFiberCottage. I have wondered how tho do this and you have given me the perfect solution. Don’t be intimidated by blocking. The sweater will dry more quickly in a warm, dry location. Experiment with blocking your gauge swatch before you block an actual knitted piece. They come in a pack of nine. Favorite Add to More colors Granny Square Blocking Board, Afghan Squares Wooden Blocker Custom HiBusyBees. Doing so may distort the stitches beyond correction. 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. ( Log Out /  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. Although it can be a magical transformation, it doesn’t need to be mysterious. In hot weather, blocked knits will dry in a few hours. Step on the towel to gently press out excess water. Mesh Hanging Sweater Dryer - Large. It is preferable to block individual pieces before sewing them together. You may have to move the pins as you smooth out the whole project, and that’s fine. ** Spread out your knitting to … In anticipation of blocking a blanket I'm working on, I started shopping around for a blocking mat. The only thing that I think could be approved is that the ends of the sleeve section do not connect. I read that some have caused rust. Most knitting patterns will include a schematic that tells you the blocking … 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. Use some no-rinse wool wash if the garment needs … I will say that my frugal self searched for the least expensive, largest foam mats I could find. Also, it is the method you … Blocking with steam can work well too, we just prefer to wet-block because it is very effective and thorough. $14.25 $11.40 20% off Blocking Basins - Deep, 7 Gallon. I’m really glad it was helpful! Knit Picks Podcast Episode 337 - Knitting and Crochet with Briana K. New Colorways for Popular Knitting Patterns. On the side of each rod, starting at the ‘join’ end, drill 10 6mm diameter holes, centred 2.5cm apart, starting 10c… Allow the sweater to dry for at least 12-15 hours on one side.