Ah, here we are again: it’s Monday! You know what that means? It’s time for another edition of Readers En-Gauge (read: another chance to answer a simple question and win a prize!) Last week, we asked for your opinion on the best patterns to feature for summer. This time, we’re getting more technical! Ready to enter the contest? All you need to do is answer the question in the Comments Section below this post:
What are your best tips for blocking?
We can’t wait to hear all your great answers!
- Contest open to US and Canada residents 18+
- One comment/entry per person.
- Contest closes June 18, 2012 at 11:59p CST.
- Please answer the question below in order to be entered.
- Winner will be posted on this blog.
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When blocking do not ‘Iron” Just press the iron on the piece and be sure to let it cool down before removing from ironing board
I usually soak the item in cool water. Then roll it in a towel to remove excess water
Lay another dry towel on my spare room bed and lay the knit item out onto towel, making sure all edges are flat and even
Then I turn on the ceiling fan and its amazing how quickly it dries
I’m just glad you asked this question, because I didn’t know how to block items. Thanks and I look forward to the responses.
Make sure your spray bottle is easy to squeeze! Learn from my mistake and arthritic hand 🙂
My mother taught me to soak the item in warm water,pat it down and place dressmaker pins in critical areas such as shoulders .neckline,and sleeves on a dry towel. Place the towel on a flat surface and allow to air dry.
I like to block cotton dishcloths on thick towels after I have pick out the stitch definitions in the designs. I think the designs pop more than letting them dry on a blocking mat.
Remember the gauge you knit the item to and don’t stretch beyond that gauge when you block the item.
I tried blocking with some kind of stiffener once only to find out I don’t think I was supposed to use the stiff en stuff. It was a doily . I’ve read to use watered down glue but I really don’t know. HELP!
I lay the item flat on a towel and use a spray bottle of water and say till damp then just to size and shape let dry
I’ve only ever blocked crocheted doilies and snowflakes (cotton thread). I soak the doilies until thoroughly wet, pat it with a towel to remove excess water and use LOTS of pins. For snowflakes, which need a bit of stiffening, I use a mixture of starch and water. It’s also helpful to have a blocking board with radiating lines so the item is stretched evenly. My mother always used a ceiling tile either covered with an old towel or plastic wrap (so the items aren’t touching the tile directly).
Now I just need to learn how to block knit lace items.
I bought these great foamy interlocking play mats for the kids years ago and I ended up stealing them. Years later, I saw the exactly same thing I use in a knitting catalog in white instead of the fun kid colors. The interlocking blocks are great, because I can move a piece and even set it on it’s side if I need to for a short time. In addition the to pads,I would not be able to do anything without my stretching rods. They work so well to stretch a piece uniformly at the edges and prevent “pin puckers”.
I used to use a sugar water mix,4 parts sugar, 1 part water, boil til it is clear Cool. Dip doilies making sure it is soaked thru. squeeze well. I used a piece of thick styrofoam covered in heavy plastic to pin the doilies on. Let dry.
I have some snowflake ornaments I made 30 yrs ago, and they are still “stiff as a board”. T
I use blocking wires for lace shawls, they really quicken up the process!
I got rust-proof welding rods to use as blocking wires. I spread a vinyl tablecloth over a cardboard sewing cutting board, laid the wet shawl on it and slid the blocking wires through the edge stitches. Pinned the wires every 2-3 inches.
Make sure the item you are blocking is damp, but not soaking wet. 🙂
I wet the item and lay flat on a towel. Sometimes I pin the edges to a towel. Iron if needed.
all of my item at least get “lightly blocked by being wash ansd laid out to dry, I think it makes the project look a lot better. Lacey items and clothes are sprayed with a water bottle, and laid o a huge card board box I have and pinned into shape and left to dry.
Since I live in FL, I just wet my finished pieces, roll in a towel and lay on a flat surface in my outdoor laundry room until dry. I do measure to make sure that it is correct in length and width, etc.
I love the set of 8 interlocking foam floor mats I purchased from Costco for $20. I can configure them any way I want for blocking different items – i.e. all in a row for a stole or scarf, 4 in a square for a sweater, or even all 8 in a large square for a big shawl. With my mats, blocking wires and T-pins, I’m ready for anything!
I wet the item slightly, lay flat with another towel on top then place a book on top.
I’m a spinner, so to block my yarn after it’s spun, I soak it in warm water then sling it around in the air to release excess water, then I hang the skein from a clothes hanger from my paddle fan on the porch 🙂 (Hey you didn’t specify what you were blocking)
I use the wet with water then roll in a towell to remove the excess method. Then lay it flat. I use pins if necessary to shape.
I do not wet a material item. You take a damp cotton material, (must be cotton) like a piece of a bed sheet, wet it, squeeze out excess water and lay it on top of your item and then iron. It takes every wrinkle out and makes it look like new.
If it’s a crocheted item, I take thick towels and/or batting and lay it on the iron board, dampen crocheted item, lightly starch then use non-rust T-pins and pin crocheted item where needed to put it back into it’s original shaped. Then lightly spray starch again if needed.
I’ve only done a few items that required blocking. I dampened the item, with a towel on top to absorb any excess water, I pinned it to the correct shape.
To block I first wash the item in cold water and a gentle detergent. Then I blot the excess water out of the item with a towel. I then take another towel out and lay out on the top of my washer. Then I lay the item out flat without stretching it.. Sometimes to make sure the edges don’t roll, I will pin to the towel.
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