Why blocking crochet

Blocking is imperative when making a set of identical small pieces like Granny Squares that will be sewn together to make a larger piece such as an afghan. Blocking crochet pieces before you sew them together ensures that all of your pieces are the same dimension. Believe it or not, your mood can affect your tension. What you use as a blocking mat is totally up to you. You could purchase a blocking mat specifically marketed for blocking, but a similar item will suffice.

I will say that my frugal self searched for the least expensive, largest foam mats I could find. Had I gotten nine of the foam mats specifically marketed for blocking I would have spent over 3x the amount. If you are blocking multiple of the same item, use dowel rods strategically placed on your foam mats.

All you need is a pack of dowel rods like this , and some foam circles like this. Then decide if you want to wet block or steam block your piece. Lay the piece s out on your fancy used-to-be-the-kids-foam-mat blocking board and get to work!

Steam blocking is the method of blocking crochet that I prefer for garments or other larger items. For this you can use your clothes iron on the steam setting or a steamer specifically made for steaming fabric. I found an inexpensive steamer to test this theory, and it worked like a charm! An actual steamer will hold a lot more water than your iron, meaning you can block much more without having to stop and back fill up.

It is possible, depending on the item, that you will need to block your piece after each and every laundering. This will most likely occur with lightweight shawls or other light items. Your email address will not be published. And I use this board very often. Why and how to block crochet and knitted projects? But when I tried wet blocking for the first time, I felt like entering a totally new world.

The world of clean lines and perfect shapes. What is another reason to start blocking? It makes your projects look professional. No matter if it is a small granny square or a huge blanket. Categories: board , crochet , Scheepjes , wet blocking.

Jen 17 February at AlwaysKnitting 19 February at Maggie Lewin 26 February at Anne C. Branny 7 May at Anonymous 3 August at Newer Post Older Post. Subscribe to: Post Comments Atom. Sign up to our newsletter and stay in touch with Lilla Bjorn Crochet! If you have an item with a curve in, then the thinner wires will bend to accommodate this; perfect for those beautiful crescent shawls!

Strong thread without any stretch kitchen cotton, or embroidery thread for example can be used as a DIY version of blocking wires. You use a yarn needle to weave the thread through the sides of you work like you would with the wire. This technique works best for irregular or short pieces. You can pin the thread out into shapes so it gives that extra bit of flexibility. I have seen people set up a peg like system where they twist the peg to tighten the string. Like tuning a guitar!

When using wire or thread, make sure you thread it in as close to the edge as possible without creating lumps and bumps. If you make a lot of blankets then pegged blocking boards could be the thing for you. Say you are blocking a granny square blanket, you can use the pins to mark out the square size then loop the corners and maybe one or more points along the sides over the pegs so that each of your squares is the same size.

A bonus feature of these boards is that the pegs are usually really long so you can block multiple squares at once. Throughout the instructions, I have given some guidance about the best method for different fibres but I wanted to take a moment to clarify this. Different fibres respond differently to different blocking methods, so here is a quick summary of how to block the most common fibre groups.

After the wash, you will need to dry it flat and pin it out to shape again. For example, an intricate, open lace wool shawl will need more blocking after washing than a cowl made with acrylic yarn using double crochet throughout. So give it a try! I also think that the longer you wear a blocked crochet project, and the more often you re-block it, the less blocking it will need the next time. So there we have it. I hope that this has given you a good overview of the blocking process, rather than confusing you more!

I have learned that it is really worth the effort I concede that it can be a bit of a palava for that extra finished look.

What if your project is super large? I just finished a mandala from mandala madness and its larger than any towel or bed, but it recommends blocking. Will just washing it losen the stitches and even it out? Washing it will have the soak effect yes. Very helpful article. Thank you. Hehe, I am with you on the impatience.

They are still on my wish list! How do I block something that big? Is it absolutely necessary? Or is there a different yarn I could use to avoid having to block this? You could block it in sections bit by bit or it may be that hanging it on a washing line outside — if available may be enough? You may just need to block the corners or border, or none at all.

Thank you for this. I am making a baby blanket for a friend. Would she have to re-,block it after every wash or can she just ordinary wash and airdry? That depends on the type of stitch and the fibre used. A simple blanket would likely just need stretching out when damp after a wash.

Great article. I would like to know, do you block a blanket before or after making the border? I think it depends what kind of boarder you are working with. It would depend on the specific design.

My intuition would say that drying it flat and giving it an iron would be sufficient. I hope that helps!! There are different methods for blocking crocheted pieces, and knowing which one to use for a particular project can make all the difference in achieving a successful result. Choosing the correct blocking method depends on what the item is and what type of yarn or thread is being used. Some items might not be suitable for blocking, such as 3-D pieces that are difficult to handle or very small items such as Christmas ornaments.

Also, certain fibers might not be suitable for blocking. Pieces should not hang over the edges of the blocking board. The free blocking video includes a detailed tutorial on how to make your own inexpensive blocking board. Purchase a piece of plastic foam insulation board at your local home-improvement center or foam board from an office-supply store. In choosing the size, keep in mind that while a larger board can block more pieces, it may be difficult to store.

It might be better to purchase several smaller boards. Cover the board with a thick towel and then with a clean cotton cloth, both of which have been washed so that they will not bleed onto your work. While solids usually work best, you can use a fabric with a large check print or stripes in order to have a blocking guide.

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.

The board needs to be able to handle pins, moisture and heat. Choose Your Method Blocking methods may be described as wet, dry or cold. The actual method you choose will vary depending on yarn content, final use and your own preferences.