How to Block Your Knitting or Crochet

Blocking is the process of wetting your knitting or crocheted items and then pinning them out to dry. This can be done on a blocking board, or by using T-pins to pin them to an ironing board.

Blocking is important because it helps make your finished project look its best by removing any excess drape from the fabric, giving it a more even appearance and helping stitches settle into their final shape.

There are two main types of blocking: wet and steam (or steamless).

Supplies Needed

*   Yarn: You'll need a yarn in the same weight as your knitting or crochet project.
*   Needles: For blocking, you'll want to use a circular needle at least two sizes larger than what you used for your project (e.g., if you were working with US size 7 needles, use US size 9). This will help keep the tension even as you stretch out the fabric and make it bigger by adding more stitches!
*   Pins: Use rust-proof pins that won't bend or break when they're pushed through thick layers of fabric--they're especially helpful when pinning lace patterns together before blocking them out into their final shapes!
*   Spray Bottle: A spray bottle filled with water is an essential tool for wetting down knitted fabrics before pinning them into place on a blocking mat or foam mat; this helps prevent unwanted puckering while also making sure all sides are equally dampened so they'll dry evenly after being removed from their molds later on in this process

Gauge

*   Check your gauge before starting the project. If you're using a yarn that's new to you, make sure to check the recommended needle size and see if it matches up with what you normally use.
*   Use the same yarn and needles for blocking as you used for the project. This will ensure that no stretching or shrinking occurs during blocking, which can throw off your measurements and make things look different than intended by the designer.

Sizing

Measure the finished project.

Decide on the desired measurements, and then calculate how many stitches you need to cast on to achieve that number. If you're working in stockinette stitch, which is a simple knit-purl pattern, you'll be able to use this formula:

Stitches = Desired Width x 2 + 1 (for selvedge stitches)

Pattern

To block your knitting or crochet, follow the pattern instructions. If you don't have a pattern, use these general guidelines:

*   Place your work on a flat surface. If you're blocking something that's been seamed together (like a sweater), make sure all of the seams are facing inwards so they don't get stretched out while blocking.
*   Use rust-proof pins to pin out any edges that need it--this means things like collars and cuffs on sweaters or blankets, but also necklines if you're working with lace patterns where there isn't much stretch in the fabric itself.
*   Leave everything pinned until dry!

Blocking Techniques

There are a number of ways to block your knitting or crochet. The most common methods are:

*   Wet blocking
*   Steam blocking
*   Blocking wires (also known as T-pins)
*   Pinning the piece flat with straight pins and stretching it into shape

Finishing

Once you're done knitting or cropping, it's time to finish your project. This is where all those ends get woven in and any other finishing touches are added.

*   Weave in any remaining ends.
*   Block your project to the desired measurements. Blocking a process that can help even out stitches and make them look neater, but it's not necessary for every project (or even most). If you don't want to block your work, just skip this step!
*   Sew on buttons or other embellishments if needed--now's the time!

Troubleshooting

If you're having trouble blocking your knitting or crochet, here are some common issues and how to fix them.

*   The piece is too big for your blocking board. If this is the case, use a towel instead of a blocking board (or vice versa).
*   Your stitches are still loose after being blocked. This can happen if you didn't block all sides of the garment equally; make sure that each side has been exposed to steam and moisture equally before moving on to another side.

Conclusion

You can block your knitting or crochet to make it look like you spent hours on it. Here are some tips for success:

*   Use a blocking mat, not just any old towel. This will help the fibers stay in place and give the edges of your piece a clean finish.
*   Use pins that won't rust (or at least use them carefully). Rust stains are hard to get out!
*   Don't stretch too much--you don want to distort the shape of your project too much!

Resources

*   Helpful websites
*   Books
*   Other resources