Blocking: Before and After

re: Blocking: Before and After

SUSANL@94 — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:23:16 GMT

once you block a sweater and wash it , do you need to block it each time you re wash it ?

re: Blocking: Before and After

sakitty08 — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 01:15:17 GMT

Thank you so much for your line blocking tip from Interweave Crochet Editor Marcy Smith! That is absolutely ingenious (and saves the need for blocking wires, of which I do not have and would cause a bit of a problem as I'm a bit short on dispensible cash)! Thanks Interweave Crochet! Always a great read (Crochet Me blog & magazine)!

re: Blocking: Before and After

SusanN@2 — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:41:08 GMT

Thank you, Jean02. The cowl is wool, and I think your steam/ironing board idea sounds good. I'll try it.

I agree that the effects of blocking might show even more clearly if both photos were done the same way - both close ups or both on the dummy.(I'm a bit greedy. I'd like to see both versions!)

re: Blocking: Before and After

jean02 — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 23:29:22 GMT

How about using steam to block the cowl around the ironing board? If it's wool, it will not suffer if the iron accidentally touches it. If synthetic, however, becareful as a hot iron will completely kill the body of acrylic.

(This from a former machine knitter who used to block everything with the iron and it looked great.)

re: Blocking: Before and After

jean02 — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:38:25 GMT

I agree that blocking is important.

A slight criticism, though.

These pictures really do not effectively show the impact of blocking because the before photo is just a close up of the stitch pattern -- it doesn't show how the shawl would look draped on the dummy before blocking.

Also helpful would be pictures of a plain stockinette sweater before and after. Folks are often unaware how beneficial blocking is for evening out the appearance of plain knitting.

Love your website and hope you'll take this critique in the helpful (positive) spirit in which I intend it.

cheers

jean

re: Blocking: Before and After

SusanN@2 — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:38:51 GMT

Blocking wires...one more thing I didn't know existed. Thanks!

...Any advice on how to block the (closed circular) knit cowl I've just finished?

I can't think of any way which won't put a possible unwanted crease in the piece.

re: Blocking: Before and After

Dorisjchan — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:42:32 GMT

Thank you, Kathleen and Sarah, for illustrating so brilliantly the joys of blocking. May I add that, from my experience with crochet, you rarely need special wires, strings, pins or tools to see "Ah-HA!" results. Dampen, spread out, gently/judiciously stretch and smooth, allow to dry flat. Do not fear the blocking. Blocking is your friend. :-)

re: Blocking: Before and After

MB@FabricUiPhoneApp — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:37:45 GMT

I've rediscovered the joy of adding crochet to a knit project...so easy to do. I started out my yarn life as in crochet, and I'm returning now..but I still don't like to start chains. Blech. Rather hitch on to an existing project.