Blocking....

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

What is blocking for?

And how do you do it?

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

I know it involves an iron. That is all

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

And that it is something to do with woolly wool. That really is all

[BornToFolk]

It needn't involve an iron.
I usually block by washing (hand washing, in wool wash) and then rolling up in a towel to get rid of as much moisture as possible. Then I lay the item out on another dry towel and make sure it's in the shape I want it to be when dry. If it's something lacy, I pin it out, slightly stretching if necessary to open up the lace. I don't always use pins though, if it's something small and non-lacy I'll just lay it out. If I use pins, I put those foam play mats underneath.

The purpose of blocking is to even up the stitches and get it to the right shape. It just makes the finished item look better, basically!

You can use an iron, or just lay the item under damp towels etc. I just prefer to give something a good wash, especially if it's a gift.

[claudedebussy]

i personally wouldn't go near an iron.

a good soak in appropriate wool soap like woolite or Soak for 20 mins, in cold water.

then get rid of excess water without wringing. just gently squeezing.

then lay it out flat on a towel and allow to dry. Position it in the way you want it to look when it's dry. So pin it into place if it's wool.

basically what borntofolk said .

[claudedebussy]

i meant

So pin it into place if it's wool

to be

So pin it into place if it's lace.

[craftynclothy]

I tend to do what BornToFolk said if it's a wool item. I do similar with cotton (e.g. doily) with perhaps a little press with the iron after.

You can block acrylic by giving it teeny blasts with an iron but if you do it too much it wrecks the acrylic so I've never bothered.

I also don't bother blocking blankets.

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

I knew I knew nothing! Thank you, that is really helpful

[FaintingGoat]

If it's something fine you sometimes don't even need to wet it, you can just waft it over a boiling kettle and the steam will dampen it just enough, then pin it out and basically pat it into shape and let it dry. It really helps the stitches settle into their proper places, and what looks like a pretty wonky bit of knitting can be completely transformed.

I never block anything acrylic, I don't find it makes any difference, but with natural fibres it makes a huge difference. One of my blanket squares was a comfortable 5" unblocked, which stretched out to 6", but after I blocked it (before I knew not to) it was 7". Imagine if that had been a sleeve, it would have been down to my knees!

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

It's Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino DK, so just spraying it then is enough to be able to block? I think that might be what I'll try, think I'd be too to completely wet it!

Thank you

[FaintingGoat]

Not sure, I would probably dunk DK as it's reasonably thick. Try it and see? If it hasn't made much difference, go for the full dunk - it won't dissolve :)

What sort of stitch pattern is it? If it's quite open, spraying might be ok, but if it's a denser pattern it might not be enough.

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

It's all treble crochet. I'll try spraying first and see I think.

[tricot39]

I only discovered blocking last year and it makes wooly things sit much flatter and nicer.

I was told to use a water spray to lightly moisten the knitted item. I then lay it out on a teatowel. Place another towel on top and then put weights on top until dry. I use tinned food sitting in tupperware tubs to avoid the chance of staining etc.

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

I sprayed and it worked! Tis all beautifully shaped and lovely

Thank you!

[FaintingGoat]

Oh good!

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Me again - I have another blocking Q

Have crocheted bunts but need to flatten them. Not really sure what the woolly wool is as I got it in a charity shop, but safe to safe it is most likely acrylic.

How would I block my bunts?

[PurplePidjin]

With a very cool iron!

Have you done a border? Dc or sl st round the edge will help stabilise it :)

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

I did a solid granny edge, which did help, but think next time I'll try the htc thing Knots was on about. What I did with my bunts was gave them a gentle spray with water, flattened them and then put heavy things on top over night. It seems to have worked well enough. I think the border really helped stabilise as you say X

[PurplePidjin]

Hooray :)

Half trebles would be good, or shells maybe - dc, ch2 sk2 around, sl st to join. 5htc in loop, sl st in dc around, finish off. Or alternate picot/dc...