Pinning out crochet work - what can I use that's cheap?!

[JParkson]

I have an ongoing crochet project (blanket) and I need to pin out my squares.

What do you use to pin your work out? Did you buy a pinning board specifically, and if so where from? Or did you make your own?

(sorry for all the questions!)

I've been crocheting for a couple of years now (mostly booties, one scarf and one blanket), and to date, I've managed to get away with not needing to pin anything out. However the squares I have this time are all rather wonky because of the differences in the stitches used per square (Art of Crochet anyone?!), so I really do need to straighten them up before joining them all together!

None of the mn woolly hug blankets have been blocked or pinned. The weight of the wool pulls everything into shape, the pop a dc border on the sort the outside.

Those were a mix of knit and crochet, and we've had about 500 active participants, so quite a mix of tensions - which is how I know it works

Gimme a minute and i'll link some photos

www.woollyhugs.com/

I have used a plastic foam floor mat tile (the sort of thing you buy at ELC for kids playrooms that fasten together like a jigsaw) - hope you know what I mean!!!
I don't often block the things I knit or crochet, but if they have a lacy pattern and it's made of a natural fibre, it's worth having a go.

I also use the foamy jigsaw floor mat things :) I don't normally block garment pieces (although I probably should), but I do block squares, as it makes it easier to attach them all together - for me at least.

I have found it doesn't make much difference on man made fibres (like acrylic yarns), but it makes a huge difference on yarns with natural fibres.

On the rare occasions I can be arsed, I pin them on my ironing board.

Foam squares or ironing board here. Occasionally the spare bed. On one memorable occasion, the wall in the hallway (v small house, that chipboard paper stuff that was due to come down & a scarf that wouldn't fit anywhere else. Worked a treat )

I just use the ironing board for my knitted stuff and do them in sections.

that reminds me I'm planning to recover it with a half inch gingham cover so I can pin things square. But then I don't dampen them, I steam press over a cloth.

If it was big like a shawl I'd pin a clean sheet or tablecloth over the bedroom carpet and use that.

Purple that's how DD's blanket ended up (I'll post a pic to my profile in a min to preen show the design) :o

nanny & donkey Lack of space is my problem in my house, along with a very inquisitve DD, but I like the sound of those foam jigsaw things - I think I know what you're talking about. Maybe if I glue them or some foam floor tiles, to a backing board of some kind. I can think about using gingham too, to help line things up as I have NO concept of what's straight or not when it comes to pinning! I can always store the resulting beast thing behind the sofa...

Hmm, definite food for thought!

(PS my ironing board is knackered so definitely out for pinning!)

I've just looked properly at those wooly hugs... OMG what a beautiful idea. (sorry, I thought it was everyone comparing notes

How do you organise each blanket? Does everyone donate a square or 3, or does one person make the whole thing? I'd love to help out with one in the future

(cheeky question, but one of the blankets had a square with footprints on it - was that a knitted square or crochet? It's very sweet and if it's crochet, could I pinch the pattern for it?)

J - MN has a well-oiled machine to run the blanket projects. Knotty and Pistey put out the call for action and will seek for donors of yarn to be matched to crafters (partly for cost reasons and partly so that more MNers are able to contribute to the effort). The yarn and set of colours are determined in advance too.

We then make up our squares, swapping patterns and getting ideas from each other, and then they're all posted off to the Well-Oiled HQ for completion.

The gingham thing is spot on, btw, I got this advice from a very experienced designer/goddess on a course a few weekends ago. Personally I would be tempted to block a blanket where you've knitted all the squares yourself but not for ones made up of dozens of different crafters' work.

I think I found the footprint one on Whatevertheweather's blanket - in a light purple? I think it's a knitting one from Ravelry.

Basically, what Trib said!

Each blanket is made specifically for a well known MNer when something awful happens (loss of a child or partner). I did the first few, knotty's done the recent ones and Pistey coordinates. We have Donors and Crafters of equal importance - not everybody can afford the quite expensive wool we use, and there are many people wanting to contribute who don't have the skills or time.

Fingers crossed we don't need one for a good while, but threads go into chat to start with before moving to arts and crafts so the family can access it and see what's been said (there's usually a separate condolence thread as the blanket ones get pretty technical by Page 12)

It's also why we have a emoticon

Yes sorry Purple! I think I did know you'd been the maker-upper of the earlier blankets, I've only been involved in the more recent ones Please have a well-oiled to apologise.

I'm hoping we won't need one for a while but Refuge may re-run their blanket appeal later in the year, which will be a great opportunity to help.

Your local SCBU will probably be grateful for A4 sized blankets and tiny hats. Try an organization like Lisa's Stars if you don't want to ask directly :)

Trib, blankets were made and safely delivered, the rest is fairly unimportant

So basically keep an eye on Chat, and offer should the need arise?

Thanks for the SCBU tip too - I obviously didn't think of that!

Yep, that's pretty much the deal :)

I've just seen from Facebook that we have two new blanket projects running :( :( Will try and find links for the OP.

Greengoose

MrsY

Thanks, Trib, I just popped in to say the same - couldn't say anything yesterday as we hadn't heard from the families

Thanks ladies, have offered and been accepted. I'm so glad I can do a little something for those families. Been through it myself although I never met my LOs - I can well imagine the heartache though

So sorry, JP :(

Thanks, it was very hard, but now I am sucessfully pg again, so must keep positive :)

Well that's much better news :) Hope everything goes well with your pregnancy!

so far so good and I'm cracking along at 27 weeks so must be doing something right this time!

Well keep up the good work

Ssh its still a secret but this will be the first blanket I've done pg - 10+4

I think that's why I'm ready to get back involved, both situations hit you hard and direct exactly where you're most vulnerable