I think I've had a Splendid Idea

[DameFanny]

But could use some guidance to help me work it out...

So, I could really use a blocking board as I'm working a lace scarf from no-iron yarn. I would of course have nowhere to store such a thing, but have identified a surface it could sit on while in use.

So my cunning plan is to make up a padded board that would otherwise live suspended from the head of our bed which is one of the cheapy iron ikea jobs, giving a more comfortable reading-in-bed experience - win all round.

So, how do I do it and what will go wrong?

I'm thinking:

Chipboard
Wadding
Cream or white fabric, preferably with a self-coloured check or stripe
Cord loops to attach to bed

What am I missing?

And how do you do a trademark symbol?

In awe of your genius!

But how do I do it? Would it just be like one of those ribbon pinboard whosits?

A removable, washable cover?

Mmm. Getting complicated...

I seem to remember a home-made bedhead cover (I think my mum made it) that was basically a hemmed rectangle of cloth with a drawstring on it that tied at the back.
I just think if you're leaning against it to read, even clean hair has oil and grease in it, which you don't want to end up getting sucked up by your knitting/crochet when a warm iron is applied.
Though you might put a cloth over it when you do the blocking?

Damn, you're right. Gah.

And use natural wadding in case the artificial stuff melts?

Oh, if I'm making a washable cover I can use black and white gingham for pinning accuracy, and have an undercover of something that looks good on the bed. Hurrah for Tunip

Nope, undercover of gingham, top cover of something heavy and lovely

I'm not sure wadding would do the job for blocking - isn't it usually something firmer like foam? I've heard of people using those baby foam playmats that are like jigsaw pieces.

I'm looking for something to pin out to for stuff that can't be ironed - have I got it wrong?

No idea really but I wonder if wadding would hold the tension of the thing being pinned or if the pins need to go into something firmer.

I thought the tension was from the fabric layer, and the wadding just created the gap from the board?

I second using foam mats. They take up no space too. You could still make a comfy headboard though.

Sounds good...am v worried as having just (this morning) finished lace scarf knitted with non-iron wool, I have posted it to recipient without blocking or anything...am I bad?

Not everything needs blocking, don't worry! But the crochet pattern I've got needs it to show the squares in the lace...