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How to Block a Knitting Project

March 18, 2014 4 Comments

How to Block a Knitting Project at Hands Occupied

Blocking is something I took years to start doing with finished knitting projects. Just like test swatches. It turns out that both can be pretty important as your knitting gets more sophisticated. Especially if you are making a wearable item, testing your yarn by knitting a sample swatch and blocking it is how you’ll establish a good fit. Here are the basics of how to block a knitting project.

Supplies

finished knitting project
cold water
clean basin or sink
wool wash (I like Eucalan and Soak.)
towel
timer
blocking board (optional)
pins (optional)

Directions

Yesterday I shared how to set yarn color so it won’t bleed, potentially ruining a finished project. Here’s where we left off:

These Colors Won't Run: How to set yarn color

The finished knitting project was given a special bath to set the color. If you’re not worried about setting the color, you can simply soak your knitting in a bath of tepid to lukewarm water with the wool wash of your choice. Stir around your project in the bath to get the wool wash into the yarn. Let soak for 30 minutes.

Full disclosure: Since I already soaked my knitting in a vinegar bath for 30 minutes, and since I used a simple cotton yarn instead of a wool, I skipped the wool wash, but I normally use it otherwise. 

How to Block a Knitting Project at Hands Occupied

When the half hour has passed, gently squeeze out the excess water, but do not wring it out. Lay out your project on a towel. I always use a dark towel like this old maroon one, particularly when I haven’t done the colorfast bath, in case some color bleeds.

How to Block a Knitting Project at Hands Occupied

Roll up the knitting in the towel like a burrito.

How to Block a Knitting Project at Hands Occupied

Pound all over your towel burrito, then turn it 90 degrees and pound all over it again. This gets out the excess water without wringing it, which can damage your knitting.

How to Block a Knitting Project at Hands Occupied

Next, lay out your work on a flat surface. If you need to use a blocking board and pins to set it to specific dimensions, you can do that. Since this is just a cotton baby blanket, laying it square was all I needed to do.

How to Block a Knitting Project at Hands Occupied

Filed Under: DIY FYI, Knitting, Knitting & Crochet Tagged With: blocking. knit, diy fyi, fit, how to block knitting, Knitting

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author & content creator in love with primary colors & vintage vibes. She specializes in knitting, crochet, latch hook and macramé, and her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now!

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Comments

  1. Kokeshette

    March 18, 2014 at 12:19 pm

    Thanks for this post and the pictures ! I have to admit, I don’t block my knitting projects yet… Only recently I started to make test swatches…
    I guess I still don’t have enough years of knitting behind me ;) (and I knit cowls, mostly…)
    I will try for the next project, with the help of your post !

    Reply
  2. María Ivelisse Fortunato

    March 24, 2014 at 11:43 am

    Excelente este articulo me encanta lo voy a poner en practica con mis trabajos.

    Gracias

    Reply
  3. Bonnie mcmillen

    March 30, 2014 at 12:23 pm

    I feel so dumb, I always thought blocking was done with an iron and a damp towel.

    Reply
    • Heidi

      March 30, 2014 at 9:18 pm

      You’re 100% smart! There’s more than one way to block a knitting project: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter02/FEATdiyknitter.html This is just my preferred way :).

      Reply

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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handsoccupied

Yarn craft designer & author. Into intarsia knits, latch hook, color & vintage-modern style.
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Heidi Gustad 🧶✂️
Sneaking in a few stitches in the shade. 😎 Sneaking in a few stitches in the shade. 😎
Another morning of filming! One of the knitting vi Another morning of filming! One of the knitting videos I’d like to release soon is a big overview of how to swatch and why - if you have any questions or favorite tips, let me know. 
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To be honest, I want to be able to link to this video as a resource when I get angry gauge questions, so please don’t hesitate to share your best tips. Together, we can tame the knitting Karens. 😆
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#stopswatchandblockit #handsoccupied #knitting #knittersofinstagram
A big issue I've had in the last year is putting t A big issue I've had in the last year is putting together new design work but not doing any independent releases of them. Chalk it up to anxiety, burn out, or whatever but here we are. 
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Last week I turned 35, so in honor of that here’s 3 things: 
❤️ a picture of me at my most stylish 
💛 a little glimpse at some of the design things I've recently been working on
💙a promise that I will be releasing some of the pictured designs this year. Getting back in the swing of things after taking it easy is hard 😆 - wish me luck!
Like a riding a bike! June guarded the neighborhoo Like a riding a bike! June guarded the neighborhood while I shot a new crochet tutorial today. With any luck, editing will go smoothly & I’ll be posting new videos to YouTube regularly soon! Got any requests for tutorial topics? 
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#handsoccupied #crochet #studiodog #crochettutorial
This yoke deserved a mid-blocking closeup, don’t This yoke deserved a mid-blocking closeup, don’t you think? ❤️💛💙
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Pattern: modified #soldotnacrop sweater / yarn: various from my stash
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