How-to: Blocking

Blocking helps even out stitches, shape your item, and open up lace patterns for a beautiful finish. It's like pressing a shirt, but for yarn.

You’ll need:

• Wool wash • A towel • Blocking mats (or thick towels/play mats) • Blocking pins (or dressmaking pins in a pinch)

Image above shows a large crochet lace shawl being blocked using mats, pins and blocking wires. pattern is the FHY Arrowhead shawl.

Steps:

1. Soak your finished item in lukewarm water with wool wash for 20–30 minutes. 2. Rinse gently with lukewarm water. 3. Press out excess water by rolling it in a towel — no wringing! 4. Lay flat on blocking mats or a thick towel. 5. Shape & pin into place using blocking pins. Stretch to desired size/shape. 6. Let it dry fully — this may take a few hours to a day. 7. Unpin and admire your handiwork! 

2 granny squares using the same yarn and hook (different colour centres) before and after blocking. 

Blocking the square fixes it to the correct shape and size, the blocked square is flatter, not curling at the edges, more uniform, the detail in the coloured yarn section is better defined and the overall appearance is improved.