Losing my blocking virginity
Posted by Kirsty
October 30, 2009
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I have never blocked* a project before – “Tish!” thought I, “What a waste of my precious time.” I didn’t really see what difference blocking, which is just a bit of washing and stretching after all, could make to a finished piece. Having finished Clapotis, however, I just wasn’t happy with its scrunchiness and general lack of drape. “Oh crumbs!” thought I, “I spent weeks on that shawl and now it looks like a boring, tangled mess.” I grumbled a little more and then took deep breath and looked up the blocking process on t’interpipes. Submerging my precious handiwork in a bath of soapy water was fairly terrifying – what if it felts? What if the colour runs? What if it just dissolves in my hands? Thankfully, none of these things happened. Phewf. So I rolled the sodden shawl in a towel to drain out the water and then set to stretching and pinning. That bit took a while. After the first pinning, I measured the two ends and found a difference of 4cm in the width. Bums. So, I pinned it all again and re-measured. Then pinned it all again and re-measured. Then used a ruler to make sure my sides were straight (they weren’t). Eventually, all the sides were straight and it measured the same width all the way down, and now it’s sitting pinned to my rug, drying. The shawl already looks better. The dropped stitch ladders are straighter and the piece is now more rectangular. Looking at it, I already think that the drape is going to be much nicer and the stitches will lie flatter. Barring any disasters, I think that my first attempt at blocking was a success. I’m working on my very first lace project at the moment, which is looking amazing, but I’m guessing that a bit of blocking when it’s finished will make it even more spectacular.
* Blocking is the process of handwashing your finished project and then pinning it into shape to dry.
2 comments Categories: about us
October 30th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
That looks fantastic. I wish I’d blocked the blankets that I did a while ago, but I just wasn’t sure how to manage it. I think I’ll try being a bit braver in future though. Btw, what did you pin the clapotis to?
October 30th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Thanks!
I just pinned it to the rug. Not ideal, but I hoovered it first…
You can buy blocking wires and T-pins to block properly, but normal pins seem to be working just fine for me.