Blocking Tutorial

Okay, this is so easy it's almost not fair to call it a tutorial. I was up way past my usual bedtime of 8:45 p.m. last night (Portlanders what did you think of the Wilco show last night? [Wilco, why are you so awesome?] I was very happy. First time I've seen them inside. :-) so I am sorry I am late getting to everything today.

But now. Blocking the Sunshine Day Afghan. Blocking is a process of gently stretching your finished knitted or crocheted items and then treating them with water or steam so that the fibers relax and the piece becomes all nice and soft and smooth and untroubled (instead of the taut, anxious little curled up thing it seems to want to be after it comes off your needles or hook). Blocking is like Ativan for yarn. What follows is not the only way to block, but it is the way I block everything I make. I can't really speak to other methods, but please feel free to leave any suggestions or corrections or helpfulness in the comments because I always like to learn about these things, and I will update this post with anything relevant and helpful that comes in.

I recently got a blocking board. I had wanted one for quite a while and just hadn't gotten around to making the effort, but for something like a blanket that is on such an obvious grid, this board was invaluable. Please note: I didn't do a lot of research because, as you know, my goal with major purchases isn't to get the smartest or the best or the best value or anything mature and reasonable like that — that's so not my style. My goal is generally to get the whole purchasing experience over with as quickly as possible. But I ran into this (large size) blocking board from Custom Knits Manufacturing and it worked very well, and I am happy with it. So please take that for what it's worth.

To begin blocking, lay the board out on a table —  you are going to be spraying water here, so make sure it is a work table or a waterproof surface (or even a bed, which can take getting damp and will dry just fine). This is the beat up work table that we use for stuff like this, and it is great to have (and will save your back, as opposed to the bed). Place your blanket on the board at the "zero" corner. My gauge for these grannies was 3.5" (9cm) per square, with a 1" (2.5cm) border.

I used fine, sharp 1 1/4" (3cm) nickel-plated (so they won't rust) T-pins, which you can get at any fabric store. (Get 200 of them; I used more than 100 for this.) I pushed the squares around a bit so that I could place a pin on the seam between every two squares while keeping each square to gauge.

Keep pinning all the way down the length of one side, placing pins every 3.5".

The nice thing about the blocking board is that you can turn the board 90 degrees, then begin pinning down the next length.

Go all the way around. I was tugging on this a bit on the third and fourth side; just be sure you are moving the blanket toward the edges from the middle, and not just pulling on the edges and stretching them out of shape.

You can see how it wants to spring back in toward the center. But that's okay. Once it gets its water bath, it will chillax and be happy.

Here comes the water bath. Spray spray spray until it is all nice and saturated. Don't worry, you won't felt the yarn — you'd need heat and agitation for that. Just add water by spraying in an even layer until you can see that your work is dampened through (you can see that it looks all fuzzy here).

Then go back in and finish pinning down the edges, every inch or so, until you have nice smooth lines without obvious puckers toward the center. Then give it another little spray for good measure, clean off the table, and leave it to sit until it's completely dry (overnight, at least —  this one took two days).

Oooo, and it's so, so fun to unpin it. Just you wait.

Comments

[Evylynn]

I've always wondered what "blocking" meant. I understood the purpose, but couldn't understand what the process was. Thanks for the explanation! We still have the box that our giant TV came in--so I might use that as a "blocking board".

[Wandering Chopsticks]

So pretty! But what happens when you wash the blanket? Do you have to block it all over again?

[Laura]

Thank you for this tutorial! I keep reading other people's blogs and hear the term "blocking" being used quite frequently. Being quite new to the crochet game I didn't know what this meant until now - the info has been very well received!

xxx

[Siobhan]

I've blocked small items before - in a similar way but not with a proper board. Your board looks brilliant! I notice your blanket fits very nicely within the confines of your board. Do you know how to cope with something on a really large scale; the size of your ripple blanket for instance? The other thing I find scary is the idea of washing and re-blocking a blanket because then it is really wet.

[Rikke]

Thank you so much for this very usefull tutorial! And what a beautyful afgan - the colors togegher are stunning!

[Ann Van Gampelaere]

oh thank you so much for the link. I've just ordered a board and it was so quick and easy.
I've been looking for that for ages.
Thanks for the tutorial too.
Your blancket is sooooo beautiful.
x

[noodle]

Hmm… I have done a few squares of what I would like to be a very big blanket. One day.

Should I rather block one square at a time? Cos the finished blanket (in my head) is gonna be huge.

I haven't started stitching them together either, or threading in the loose ends. :(

[steph]

What a difference blocking makes - thanks !

[Lucy @ Attic24]

Good lord, is it sad to feel such envy over someone elses blocking board???

For what it's worth, I use whatever comes to hand for blocking..small things get done on a folded up towel, medium things on a 1-inch thick foam block covered in a towel, big things direct on the carpeted floor of the attic. B ut I would seriously LOVE a blokcing board, mainly cos of the grid lines (I use my sons donald duck ruler to measure and straighten my edges)

And i TOTALLY agree with you about the awesomeness of removing the pins and having that first feel of the drape of your blissed out crochet, it feels so soft and well drapey!!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Norma]

Thank you!!! More than halfway finished with my squares so soon I'll be using your tutorial.

[ashley akers]

When I made a baby blanket with squares I blocked the individual blocks and then put them together. Is there any difference with just blocking after it is all put together?

[Dawn]

Next step - blocking wires? They make the process even more satisfying.

[Twistyfarmy.wordpress.com]

I haven't used a grid before (just measuring tapes and the floor of our extra bedroom), but this is essentially how I block. Lots of pins are key. You don't want lots of little points in your finished project.

Sometimes I will use steam in addition to the spray bottle. I just smoothly glide a hot iron about 1/2" about the entire surface and let it steam the whole thing.

[Amy Caroline]

Thank you for this. I always figured blocking was easy but have been slightly afraid if it! LOL

[quirkygranolagirl]

who knew blocking pictures could be so gorgeous?

[Eleanor]

I recently made my own blocking board. I like to block my crochet squares individually before I sew them all together, so the board is only like 2x3 feet. Anyway, I made it from a piece of hardwood flooring left over when we replaced our floors. I wrapped that with a doubled layer of quilt batting, and then covered it with a piece of heavy muslin. I used a staple gun to attach it all. Then I drew my own grid on and voila! my very own blocking board made completely from my stash!

I am loving working this pattern. I had to move up a hook size because I have the most ridiculously tight tension when I crochet and the puffs just weren't puffing, but now that I've got the right size hook and am forcibly making my self relax it's moving along splendidly.

[hazelnut cottage]

so, i can't crochet/knit/sew for beans, but the pinning and spraying part looks fun! somehow, therapeutic! mmmmmm...

[Kelley Hart Jenkins]

That looks so pretty blocked out like that! Wonderful project and tutorial. I think I need a little blocking so I can "chillax" a bit, or maybe just a spray of water in the face.

[Handmade with love by G]

I wasn't very keen on blocking, but your post has changed my mind about it. It sounds fun and simple now. Will try blocking the piece I'm knitting right now :))

[Sara]

Almost every crochet pattern I have ever completed ended with "Block." I knew what that meant, but have never done it. But seeing the process here, I am inspired to try it the next time I make an afghan. Thank you!

[Courtney]

You were at Wilco, too? Great show, eh? Jeff Tweedy has the most beautiful, painfully expressive voice. I enjoyed myself thoroughly. Thanks for the blocking tutorial; this looks like a very satisfying way to finish up a project.

[Lana]

lol....I am a newbie to the crafting world- made some crocheted scarves in college...I always thought I crocheted too tightly!! I never knew about this blocking business.

Man, this makes me want to pick up some needles again. Thank you for educating the craft-ignorant!

[carolyn]

I usually get it wet BEFORE I pin it out. Still some tugging required, but maybe not as much.

[sewcraftyfox]

Brilliant images - taking the pins out at the end must be soooo satisfying! Also it appears that you've sparked a new medical condition 'blocking-board-jealousy' - who knew!? Jen x

[Holly]

Who knew that there were blocking boards? So clever. I must confess that I have been knitting for years and rarely block my work (it seems to work out alright)...but I have found that crochet really seems to need to be blocked. How did you go about blocking before your lovely new contraption? How do people go about blocking great big afghans? Block by block? Half at one time?

BTW - that blanket is truly lovely!