| Learning to knit is such fun! | | | | iron and the yarn; let common sense be your guide. |
| Rather than knowing just the basic stitches and needle | | | | Now remember, if you are using delicate yarn, or one |
| and yarn information, you want your knitting to look its | | | | of those fun fur, ribbony types, use a wet spray |
| very best. For this you also need to know how to | | | | blocking method; don't block with an iron or you may |
| block your finished projects. | | | | find the yarn begin to unravel or almost disintegrate |
| Usually, blocking is mentioned in a sentence or two, if | | | | before your eyes. |
| at all, in finishing instructions. Although it's not crucial to | | | | Steaming your knitting is super-fast, and dries in no |
| your knitting with some projects it will make all the | | | | time. Occasionly, I use a little spray starch, just to give it |
| difference. | | | | a little extra punch. |
| Blocking helps to shape your knitting, to help | | | | When pinning, some projects will have you pin before |
| accentuate stitching, such as cables, and to give a | | | | you steam, and some after. Don't try stretching the |
| required professional look to what you have been | | | | yarn; besides if you followed your pattern correctly, |
| slaving over for the longest of times. | | | | you should have it just about the width and length that |
| Remember, some projects don't require blocking. Yet, | | | | was called for. Pin all key points according to the |
| even the simplest of items, such as scarves or | | | | measurements which come with the pattern. |
| placemats, can be blocked and will look nicer because | | | | When in doubt, let caution be your guide. After all, you |
| of it. | | | | don't want to ruin something that has taken weeks or |
| Blocking doesn't require a lot. All you need is a flat | | | | maybe even months, to finish. Natural fibers, such as |
| surface (an ironing board will do fine), rustproof pins, | | | | wool, cotton, linen, or cashmere can definitely handle |
| and an iron. | | | | the steam blocking. More delicate yarns, such as |
| Most knitting instructions for clothing or other items, will | | | | mohair, angora, or a specialty yarn, do better with just |
| give you blocking information near the end of the | | | | a spray block. |
| pattern, so don't miss it. | | | | Some very unusual yarns, such as lurex, chenille, fun |
| When shaping your knitting, there are two steps to | | | | fur, or eyelash should not be blocked at all, just to be |
| use. One is steaming and the other is pinning. Steaming | | | | on the safe side. |
| is easy and goes quickly. You will want to pin your | | | | So there you have it! Once blocked, you will see a |
| knitting flat to the surface. Never iron directly on the | | | | difference in your finished knitted projects. It's just one |
| fabric, place a cloth over top or just hold the iron close. | | | | more way to have your family and friends rave over |
| With some yarns, keep a little distance between the | | | | what a great knitter you are! |