Before and after (or why you block your swatches)
So we talked about this before with this yarn, but it really does something magic when it gets wet. Take a look at the differences between this shot before and after I soaked it. Before: And after: And yes, I know it can be a bit hard to see in pictures (it's more dramatic in person). But look especially at the stretches of stockinette at the broadest part of the leaf. See how it's filled in? And the spaces between each leg of the stitches are much smaller? And the holes made by the yarnovers are more distinct (because the [...]
Blocking 201 – Hats
So instagram seems to be a place that starts all sorts of fun discussions. I posted a blocking picture of a cowl the other day, and that turned into a post about blocking cowls. Now the same thing has happened again with a picture of a hat. I mentioned how important I thought blocking was, yes even for hats, and some folks asked just how you block a hat, so I thought I'd share. But first, how about a little reminder of just why it matters. I promise those wouldn't be *nearly* as pretty without a good blocking! Now I [...]
Blocking 201 – Cowls
I posted a rather unassuming little picture on instagram a little while ago, and from the comments it got, it seems like you guys are as into blocking as I am. So, as instagram is a bit impermanent, I thought I'd come chat about it a bit here too. This is how I block cowls. Let's break that down a bit. I've got blocking wires (mine are from Inspinknity) threaded through the top and bottom edges. Here I've passed the wire through the tips of the scallops because I want to emphasize the wavy edge. If I wanted a smoother [...]
Zipping
This really has more or less just fallen off the needles. It was faster than it has any right to be (even if it is only a tiny bit of knitting). The first one has now had a proper blocking and had its ends all tidily tucked away. Number two is off the needles (and here is shamelessly showing off its insides...which really I think are rather nifty) and waiting for its turn to be blocked. And speaking of blocking, I've found the easiest way to do these is actually over the top of a one liter water bottle. Depending [...]
Ingenuity
The cowl is done. Let me be more specific. The first cowl is done. A second version of it is currently on my needles and fighting me, but we'll talk about that later. But the first cowl is done, which means it needed to be blocked. This is harder than you might think. The most obvious approach would be to pin it out flat. But that will give it a crease on each side where it's folded (not a big deal for a sweater, but annoying in a cowl). I considered stretching it over the dress form's shoulders and pinning [...]
Precise
So the cuffs are done (yes, both!) and will be showing themselves off with proper photos any moment now. But before you can take the pretty photos, you have to block the knitting. Blocking flared cuffs can be a bit perplexing. You want the wrist nice and round, and the bottom all spread out. You can put them on a mitt blocker (if you're lucky enough to have such a thing) and then lay them down on a mat and pin out the flare. But that takes forever to dry and leaves you with a crease where it was folded [...]
Daunting
Respectable adults do not whine. Respectable adults certainly do not wine about anything so lovely as a giant pile of knitting ready for blocking. Respectable adults would not dream of doing any such thing, they wouldn't even know how to start if you asked them to. I, on the other hand, lacking something in both the adulthood and the respectability departments, may have looked at this pile (and that's not all of them, there are four more on the way) and whined quite a bit. But then the lovely folks at Inspinknity stepped in to save the day with their [...]
Brimming
I want to talk about blocking hats with brims. Now there's every chance you have already found a way to block hats with brims that you're happy with, in which case you can totally go entertain yourself elsewhere. But it took me an alarming number of tries to find something I was truly happy with, so I figure there's got to be someone else out there wondering how the heck to do this. Of course the easy option is just to block it with the brim down and cuff it when you put it on. Now I'm sure you can [...]
Unimpressed
Kitten Overlord Douglas is decidedly unimpressed by my sink full of soaking socks. I, on the other hand, am totally impressed and looking forward to some serious sock pictures over the next few weeks. I'll see what I can do about the furball's attitude, but enthusiasm is notoriously hard to generate in cats.
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