When you have knitted or crocheted something that should have a certain shape, such as a tablecloth, a shawl, a sweater or a pair of socks, then you should block / wet your work.
You do this by moisturizing your work and then clamping it in the correct shape on one blocking mat with the help of button pins. Pins is something you need a lot of, you have to put them tightly in order for the work to be evened up.
Is it a shawl to block it facilitates a lot to have blocking cables.
- A moist work is more dry than wet. If it is too wet there is the risk of pulling it out too much.
- For a knitted or crocheted sweater you do not need button pins, where it is enough to pull out the damp work longitudinally slightly and then correct it to the correct shape. Just like one stretches bought shirts or pants. Put the damp sweater on a white towel or similar and let it dry flat.
- A rib knit's work should never be stretched, as it will lose its travel effect. It is enough to pull it longitudinally.
- If it is a small tablecloth or similar, it is possible to steam with its iron or iron with a damp press cloth between the work and the iron. However, make sure that the yarn can withstand heat, it is usually only the cotton and linen that this works with.
- If you have done a job with silk or viscose, you block it by stretching it out when it is almost completely dry, sprinkling with water and allowing it to dry.
- Synthesis and blend yarns should be careful when blocking, these are the weakest fibers and are easily stretched too much.
- When you block the stitches straighten and become more even, it also opens up the lace and holes pattern so you see it properly.