The Importance of Blocking

Morgan Roediger
Jun 28, 2016
2 min read

Before falling down the natural fiber rabbit hole, I knitted with acrylic almost exclusively. Acrylic is a very affordable option, and comes in an awesome array of colors. I still use acrylic, because sometimes it's easier (and often cheaper) to run to Jo Anne Fabrics or even Walmart and choose the perfect electric pink than sort through an array of yarns online. Because of this, I didn't really understand what blocking was or why it was so important. I had heard the term before, but most of the time, it was in conjunction with using animal or natural fibers.

When I finally started knitting with natural fibers more, I started to investigate and understand what blocking actually meant. I purchased some t-pins and a cheap foam puzzle piece foam mat off of Amazon , and that's how my adventures in blocking began!

I've been experimenting in blocking while knitting the Persian Dreams blanket that I discussed on my last post, here and I'm amazed at the differences in the texture and in the brightness of the yarn that happens just after a soak in warm water and some stretching.

Here's one of the hexagons for Persian Dreams; this is chart number four. This hexagon has been cut from both cakes of yarn and has scrap yarn threaded through the live stitches at the ends. This is what each of the hexies have looked like before the initial blocking.

Here's another hexagon, chart number two, that is in the final stages of blocking. This hexagon, even though it's stretched out by t-pins and wires, just looks so much cleaner and more polished. Blocking really is an easy way to give your project a lovely finished look. And while both the yarns used have wool in them, I've read that pure acrylic yarns can be blocked out as well, usually using steam. I've never tried this method, but if you ever have, please comment below and let me know how your project turned out and how exactly you did it! Happy knitting!