Blocking your knitting makes sure it's even and, especially important if it's a garment you're making, ensures that it will be the correct fit! It's also a good fail safe - allowing you to correct any little mistakes you've made along the way without having to unpick - and therefore in my case saving many crossed words and the odd tear! Blocking also gives a neat edge that helps with sewing up and ensuring that your knitting looks professional.
There are 2 main methods for blocking, each suitable for different yarns. For yarns with springy fibres try wet blocking. This involves thoroughly soaking your garment pieces, then gently squeezing the water out of them with towels - DON'T wring them out though as this will damage the fibres and ruin them. Gently press the items between 2 towels and then lay them out flat, pin into shape and let the pieces dry completely.
For delicate yarns, I prefer to steam. This is done with a damp towel (try not to use something too thick - a tea towel or a pillowcase is ideal) laid flat on top of the knitted item. Pin the knitting into shape and then place a hot iron on top. Be very careful not to let it sit for any length of time or it will scorch the knitting! Steam the knitting and then leave the tea towel or pillowcase to dry completely.
When the knitting is dry it will have retained the shape it was pinned into, ensuring clean, crisp edges ready to be sewn up.
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