Blocking

[kpole]

Hello,
I am new to blocking my knitting... I was just wondering if someone could tell me if i should pin my work then spray it with water or put my work in a sink of water , pat it dry, and then pin it. I was also wondering if blocking is necessary as my squares are 9 1/2 inches on all sides.
Any other tips are very much welcome.
Thanks!!

[GrannyJean]

My thoughts, for what they are worth - blocking doesn't affect synthetic fibres anywhere near as much as it does wool, just sort of makes it lie a little flatter, and in my case, my squares are ~9", so this makes them a bit bigger for me.
I took a workshop on blocking and she showed dipping the piece right in water, and also just spraying it, so I think it is your choice. In this case, because your squares are the right size and you just want to smooth them out a bit, probably spraying is fine. Or maybe you don't need to do anything !
jmo
Jean
Simplicity colours

[Trudi]

Thank you for the picture! What a clever way to block a square......
Trudi

[GrannyJean]

Thanks, Trudi!!
Jean
Simplicity colours

[angelart]

Hint for a blocking board. I just bought some foam kneeling pads in the Dollar Store. It will be easy to push pins into the soft surface and you can draw the squares or octagans on it with a permenant marker.

[gadgetgeek]

Hint for a blocking board. I just bought some foam kneeling pads in the Dollar Store. It will be easy to push pins into the soft surface and you can draw the squares or octagans on it with a permenant marker.

Awesome idea! Have to hit the dollar store after work! Thanks angelart!

[crochetqueen]

Hint for a blocking board. I just bought some foam kneeling pads in the Dollar Store. It will be easy to push pins into the soft surface and you can draw the squares or octagans on it with a permenant marker.

excellent idea!! I will stop by dollar tree on my way home from a meeting this afternoon!!!!!!

[Shandeh]

Hint for a blocking board. I just bought some foam kneeling pads in the Dollar Store. It will be easy to push pins into the soft surface and you can draw the squares or octagans on it with a permenant marker.

Just be careful with using a marker. The ink might bleed into your knitted squares.

[Kaleigh]

Hint for a blocking board. I just bought some foam kneeling pads in the Dollar Store. It will be easy to push pins into the soft surface and you can draw the squares or octagans on it with a permenant marker.

Just be careful with using a marker. The ink might bleed into your knitted squares.

Good point! Maybe a masking tape square? I've been meaning to borrow some blocking mats from my mom, but I keep forgetting to pick them up - maybe I'll do this instead!

[dogfoster]

Just wondering, when you launder finished item, do the squares try to return to their original wrong size or loopy shape or do they sort of same like they were after they were blocked because now they have been anchored in place with adjoining squares? The only things that I have kept for myself are some crocheted wool socks. After I have worn them a few times the heels get stretched out of shape, but after they are washed they return to original size, though of course they were never blocked at all. Wondering what this acrylic yarn does.