Blocking

[Sillycutie20]

I'm doing the CAL. This is my first time, and so excited! I've never done afghans with motifs, so have NEVER done any blocking. Please share your tips! i.e. materials you use, etc.

Thank you!
Dawn

I just draw out a template on thick cardboard or foam. Then I place my work on it, pin it in place, spray it with water to get it damp, and let it airdry. Easy.

Can we do more than one motif at a time with this method (or any of the methods, for that matter!)? I would love to not have each block available for my monsters to destroy for several hours at-a-time while they dry. If I can't find another way, I may end up pinning ALL of my motifs (CAL and KAL) to my mattress, running the sheet through the rinse cycle, and laying it on top of them.... and hopefully they will all be blocked and ready to remove by the time DH comes home and wants to go to bed!

[MarathonAl]

My blocking technique is a clothes steamer. Just steam lightly a few inches away from the yarn so it doesn't melt. I find it works beautifully. You can actually see the stitches "bloom" as you go.

That looks GREAT

I have never blocked before so maybe this is obvious to others, but it isn't to me...can you take me through a step by step of steaming? Do you pin it first then steam it?

[Kaleigh]

I just draw out a template on thick cardboard or foam. Then I place my work on it, pin it in place, spray it with water to get it damp, and let it airdry. Easy.

Can we do more than one motif at a time with this method (or any of the methods, for that matter!)? I would love to not have each block available for my monsters to destroy for several hours at-a-time while they dry. If I can't find another way, I may end up pinning ALL of my motifs (CAL and KAL) to my mattress, running the sheet through the rinse cycle, and laying it on top of them.... and hopefully they will all be blocked and ready to remove by the time DH comes home and wants to go to bed!

You can do as many as you want, as long as the surface (cardboard or foam, as Shandeh mentioned) is big enough! I use foam squares used in children's play areas, and I can fit four on one side. I could probably put another four on the other side and stand it upright to dry, but I don't have enough pins

[sharon05676]

I've got my first 5 blocks drying on the ironing board. I the the board will work well. I was able to pin into the covering. Now, back to knitting!

[Marilyn58]

My blocking technique is a clothes steamer. Just steam lightly a few inches away from the yarn so it doesn't melt. I find it works beautifully. You can actually see the stitches "bloom" as you go.

That looks GREAT

I have never blocked before so maybe this is obvious to others, but it isn't to me...can you take me through a step by step of steaming? Do you pin it first then steam it?

I measure the square out according to my gauge and pin it down as I go onto a foam block board. Then steam lightly about two inches away from the square. You can lightly touch the yarn with your hand afterward to see if it is damp. Then I let it dry overnight.

This is only one way to block. You can also pin the squares and take a spray bottle of water to dampen them and let dry overnight. Others completly soak the squares in water roll them up in a towel to get out the excess water then pin and let dry. It is all a matter of preference. I find that pinning the squares while they are dry is easier for me. I attached a picture of one of my Clue 3 squares so you can get a visual.

Happy knitting and blocking to you!

[Shandeh]

Okay, what do you mean increase at the points? If there are 13 stitches do I add just one more? Sorry, I have just started back crocheting in the last 4 mos...I learned way back from my grandmother around 40 years ago.

When you get to the spot where the sides of the octagon meet, there is a point. At that point, you need to do twice as many stitches into ONE stitch, and put some chains between them.

This will make the points continue as you get bigger. If you don't do that, the shape of the octagon will get messed up.

[Shandeh]

I use foam squares used in children's play areas, and I can fit four on one side. I could probably put another four on the other side and stand it upright to dry, but I don't have enough pins

Poor Kaleigh! Do you want me to mail you some pins?

[Sillycutie20]

You can do as many as you want, as long as the surface (cardboard or foam, as Shandeh mentioned) is big enough! I use foam squares used in children's play areas, and I can fit four on one side. I could probably put another four on the other side and stand it upright to dry, but I don't have enough pins

I meant stack one on top of another, stack all 4/8/16/32/howevermany blocks up, dampening each as you stack them, then using a long skinny spike (double-pointed sock needle) pin everything into place along the template lines. Would that work? Thoughts?

[craftteamum]

When I did my guage swatch I found that using a 5.5 mm needle worked better for me.

[charoks]

I've got my first 5 blocks drying on the ironing board. I the the board will work well. I was able to pin into the covering. Now, back to knitting!

I also block on my ironing board. I pin them while dry then mist with a spray bottle of water.