My first pillow

[mittenmaker]

Hi.
I usually use my portable clothes steamer, but this time I couldn't holding such a big piece vertically, so I used a spray mist bottle of water. Seems to be doing its thing.
The pinwheel squares are leftover oversize tragedies/catastrophes from the afghan. The whole thing measures 20 inches square. I decided on the Heel stitch for the backing and it's Nice and thick and strong, and going quickly. I think this one is going to be a floor/lounging/pillow fight kind of pillow and I'm going to give my teenage boys free reign with it!

Hi K1P1quebec! Pardon moi, but I wouldn't exactly call those pinwheel squares "tragedies/catastrophies"! They look great, seriously!
That is going to be a sweet pillow, 20" square will invite lots of lounging!

I have a confession to make, I have never blocked an object knitted from acrylic yarn! I didn't know it was do-able! (I do know that steam blocking acrylic item is *not* doable! ) I am not much of a blocker (Yet) but I recently made a narrow fashion-type scarf using a vertical-type lace pattern knitted using Sugar'n'Cream yarn, and the edges turned inward. . .I think it is just typical of that pattern. So I steam-blocked the scarf (get ready for a good laugh--I pressed it with a damp towel over it, while it was pinned to the carpet, using push pins! ) But it seemed to work! Maybe I should break down and invest in a blocking board! So. . .I will try mist-blocking my future acrylic creations (I use acrylic yarn, and cotton Handicrafter yarn exclusively) Thanks again for the ideas! I am grateful!

[K1P1quebec]

I have never blocked an object knitted from acrylic yarn! I didn't know it was do-able! (I do know that steam blocking acrylic item is *not* doable! ) I am not much of a blocker (Yet) but I recently made a narrow fashion-type scarf using a vertical-type lace pattern knitted using Sugar'n'Cream yarn, and the edges turned inward. . .I think it is just typical of that pattern. So I steam-blocked the scarf (get ready for a good laugh--I pressed it with a damp towel over it, while it was pinned to the carpet, using push pins! ) But it seemed to work! Maybe I should break down and invest in a blocking board! So. . .I will try mist-blocking my future acrylic creations (I use acrylic yarn, and cotton Handicrafter yarn exclusively) Thanks again for the ideas! I am grateful!

Hi mittenmaker! I was off knitting for a couple of days, getting ready for a deadline at work and an upcoming trip starting next Friday. I finished a few more rows of my blue Heel stitch and it's coming along nicely. Really pleased with how it is looking and how sturdy it is as fabric. The blocking stuff I learned right hère as I made the afghan. I didn't know either that acrylic yarn was blockable. I think natural fibers still block better, but people have been steaming, wet misting and completely wet blocking their knitting and crochet pieces of afghan and the lines came out straighter.

I used someone's idea of a travel clothes steamer with good results, and the mist blocking was another idea. For blocking surfaces, I got the idea right here on the forum too to use interlocking heavy foam floor mat pieces. Some people have them to put in their workout rooms (I would also think a yoga mat would work in a pinch too). I had some foam pieces in my son's room on the floor for a play area and just washed them and used the back. You'd never know from my photos that Lightning McQueen is on the other side! I didn't have to invest any additional money and I like the fact that I can put the squares together in différent sizes depending on my current project. And the pin holes reabsorb when the pins are pulled out.

Believe it or not, I actually posted somewhere to someone on one of the forums who had no pins to think about using push pins in a pinch. Actually, the heads are much easier to hold on to. If they could just make some with finer pins, I 'd get a collection for times like that.

Will post another photo soon. This week-end I should be able to sew up and finish the White pillow while I am waiting for the rain to stop so I can get outside and plant.

[mittenmaker]

Hi K1P1quebec! Thanks for the informative and entertaining (Lightning McQueen!) post! I laughed out loud @ that one!

Sounds like you are very busy--can't wait to see photos of the blue heel stitch and white Andu pillows!

Now I understand more about blocking--the part where you said it makes the lines of work more straight, that was an AHA moment for me. I also will try Home Depot for some kind of foam flooring material--the blocking kits from yarn stores tend to be a little pricey.
Maybe I will stick with Push Pins--they are cheap and easy to grasp! I did learn to be more careful in picking up my workspace on the floor--I had used clear push pins, and walked on a few. Thank heavens they weren't pointing up and it is just me who uses the room I used for my grand experiment!

I am currently working on a simple handbag, my second one in this pattern--it is Bernat pattern for a Hobo Bag, in ecru color cotton yarn. I will definitely practice blocking probably will mist-block (or maybe steam block.) Stay tuned!

[karenarp]

Here are a couple tips that may help next time you have a bunch of pins on the floor.
1. use a stocking to cover your vacuum cleaners hose and the pins will collect on the stocking and not inside your cleaner!
2. use a magnet over the area.

I use 2. more often, like when I spill my pins on my chair!

These pillows are awesome! I think maybe I will start one and see where I end up!

[mittenmaker]

Hi karenarp! My tootsies thank you for the great tips! I have a magnet on my file cabinet in my ladycave, and I will definitely put it to good use! The vacuum cleaner suggestion is a good one too--my poor ol' Bissell will be glad to not have to ingest more hazardous objects than I already subject it to, such as last week's shattered wine glass shards. . .

Pillows are fun--k1p1quebec's pinwheel creation is the gold standard!