Do you block your sweaters?

[MamaMonica]

Do you block your sweaters? If so, how do you block them?

I have been sewing things together without blocking- I tried to block once by pinning to an old box flattened out and the sweater was still wet five days later (I'm not patient when I want to finish a project)- and I didn't notice any difference in having blocked it that way.

I have a sweater vest now almost ready to seam up- to block or not block... that is the question!

[pageta]

I made a sweater in garter stitch and didn't block it, but the one I did in stockinette stitch I am blocking. It straightens it out, like ironing your seams if you sew. It does add time to the process, but it ensures the quality of the final product which I think is completely justified by the time it takes to knit a sweater. Why settle for a less than perfect project just because it might take a little longer considering all the time you've put into it already?

[happy2bmommy]

I do block. I pin it to my bed (on top of towels), and then turn the ceiling fan on high, and blow a portable fan on it too.

[alliwenk]

YES! I block everything...it just makes things look so much better & seaming soooo much easier. I block for seaming and at each washing as well. I bought "Blockers" from www.patternworks.com which are a set of wires (some stiff for straight seams, some flexible for set in sleeve caps, etc & pins) and a blocking board that has a grid on it to make matching up fronts & backs easier. I've recently seen an upright wooden blocking frame in Interweave Knits that I'm asking dh for xmas.

Allison

[Slackermom]

I block everything, but I usually just use a steam method. I place a damp (not wet) tea towel on top of the item, and hold the iron above and use the steam feature. It works really well.

[MamaMonica]

Thanks for the replies! I blocked my sweater by pinning it to on an old towel on my drawing table.

I have blocked things like longies, hats, socks or round sweaters by forming them on a towel but don't do all the pins and measuring each dimension and stuff. I don't know if that's officially blocking- I do it after they're completely done (no seaming involved).

[MamaMonica]

Allison- those blocking wires look really useful! Thanks for the link.