Draft
Blocking
How, when and with what to block, by yarn and by project.
Start with the introduction and the materials, then the method that suits the fibre: a full soak for wool, a damp towel for anything that cannot be soaked, steam for the fibres that take it. Lace gets its own video, because pinning a pattern open is its own job. When to block, how different yarns behave, and how to avoid felting fill in the rest.
The methods, side by side
| Method | What it gives you | Good for | Video |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blocking: An Introduction | What blocking is and why it changes how a finished piece looks. | 2 min | |
| Blocking Materials | Water, a surface, pins and a tape, a towel, wool wash, an iron or a steamer. What you need and what you can skip. | 4 min | |
| When to Block | Every time you wash it. The pins and the tape measure only the first time. | 1 min | |
| Wet Towel Blocking | Blocking with a damp towel, the gentle method. | 4 min | |
| Steam Blocking | Blocking with steam, for a quick finish on fibres that take it. | 1 min | |
| Wet Blocking | A full soak and pin out, the method for most wool. | wool, sweaters | 8 min |
| Lace Blocking | Pinning out lace so the pattern opens up. | lace, shawls | 4 min |
| Blocking and Felting | What felting is and how to avoid it when you block. | 2 min | |
| Blocking Different Yarns | How wool, cotton, acrylic and blends behave when blocked. | 3 min |
