Blocking your knitting

Blocking is a method of stretching and shaping a finished knitted piece to reach the dimensions suggested in the pattern, to make two pieces that need to match the same size, or to make your stitches look nicer and more even.
Lace almost always needs to be blocked to "open up" the design so all those beautiful holes and patterns show in their true glory.

There are some useful instructions here at Knitting about

I found a simple way to block my shawls.

First, I wet them in warm water, to which i have added some fabric conditioner and then squeeze the water out.

I shake the knitting gently and stretch it flat on a towel

Then I fold up the sides and fold again

and leave to dry...there is no humidity where i love so by the next day the shawl is ready!

I am sure there is a more professional way to block..but this is so easy!

Comments

Sandra said…

This shawl is beautiful!!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

2 needle fingerless gloves

This is an easy pattern that can be adapted according to your skill. I used worsted weight yarn and US 5 needles. You need just over 50gms of yarn. I also found that knitting them both at the same times ensures that they bout turn out the same ! Cast on 42 sts Knit 20 rows in k2 p2 rib on the 20th row place markers this way: k20 place marker, k2, place marker, k20 the 2 sts between the markers will form the increase for the thumb. Switch to stocking stitch (1 row K - right side- 1 row P - wrong side) Knit to marker, (20 sts) knit twice in the next stitch and in the one after that (the sts between the markers) K20 next row and all wrong side rows, Purl Knit 20 sts (you have reached the marker) knit twice in next stitch, K2 (till next marker) and K twice in the stitch before the marker K20 Continue this way, always increasing a stitch at each marker till you have 16sts between the markers. k 2 rows then with right side facing, k20, CO 16, k20 (shaping the thumb) nex...

Hand Knitted Baby Cardigan Pattern

By Popular Demand! This is in one size only - takes for ever to figure out other sizes! For chest 10" - finished measurements about 14" Sleeve 3" You will need: 2 balls of a soft yarn that woks with 3.25mm (US 3 Needles) A button tension is 25sts and 50 rows for a 4x4 inch square If you are a beginner you may not understand this pattern - for more experienced knitters, I am sure you will see the 'pattern' of the decrease rows forming the raglan) I think this was originally a Debbie Bliss pattern i had written down somewhere so please forgive me if there are any mistakes - as i keep saying, I am hopeless at writing down patterns and i just had some notes on a scrap of paper! Back cast on 45 sts knit until back measures 3" ending with a wrong side row cast off 4 sts at beginning of next 2 rows leave remaining 37 sts on a spare needle sleeves (I knit both at the same time) cast on 29 sts K 7 rows increase:* k3, m1, k to last 4 sts m1, k3...

An easy shawl pattern

I wrote this as i knitted it so if you find any mistakes let me know! The cast on sts are the top of the shawl, the cast off will be the bottom. This is a very basic pattern that you can then embellish - i used an eyelet pattern on random rows.(k2tog YO) The first stitches should not be slipped (as i usually do when knitting) but knitted. You can use any yarn you like with its corresponding needles. there really is no gauge You can also knit it to any size. Just remember that the final amount of stitches you have will be its width and the number of rows you knit will be the length. You can check that on a swatch and calculate accordingly Cast on 7 stitches. Row 1 (RS): k2, yo, k1, yo,place marker k1 place marker, yo, k1, yo, k2. Row 2 (WS): K2 , P to last 2 sts knit last 2 sts (and on all WS) Row 3 (RS): k2, yo, k to marker, YO, k1,move marker YO, k to last 2 stitches, YO, k2. and so on So to give a quick recap. The 1st 2 sts of every row are alw...

Louise Knits

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