When blocking a knitted sweater, it’s important to start by soaking the sweater in cool water for at least 20 minutes. After soaking, gently squeeze out the excess water and lay the sweater flat on a clean towel. Next, carefully shape the sweater to the desired size and pin it in place using rust-proof pins. Be sure to keep the edges straight and smooth. Finally, allow the sweater to dry completely before removing the pins.
Are you ready to learn how to block your knitted sweater?
Blocking a sweater is an easy way to give it a professional and polished look. All you need are some simple supplies and steps that can help take your knitwear from dull to chic.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to block a knitted sweater by soaking; gently squeezing out excess water; and pinning it to shape on a flat surface to dry.
Let’s get started!
What You'll Learn
Prepare the Sweater
Let’s get your knit ready for the blocking process: start by giving it a good soak!
Before you do that, though, make sure to choose your yarn carefully. Not all fibers will benefit from being blocked – some may even be damaged by it. Also take note of the measurements taken in advance, so that you can measure the finished piece to check the accuracy of your stitch gauge and pattern sizing.
Pay attention to how much yarn you have left when completing each section; this will help determine if you need more yardage than what is recommended in the pattern instructions.
Once you’ve chosen your yarn and pre-measured everything accordingly, it’s time to embark on the soaking process!
Gently submerge your knit into a bowl or sink filled with lukewarm water and allow it to sit for at least 15 minutes before gently squeezing out any excess liquid. Don’t twist or wring out too hard as this could distort your stitches and cause deformities in its shape.
Finally, lay out an old towel on a flat surface such as a table or floor and transfer your sweater onto it. Begin pinning its edges into place with rustproof pins while taking extra care not to stretch out any sections too far.
Make sure that all areas are pinned firmly but also evenly so that they don’t become misshapen during their drying period – doing this consistently will ensure a crisp look once fully dry!
As we move onto soaking our knit, keep these steps in mind – proper preparation is key for a successful block!
Soak the Sweater
Submerge your garment in a basin of lukewarm water and let it soak for up to thirty minutes.
The temperature should be comfortable to the touch, as wool is particularly delicate and can be damaged by overly hot or cold water.
As you gently swish around the sweater, this will help release any dirt or grime that may have accumulated over time.
Additionally, soaking helps ensure proper wool care by allowing it to become saturated with moisture before blocking, so that it is more elastic and easier to manipulate into shape.
After about half an hour has passed, use your hands to carefully squeeze out excess water from the garment without wringing or stretching it out.
This will help reduce drying time and also make pinning it into shape much easier later on.
Gently Squeeze Out Excess Water
Carefully use your hands to delicately squeeze out the remaining water from your garment, making sure not to stretch it in the process. Apply gentle pressure with both of your hands as you work through each area of the sweater. If you feel any resistance or strain, loosen up on the pressure and redistribute it evenly across the fabric.
You can also wrap a towel around the sweater and gently press down on it for a few seconds before unrolling it off and repeating this step until most of the excess water has been removed.
Once there is only minimal moisture left, carefully lay your sweater flat on a towel or drying rack and unfold any areas that are still bunched up from squeezing. Make sure that all parts of the garment are lying flat so that they will retain their shape while drying.
It is important to avoid stretching out any part of the sweater during this process, as this could cause warping or misshaping when fully dry later on. If you want to get an even smoother finish, try patting down certain areas with your hands while keeping them slightly dampened with water if needed. This should help keep any unwanted wrinkles at bay so that you will end up with a finished product that looks like new!
Finally, make sure to check back periodically throughout the drying period so that you can adjust or rearrange any pieces if necessary. With these simple steps, you can have a perfectly blocked sweater in no time!
Pin the Sweater to Shape on a Flat Surface
Pinning your knitted sweater to its desired shape on a flat surface is a great way to ensure it dries properly and keeps its form. In fact, up to 95% of knitters opt for pinning as their preferred method of blocking sweaters.
To get started, here are four steps you should take when pinning your sweater:
- Place a sheet or towel on the surface where you plan to block the sweater.
- Add weights such as pins, t-pins, or binder clips around the edges of the garment.
- Gently pull and stretch out the fabric until it reaches your desired size and shape.
- Steam block with an iron if needed for extra tension or stability.
When adjusting the fabric around the edges of your sweater while pinning, be sure not to stretch or pull too hard in order to avoid distorting its natural shape. Adding weight will help keep any tugging in check and will also help hold all parts equally in place while drying so that there aren’t any annoying lumps or bumps once finished.
Once you have pinned everything in place, simply allow it to dry naturally without disturbing it further!
Allow Sweater to Dry
Once you’ve pinned your garment securely in place, give it time to air-dry and you’ll be left with a perfectly shaped sweater. To ensure the best results, check the humidity in the air before you start. If it’s too humid, use mats or sheets to help wick away moisture from the sweater. There are several ways to tell when your garment is dry:
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Touch Test | Check for any dampness by lightly touching various areas of the fabric. |
| Pin Test | Carefully remove a few pins and see if they’re still damp. If they are, replace them and wait until they’re dry before continuing. |
| Weight Test | Lift up one corner of the sweater with two fingers; if it feels light, then it’s likely done drying. |
When everything checks out, carefully unpin your beautifully blocked garment and lay it flat on a clean surface for one last inspection. When everything looks good, enjoy your newly blocked masterpiece!
Remove Pins and Enjoy Your Blocked Sweater
Now that your masterpiece has been crafted, you can finally unpin and admire your work – like a sculptor admishing their chiseled creation. After using the necessary stretching techniques and pattern modifications to block the sweater, it’s now time to remove the pins and enjoy its newly blocked shape.
Here are five steps to take when removing pins from a knitted sweater:
- Carefully begin unpinning each pin one at a time.
- Check for any wrinkles in the fabric that may have formed while drying.
- Smooth out any wrinkles with your hands or a steam press.
- Once all of the pins have been removed, give yourself a pat on the back for completing this task successfully!
Finally, you can wear your blocked sweater proudly knowing you’ve put in the effort and attention needed to make it look perfect! With proper care and maintenance, you’ll be able to enjoy wearing this fashionable garment for years to come.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to block a knitted sweater, why not try it out? It’s not as hard as it looks and can save you a lot of money.
You’ll be able to give your sweaters a brand new look, and they will feel so much softer! So grab your sweaters and get ready to block them.
With just a little bit of patience and effort, you’ll have beautiful blocked sweaters in no time!
Wouldn’t it be great if all projects were this easy?
