The Benefits of Blocking Your Garments

We are people who enjoy working closely with fibers to either knit or crochet and we all know that sometimes yarn can be extremely stubborn. Your stockinette curls or your lace isn't draping right or that little crocheted top you just whipped up is pulling in on one side... You know what can fix that? Blocking.

Blocking is the use of water (and in our favorite case its steam) to relax the stitches and settle them into a shape that suits our needs. Oftentimes blocking is simply about smoothing out stockinette or to hide a few problem stitches that were more loose or tight than the rest of the fabric. The garment is wired through the edge stitches and pinned to a surface. Steam is gently applied to fix any issues and the garment is left to dry to preserve the fixed stitches.

To begin blocking you will need a few things and all the items we use in the store and by professionals you will find available to order on this page:

• Blocking Board: This piece of equipment needs to be able to absorb a great deal of steam heat and moisture. There are many ways to create your own blocking board however the ones we sell below are gridded, sturdy, and last a long time. For example, Angelika has used the same Sew EZ board for 18 years! The grids of the Sew EZ board are invaluable, especially when perfecting the dimensions of fitted garments.
• Blocking Wires & Pins: Blocking wires, ran through the edges of your piece, will keep those stitches straight and make for a very professional edge. Pins will keep the garment stretched to the correct dimensions on your board and are a perfect accompanyment to wires. There are several thicknesses of wires as well as strengths. Its important to get sturdier ones for straight edges and bendier ones for clean curves.
• Steamer: A steamer will vary in power. We prefer the ones that stand up and have a wall plug-in with a large resevoir. The type Angelika has prefered and lasted just as long as her board (even through removing room's worth of wallpaper with it!) is found at the bottom of this page.

Sew EZ Blocking Boards

Once you have the Sew E-Z Blocking Board, you will wonder how you ever managed without!!! I not only block my projects, I also use the blocking board to iron my table cloths, just before I put them on the table. Place the blocking board on your table, iron the table cloth just like you would on an ironing board, pull out the blocking board, leaving the table cloth on the table. A perfectly pressed table cloth every time!

Notice on my work table above, how the blocking board extends out the sides. Due to the stiff, felt covered, under-board I can lay my blocking board over the small end of my table. In a pinch, I've been known to lay my blocking board over 2 wood TV trays. Although not particularly stable, it did work for this quick press job I had to do.

I like to use the longest, glass headed quilting pins I can find. The glass heads can stand the heat of my iron and I've never found these pins to rust for the short time (a day to a few days) they were pinned to the blocking board. Glass headed quilting pins can be found at most fabric shops, but you can order them below. The pins will go into the top layer easily and hold firm, but will not go through the felt covered, under-board.

** SHIPPING NOTE: Due to the dimensions and weight of the large board, a shipping fee of $25 will be applied to the cost of the board. Shipping costs: will be altered on your sales receipt at time of shipment, most likely reduced, based on what the factory bills me. In the lower 48 U.S. states shipping has ranged from $14 - $25. Alaska & Hawaii & Canada has really jumped in price for UPS ground $62.00 maximum. NO SHIPPING outside of USA & Canada.

RETURNS NOTE: The return shipping cost is beared by the customer, if you decide to return the blocking board. Boards MUST be returned to Angelika's, not to the factory, or credit will not be issued. No refunds on shipping. With return authorization number from Angelika, a lower restocking fee of 5% will be applied to the cost of the board. So it is in our best interest to make your decision carefully. Although, this truly is the best, highest quality blocking board you will see.

This is the large blocking board. I've folded it to show you how it folds, how the handles can come together for easy toting, and it also shows the nice felted back of the board. So soft I even block on my hardwood oak kitchen table!

Sew EZ Blocking Board - Small 18"x24"

$60 ($15**)

If your needs are for a smaller size, but the same great features, you will want the Small EZ Blocking Board.

I use it for baby garments, swatches and pressing doilies !!

Coco Knit's Knitter's Block

Born out of necessity, the Knitter's Block blocking board set is versatile, lightweight, and compact. Here are a few key points from the Coco Knits website about their interlocking blocking board:

• Very low, lightly barbed pile
  • fabric covering gently grips your knitting without pilling or leaving fibers
• Heat resistant
  • essential for steam blocking
• Thick backing of waterproof EVA
  • suitable for use on any surface since moisture won’t seep through
  • Because the tiles don't absorb water, blocked items will dry faster than with towels and cloths
  • holds pins firmly in place 
• Versatile
  • can be assembled in a variety of sizes from a square for sweater pieces, a long rectangle for scarves or a triangle for shawls
• Compact
  • blocks are stored in a sturdy 14”x14” bag