tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post5797108057342056020..comments2024-02-27T07:37:46.350-05:00Comments on K-Line: Mental BlockK.Linehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-26597916156125416312014-04-05T14:29:00.179-04:002014-04-05T14:29:00.179-04:00I agree! :-)I agree! :-)K.Linehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-52079385521030639082014-04-05T14:28:49.611-04:002014-04-05T14:28:49.611-04:00I'm going to try that method of pinning and sp...I'm going to try that method of pinning and spraying till soaking wet. Myrna does that too and it sounds like a good solution with the items that turn to mush when you submerge them in water.K.Linehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-35228111487994751662014-04-01T13:40:24.043-04:002014-04-01T13:40:24.043-04:00I love wet blocking and feel very happy now that t...I love wet blocking and feel very happy now that the method has the YH verification! It does make a real difference. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07596383615211328302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-77691346104712128132014-03-31T17:38:15.103-04:002014-03-31T17:38:15.103-04:00Generally, I am a fan of wet blocking, but dependi...Generally, I am a fan of wet blocking, but depending on the project and the yarn I may wash or submerge the piece, or I may pin it to a board and spray it until it is soaking wet. I have also steam blocked. I do believe that blocking is important and the improvement in the results for the effort put forth are well worthwhile.. Blocking also has the effect of evening out the tension should I have experienced some variations in gauge due to stress or a second glass of wine..Mardelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04850551308931710502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-71853853647294114072014-03-30T09:36:37.705-04:002014-03-30T09:36:37.705-04:00Valid way to go! I mean, they're yours to enjo...Valid way to go! I mean, they're yours to enjoy in the way that suits you. And your knits look lovely either way!K.Linehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-64930262775274304212014-03-30T09:35:26.577-04:002014-03-30T09:35:26.577-04:00Mmm...I'm a flip-flopper. And I certainly don...Mmm...I'm a flip-flopper. And I certainly don't block everything. Never socks and often not hats because I like them fluffy and slouchy. On sweaters it all depends on the stitch and on how lazy I'm feeling. For real. But I do find wet blocking to be effective, even if a total pain!Andreahttp://www.stitchparade.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-23804333593711496692014-03-30T09:35:18.847-04:002014-03-30T09:35:18.847-04:00Meant "knitting" not "sewing"!...Meant "knitting" not "sewing"!K.Linehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-89921600723734032622014-03-30T09:34:53.588-04:002014-03-30T09:34:53.588-04:00I totally get that. And hopefully she took up the ...I totally get that. And hopefully she took up the top down, seam-free sewing at some point :-)K.Linehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-69169453455210037562014-03-30T05:23:22.755-04:002014-03-30T05:23:22.755-04:00My Mom's handwork always had the look of '...My Mom's handwork always had the look of 'loving hands at home'. She sewed because at that time it was an inexpensive way to dress herself and her kids. I don't think there was much joy for her in sewing and she gave it up when we grew up and she could afford to buy what she wanted for herself. I do think she enjoyed knitting, but it was the actual knitting process itself. She disliked seaming the pieces together and I think any further finishing would have just taken time from getting on with the knitting of the next project.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04979293197908241670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-82139952571093129632014-03-29T18:25:20.248-04:002014-03-29T18:25:20.248-04:00Cowls are tricky - Sara (Hamilton Chicklets) is ha...Cowls are tricky - Sara (Hamilton Chicklets) is having that issue having just made the Oshima sweater. The cowl is big and a bit hard to handle in blocking.K.Linehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-89978961040684853052014-03-29T17:25:57.391-04:002014-03-29T17:25:57.391-04:00I wet block everything except stuffed animals and ...I wet block everything except stuffed animals and the occasional cowl - I just haven't figured out how to block a cowl efficiently.<br /><br />I do it for the finished look and shaping, but also because I knit while I commute by mass transit, so I appreciate the good cleaning aspect. Cliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05552253628640209694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-47312285257268477952014-03-29T17:20:24.373-04:002014-03-29T17:20:24.373-04:00I've been to spas and pools where they have on...I've been to spas and pools where they have one of those for your bathing suit - it really works!Cliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05552253628640209694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-38765593441206041482014-03-28T13:09:05.362-04:002014-03-28T13:09:05.362-04:00It uses centrifugal instead of tumbling motion to ...It uses centrifugal instead of tumbling motion to dry them so it is actually quite gentle. I've used it for everything from wool suiting to silk georgette to 8-denier pantyhose with no ill effects. I love it because it saves me so much time and I'm not dealing with water dripping everywhere after hand washing something. Annehttp://clothingengineer.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-41581038001057281952014-03-28T12:50:12.600-04:002014-03-28T12:50:12.600-04:00I like to block the flat knitted pieces before sea...I like to block the flat knitted pieces before seaming also. It's easier to put everything together when it's the same size and shape.K.Linehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-4011393772234436392014-03-28T12:49:34.646-04:002014-03-28T12:49:34.646-04:00Did your mother's garments look good, nonethel...Did your mother's garments look good, nonetheless? Or do you think that they would have been much better presented with more pressing or blocking?K.Linehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-19561211546160039402014-03-28T12:48:44.141-04:002014-03-28T12:48:44.141-04:00I've heard this again and again - even the pee...I've heard this again and again - even the peeps who block everything, don't do it with the socks. I have to say, my socks look SO much better after blocking, I cannot forgo the experience. I think they may be the things that benefit most from blocking - even though I completely take your point about how they go in the wash almost immediately anyway - and they have so much negative ease.K.Linehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-89587192929386261412014-03-28T12:47:11.938-04:002014-03-28T12:47:11.938-04:00Very interesting idea, M! I can totally see the va...Very interesting idea, M! I can totally see the value of that method, especially with the things that go mega-limp and stretchy on being immersed. Also, would be far easier to pin and use wires on a dry item.K.Linehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-16790643590607076122014-03-28T12:46:13.456-04:002014-03-28T12:46:13.456-04:00That is such a cool gizmo! I don't know if it ...That is such a cool gizmo! I don't know if it might be too strong for hand knits - like it would stretch the stitches, but I want one just because it looks so generally useful!K.Linehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-76718299836629383892014-03-28T12:44:43.510-04:002014-03-28T12:44:43.510-04:00Oooh, very good point - results do speak for thems...Oooh, very good point - results do speak for themselves! I would likely use your method of steam blocking after washing because I'm fussy about washing wool before I wear it. I take it out and about while I'm knitting and I just feel it's grimy otherwise.K.Linehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-27574650907162443232014-03-28T12:43:41.229-04:002014-03-28T12:43:41.229-04:00Wait - do you smack those cables??Wait - do you smack those cables??K.Linehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15350615302797686048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-41309369062908100652014-03-28T11:38:07.399-04:002014-03-28T11:38:07.399-04:00I always wet block; usually I block the pieces bef...I always wet block; usually I block the pieces before sewing them together. I cannot imagine unblocked lace or color work, they would look really unfinished and unprofessional. I don't block socks, however, I think it's silly since they will stretch on the foot as needed. Gausshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03953027267171854345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-64232902960875617082014-03-28T11:16:55.973-04:002014-03-28T11:16:55.973-04:00My Mom knit continuously through my childhood and ...My Mom knit continuously through my childhood and I don't think she ever blocked anything. She also never used the iron when she was sewing. She would give a garment a final press (also the first press!) and call it finished. I don't know if she wasn't taught these skills or if she thought they took too much time or effort. <br /><br />I learned to press as I sew in Home Ec. class and could see the improvement it made in my finished garments so that is a part of my sewing. When I picked up knitting as an adult I asked friends about blocking. Steam blocking sounds like less trouble and I started with that. It is a significant improvement over unblocked work. I have since been convinced to try wet blocking, and even though it is more trouble, it gives an even greater improvement for the finished garment. So, I agree with the YH - blocking is part of finishing and wet blocking is the way to go if you have the time and space to do it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04979293197908241670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-12539216463947416252014-03-28T10:14:50.513-04:002014-03-28T10:14:50.513-04:00I am absolutely a wet blocker! Even if I don't...I am absolutely a wet blocker! Even if I don't get out pins, everything is soaked in wool wash, rolled into towels, and then laid out in shape to dry. <br /><br />The only exception, I suppose, is socks, which tend to go from needles to feet (unless they're a gift). They go straight into the wash after that, so it's not a big deal. <br /><br />It is so satisfying to see the way ribbing perks up and straightens out, and how nicely cables plump after they've had a good bath. Which is to say nothing of lace! What a transformation.AHickmanhttp://pansneedles.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-61240890281331027362014-03-28T09:40:42.596-04:002014-03-28T09:40:42.596-04:00I pin the garment pieces to my blocking board base...I pin the garment pieces to my blocking board based on the measurements and using a LOT of T-pins. Then I fill a spray bottle with VERY hot water and spray the whole thing over and over until it's quite wet and then let it dry. This wet blocks without the immersion stage and avoids all that flopping and rolling and stretching. This is somewhat similar to Alexandra's method and for similar reasons. To me, soaking wet just creates an unnecessary problem and I'm happy with my results and hers are spectacular which is quite encouraging. Myrnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08322129605868685006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1606088928583067206.post-43622106179515733202014-03-28T08:39:25.760-04:002014-03-28T08:39:25.760-04:00I have no experience as a knitter so I have no ide...I have no experience as a knitter so I have no idea if it would be useful or not for your purpose, but when I hand wash my wool and silk fabrics and sweaters I use <a href="http://www.dharmatrading.com/tools/nina-soft-spin-dryer.html?lnav=tools.html" rel="nofollow">this</a> to get the excess water out before air drying. It doesn't use heat so it doesn't dry it completely, but there's no water dripping either. Depending on fabric thickness and the humidity that day my silks will then completely dry in less than an hour and wools in a few hours. Annehttp://clothingengineer.comnoreply@blogger.com