How To Block an All-Over Lace Pattern

When you knit a project with an all-over lace design, do you stop and call the project complete just as soon as the last stitch is bound off? No matter how simple or complex the lace is, taking the time to block the project can even out the fabric and spotlight the beauty of those intentional holes! We'll show you how to block an all-over lace pattern using Fresa as an example. Fresa is a pattern designed by Christine Marie Chen in Manos del Uruguay Maxima. 

Why should you block?

After you've selected your favorite Maxima colorway (shown here in Eucalyptus), wound it, knit it, bound off the stitches and woven in the ends, you probably have a project that looks like the one on the right. You can see the eyelet stripe pattern, but the lace is not crisp and the knit fabric is a bit uneven in some places. 

Materials Needed:

• Your finished project
• No-rinse wool wash
• Towels
• Blocking pins (T-Pins or Knit Blockers)
• Sink or bowl
• Water
• Flat surface that can be left alone, like a table or floor

Before you block, take a bath!

There are several different methods to block your project. Blocking involves a bit of manipulation of the wool and that is successfully done when the wool is wet. Some knitters prefer to lay damp cloths on their project, others may lightly steam the work first. For the Fresa cowl, we choose to give it a good soak in the sink.

• Begin by filling the sink with warm (tepid, not hot) water and a few drops of a no-rinse wool wash.
• Place the cowl in the water, gently pushing down with your hands to submerge it and really get the water to soak into the fibers.
• Allow the cowl time to sit and rest in the water. After 15 minutes or so, gently squeeze the water out. Do not wring the fabric; you could end up felting it! 

Next, you will need a flat surface to do the blocking. Ideally, this is a space that will not be disturbed while the project is drying: a spare table, a bed, or even the floor of another room all work well. Lay the cowl out on a few towels or blocking mats. Notice that the lace stitches in the cowl already look a bit nicer!

Stick it! Blocking begins...

Good news! Fresa has an all-over lace pattern, but you do NOT have to take a million straight pins and use them to block each eyelet open. You can save yourself a little bit of time using a set of Knit Blockers from Knitter's Pride to block your project like so:  Lay the cowl flat and even up the top and bottom edges. Place your Knit Blockers through both layers of fabric to align the top edges straight. (You can also use T-pins here, though it will take a little more time to pin the edges straight.) Here's a tip to avoid the cowl drying with a crease on each side: take a smaller microfiber or washcloth, roll it up lengthwise and place it inside the cowl at the edge. This will help the side edge dry on a curve, not a crease. Next, pin the bottom edges as you did the top. That's it! Leave the cowl to dry naturally, usually overnight or a day is long enough. When it is dry, remove the pins and cloths (if you used them), and snuggle in! Taking the time to block your finished project will yield something you can wear with pride! If you follow these simple instructions, there is no need to be intimidated by this final step to finish your lacy knits with polish. You can do it!  Like this post? Pin it!