PERFECT FINISH
B
efore doing any sewing up, you’ll
need to block each piece of fabric.
Most crochet fabrics naturally lie
flat, but it’s worth blocking lacy fabrics,
motifs and garments to get even stitches.
There are many ways to block crochet
fabric but they usually fall into one of three
categories: dry, wet or steam. Check the
label on your yarn’s ball band for advice on
how to treat it and so to find out which
method will be best. Look at the iron symbol
on the band for whether to steam block.
Generally, delicate fibres, lurex and
novelty yarns shouldn’t be blocked. Most
cotton and linen yarns can be wet or steam
blocked. Some wool and a variety of otheranimal-based fibres can be steam or dry
blocked. Other fibres (such as angora,
mohair, synthetics and wool blends) should
be dry blocked.
If you’re not sure which method to use,
test a swatch of your yarn. The dry blocking
method is the gentlest all-rounder to try
first and suitable for most fabrics.BLOCKING
Make sure your crochet item has a professional finish
3
To steam block, pin out the item without
washing. Set your iron to its steam setting,
at the temperature advised on the ball band.
Hold the iron near the fabric, but don’t touch it.
Apply steam, moving slowly over the fabric to
make it damp. Leave to dry.4
Some yarns need a press to get an even
finish and some ball bands recommend
this. To press, place a dry cloth over your
crochet to protect it. Gently press the iron onto
the fabric, but don’t hold it down for too long
and don’t move the iron while it’s held down or
the fabric may distort.1
To wet block, wash the item first (see our
guide on p130), pin it out (following the steps
on p132) and leave to dry. When the crochet
fabric is dry, remove the pins and you’ll be ready
for seaming.2
To dry block, don’t wash the item first, just
pin it out (following the steps opposite), then
spritz it with cold water to make it damp and
leave it to dry.