Saturday, February 20, 2010

Blocking? I'm sorry, come again?

I'm flying through my new Babette. Last night I decided to block the squares. For those of you who don't crochet or knit, blocking means you wet the squares, yank them into shape so they're all the same size and, err, squarer and then let them dry in shape. I'd never done this before because (excuse me please while I shine my fingernails on my collar in pride) my squares are usually ... square. But I'd read so much about the wonders of blocking that I had to try it out for myself. I set up a 'blocking station', laid out my squares, squirted and yanked (ooh, that sounds a bit naughty.) This was the result:



Impressive, eh? Gingerbread Husband was ever-so-slightly bemused by the process and even dared to ask if I was making a woolly tablecloth. I explained to him what blocking was, but he really didn't see the point.

And to be honest, dear readers, neither did I. Sure, it was fun to spray them with my little star-shaped bottle (Pow! Bang! Whish!) but the end result wasn't noticeably different or better than the original. View, if you will, an unblocked square (left) and a blocked square (right):



Eh? I feel a bit cheated. I think the unblocked square is even ... squarer. Am I doing something wrong I wonder?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

They are lovely colours...
I have never blocked anything I've crocheted (I just kind of squish things together in the right shape!) so I don't really know, but the unblocked one does *look* squarer. I'm clearly another one in the don't really see the point category!

hooksandyarns said...

Hi - I just want you to know that I have given your blog the "Sunshine" award. Please come by my blog and pick it up. :)

I love reading your blog. You have a great way with words and I love your crochet projects. I'll make one of those teapot cozies one day. :)