Steam Blocking

At the end of every pattern, there is usually a note that simply says “block”. What does that mean? Blocking is a term that crocheters use to describe the final finishing step of making something, where the projects is treated with water or steam in order to make it look more professional. You may want to even out your stitches, or maybe you need to slightly modify the shape or size of something. Maybe your beanie just isn’t sitting right and you wish it had more drape. All of these things can be fixed with blocking!

There are many different ways to block something, and in this video Brenda K. B. Anderson shows you her favorite way to block acrylic projects. Often, we hear people say that they do not bother blocking their acrylic projects because it doesn’t really make a big difference. But I’m willing to bet they’ve never tried steam-blocking their projects! If you have never used steam to block your acrylics you must watch this video. Brenda shows us how steam can be used to even out the edges, or alter the shape (or size) of your crocheted pieces! Steam can also be used to add substantial drape to your acrylic pieces. This is a wonderful tool for crocheters, especially since thicker fabrics can become very bulky and stiff.

After finishing your piece, just give it a little bit of steam and pat your stitches in place, restoring the drape. You don’t need a special steamer to do this- just a regular iron set on a high heat/high steam setting. Make sure you never actually touch your iron to your piece- just hover it above your fabric. When trying a new blocking method, it is always best to practice on a small swatch first until you see how it works. Wool or other animal fiber projects respond best to wet-blocking, but steam-blocking is a great alternative if you are short on time.

If you are looking for a way to polish up your crochet projects you have got to give this a try!