Blocking Workshop

We teach this lesson plan at our recurring Intermediate & Advanced Knitting Class. Sign up for your first session here to get started on this project! Rock around the block, baby! We're back with another workshop on one of our most-requested subjects: blocking!  Blocking is the act – the art – of finishing your projects with a combination of water (soak, steam, or spritz), shaping, and drying to reach your desired size and even out your stitches. In this class, you will learn all the necessary techniques, as well as which methods work best for what sorts of fibers. Participants will be guided through blocking any finished garment of their choosing, and leave it here at the shop to dry!  This workshop is great for fiber artists of any skill level, and would be especially good for anyone with a large garment who may need extra space to accomplish their blocking goals (totally normal in NYC!). INSTRUCTORCleo (they/she) PROJECTBring a finished project to block! Make sure your project fits within the size of blocking mats you select when signing up: Small Blocking Kit: set of nine 12" x 12" mats (12" x 108", or 24" x 48", or 36" x 36") Large Blocking Kit: set of eighteen 12" x 12" mats (24" x 108", or 36" x 72", or 48" x 48") Please note that the larger the project you bring to block (depending on the method you use) the longer it will take to dry, and we may have to move your project in the couple days following the workshop. If you opt to bring a small project or swatch to block you may be able to take your damp project home with you at the end of the workshop. SKILL LEVELAll skill levels welcome! WHAT YOU WILL LEARNWhat blocking is, what blocking does to projects, three common blocking methods (wet blocking, spray blocking, steam blocking with an iron), blocking supplies and how to best use them, how various fibers will respond to the different blocking methods, when to block and when you don't need to! REQUIRED EXPERIENCENone! You don't need any craft experience to take this class. REQUIRED MATERIALSBlocking mats, a towel, and, optionally: T-Pins, an iron or steamer, and some no-rinse soap like Soak. Students may borrow all these supplies from the shop and leave their project to dry at the shop over the next day or so.