Wet Blocking Is Key for Making Crochet Garments Fit Perfectly

While it may be tempting to skip, a good blocking is the key to taking your crochet projects from a homemade vibe to a polished and professional one. It’s worth the extra effort — and this tutorial makes it totally achievable.

Wet Block Your Crochet

Level: Easy

What You Need

  • Finished crocheted project
  • Large basin
  • Soak wash
  • Blocking pins
  • Tape measure
  • Blocking mat
  • Pro Tip: Read your yarn label before you toss it out. It’ll have all the care instructions you need to know for blocking a garment made with that product, like what temperature the water needs to be, the best way to clean the fabric, etc.

    Instructions

    1. Fill ‘Er Up

    Washing your crochet wear will relax and clean the fibers, and it will get out any extra dye that’s still in the yarn. So fill a basin with lukewarm water and a small amount of soak wash. (You can use a sink if you don’t have a basin, but make sure to clean it well first.)

    2. Wash

    Add your garment, gently pushing it underwater to get out all the trapped air and fully soak the piece.

    Pro Tip: “Gentle” is the key word here. Depending on your fiber, you want to avoid agitating the fabric too much in case it starts to felt — this is also why you use cooler water.

    Allow the garment to sit for at least 20 minutes before draining the water. If you notice the water is colored from the yarn’s dye, soak it again until the water runs clear.

    3. Get the Water Out

    To get the water out, gently squeeze out as much as you can by hand.

    Pro Tip: Do not wring out your garment. This will cause the fabric to stretch and possibly felt.

    You can also place your garment in the washing machine and run it on a Drain/Spin cycle until the garment is damp and ready to be blocked.

    4. Match the Measurements

    Lay out your garment on a blocking mat or another flat surface. Smooth your garment and use a measuring tape to straighten it to match your garment schematic. Use blocking pins or blocking wires to hold the garment in place.

    Good to Know: Keep in mind some crochet stitches tend to stretch. The sweater pictured above is made entirely in single crochet in the back loop, and the sleeves can grow terribly long. Take your time to work your piece back into shape. For example, if you need to shorten the sleeves, stretch the sweater width-wise to scrunch the single crochet back into shape.

    Leave the garment to dry.

    Pro Top: Block your garment in a room with plenty of ventilation — the more air movement there is, the sooner you’ll be able to wear it!

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    One Response to “Wet Blocking Is Key for Making Crochet Garments Fit Perfectly”

    1. WANDA

      Thank you so much for this information!!