Blocking with Wires

I decided to invest in some blocking tools and outfitted myself with some interlocking foam mats, blocking wires, and T-pins.  I know I shouldn't need any of those things, but I'm hoping they help me to get on with blocking some of the knits that really need it in a more timely manner.

Having never worked with actual blocking equipment before, I decided to go simple and block my recently completed scarf.  It wasn't a piece that technically needed blocking, although it wasn't perfectly straight along the edges and seemed like it might benefit from it.  (More Stitches Midwest 2009 yarn successfully used, by the way!)

Somewhat curvy edges

Straighter blocked edges

1) First impressions: blocking can take an annoyingly long time to do no matter what equipment you have!  I didn't time it, but it probably took me a good 45 - 60 minutes and 6 blocking wires to get the scarf pinned out and relatively straight.  Maybe (hopefully!) it's something I'll eventually get better and faster at with practice.

A rather poor photo of the blocking environment

2) Note to cat owners: Just because the cat(s) ignore the interesting blocking setup for the first 36 hours, don't assume that their curiosity won't get the best of them by hour 40 or so.

On Tuesday night I arranged a single row of foam blocks atop a half wall rather than on the more easily accessible table.  By the next morning it was still there, apparently untouched.  I wasn't sure it was entirely dry and decided to give it another day to be sure.  On Thursday evening when I returned home from work the whole arrangement - interlocking mats, pins and all - was draped across a nearby bench and half on the floor, although still right side up.  Miraculously, the pins were all still accounted for and it somehow missed landing with any part of it in the nearby water bowl.  At least as far as I could tell.  When such mischief happens when the people are away it's impossible to tell if the cats moved the evidence before we got home or not.  It may have been pushed around for a bit before that final resting place or it may have scared every bit of loose fur off the perpetrator when they made their leap and found out the thing slid off the wall so easily!

Anyway, one more adventure in blocking complete.  It really did help even out the edges.  I think the nice, straight blocking wires will really help with straight pieces for sweaters and the like, too.