Washing and blocking are so important because they are what make your knitted piece the right size and perfect it.

Immediately after knitting, your project is often still a little crumpled, and the edges curl inward. After washing and blocking, it unfolds its full beauty. It has the correct dimensions and drapes as desired; the edges are straight and create a beautiful finish.

Here you can see my Remember Me shawl before and after washing and blocking. It only becomes smooth, drapes beautifully, and lies evenly after this step.

Whether you want to wash your knitted piece in the machine or by hand, you should follow a few basic rules to ensure good results. 

Every yarn is different and a beautiful natural product, so you should always wash a swatch first. Since you should wash your gauge swatch anyway, it is especially well suited for testing!

If your gauge swatch comes through the wash perfectly, you can use the same method for your knitted piece.

Generally, you can wash your knitted piece in your machine under certain conditions:

• Your washing machine should have a wool cycle.
• Always use a good wool detergent.
• Never use fabric softener, and also avoid fabric-softener residue in your machine.
• Wash your knitted piece cold or at the maximum temperature specified for the yarn.
• Wash your knitted piece on its own or with just a few other wool items.

If you cannot meet the requirements for machine washing, you should wash it by hand in the sink instead. In this case, keep the following points in mind:

• Wash your knitted piece cold or at the specified temperature.
• Always use a good wool detergent.
• Be careful not to apply too much mechanical pressure to your knitted piece; wet wool is especially delicate and can easily tear or become damaged.
• Tip: You can also hand-wash your knitted piece as described and then spin it gently in the machine. Be sure to test this with your gauge swatch beforehand.

Wool detergent is essential for your knitted piece. You invest a lot of love and time in making it, so you should also give the fibers the proper care. The natural yarns we love so much simply feel good and deserve to be washed with a really good detergent.

Things to keep in mind:

• The detergent is suitable for the fiber type of your knitted piece.
• Use it as specified each time, paying particular attention to the correct dosage.

Properly blocking your beautiful project is crucial for a beautiful drape and a great fit.

During blocking, the knitted piece is shaped correctly while lying flat and secured in place with pins. The project then dries completely before you can remove the pins and finally use it.

You will need:

• Blocking combs and pins
• A blocking mat
• A measuring tape
• A checkered cloth, if needed, to help with the angles

Tip: Investing in a really good blocking set is worthwhile. If you don’t have one available, you can also block on a mattress or carpet.

Blocking correctly isn’t difficult, and you’re sure to succeed.

1. Measuring

First, you need to know the desired measurements precisely. So try on your knitted piece and measure exactly how it should be.

2. Shaping

Then place your damp project on the blocking mat and shape it correctly. Be careful not to lay it crooked. A checkered cloth is very helpful here.

3. Securing

Now secure the knitted piece using blocking combs when you need a longer straight edge, or individual pins when you want to shape points.

For especially long edges on a shawl, you can thread a blocking wire through the edge and secure it with pins, ensuring that the edge becomes evenly straight.

4. Drying

Now all you have to do is wait until your project is completely dry. It’s best to let it air-dry, as this is especially gentle. Do not use warm air, as it could be too hot and risk damaging your knitted piece. 

5. Finished!

Then carefully remove the pins, and you’ll have a perfectly fitting dream piece!