Washing and blocking is so important because it makes your knitted piece fit perfectly and perfects it.

Right after knitting, your project is often a bit crumpled and the edges curl up. After washing and blocking, it unfolds its full beauty. It has the correct dimensions, drapes as desired, and the edges are straight and form a nice finish.

Here you see my Remember Me shawl before and after washing and blocking. Only after this step is it smooth, drapes nicely, and even.

Whether you want to wash your knitted piece in the machine or by hand, you should follow some basic rules to ensure it turns out well. 

Every yarn is different and a beautiful natural product, so you should definitely wash a swatch beforehand. Since you should wash your gauge swatch anyway, it’s especially suitable for testing!

If your gauge swatch withstands the wash well, you can apply the same method to your knitted piece.

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

• your washing machine should have a wool program
• always use good wool detergent
• never use fabric softener and avoid fabric softener residues in your machine
• wash your knitted piece cold or at most as specified for the yarn
• wash your knitted piece alone or with a few other wool items only

If you can’t meet the conditions for machine washing, you should wash by hand in the sink instead. You can follow these points:

• wash your knitted piece cold or according to the specified temperature
• always use a good wool detergent
• make sure not to apply too much mechanical pressure to your knitted piece; wet wool is especially delicate and can easily tear or get damaged
• Tip: you can also wash your knitted piece by hand as described and then gently spin it in the machine; be sure to test this first with your gauge swatch

Wool detergent is essential for your knitted piece. You put a lot of love and time into making it, so you should give the fibers the right care. The natural yarns we love feel great and deserve to be washed with a really good detergent.

Here’s what you should pay attention to:

• the detergent is suitable for the fiber type of your knitted piece
• use it as directed and pay special attention to the correct dosage

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

When blocking, the knitted piece is laid flat into the correct shape and pinned in place. The project then dries completely before you can unpin it and finally use it.

You need:

• Blocking combs and pins
• A blocking mat
• A measuring tape
• Optionally, a checkered cloth as an aid for angles

Tip: investing in a really good blocking set is worth it; if you don’t have one available, you can also block on a mattress or carpet.

Proper blocking isn’t difficult and you will definitely succeed.

1. Measuring

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

2. Shaping

Then lay your damp project on the blocking mat and shape it into the right form. Make sure not to place it crookedly. A checkered cloth is very helpful here.

3. Fixing

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

For especially long edges of a shawl, you can thread a blocking wire into the edge and fix it with pins to ensure the edge becomes evenly straight.

4. Drying

Now you just have to wait until your project is completely dry. It’s best to let it air dry, as this is especially gentle. Avoid using warm air, as it might be too hot and could damage your knitted piece. 

5. Finished!

Then carefully release it and you’ll have a perfectly fitting dream piece!