Blocking Lace for Best Results – Make Your Stitches Bloom 🌸
- Shaina Scott
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
You’ve bound off your last stitch, woven in your ends, and held up your lace knitting to admire it… only to think, Hmm… this doesn’t look like the picture.
That’s because lace’s true beauty is revealed in the blocking. Blocking opens up your stitches, smooths out uneven tension, and transforms a crumpled fabric into an airy, polished piece. Here’s how to make your lace bloom.
🧼 Step 1: Give Your Project a Gentle Bath
Fill a clean basin with lukewarm water and add a little no-rinse wool wash (like Eucalan or Soak). Submerge your lace completely, gently pressing out any air bubbles. Let it soak for about 15–20 minutes so the fibers fully relax.
🪢 Step 2: Support and Squeeze (No Wringing!)
Carefully lift your lace from the water, supporting it from underneath to avoid stretching. Press out excess water by gently squeezing or rolling it in a clean towel. Resist the temptation to twist or wring — that can distort your stitches.
📏 Step 3: Pin with Precision
Lay your damp lace out on blocking mats or a clean carpeted area. Shape it according to your pattern’s dimensions:
For scalloped edges, pin each point individually.
For straight edges, use blocking wires to keep the line crisp.
Stretch your lace just enough to open the motifs — over-stretching can flatten the texture or skew the design.
🌬 Step 4: Let It Dry Completely
Leave your piece pinned until it’s 100% dry. This sets the shape and ensures it stays open and beautiful even after you unpin it. Depending on your climate, this may take 12–24 hours.
✨ Bonus Tips for Picture-Perfect Lace
Lifelines are your friend. Adding them during knitting means fewer headaches if you need to fix mistakes before blocking.
Check your pins. Rust-proof pins are essential — especially for light-colored yarns.
Re-blocking refresh. If your lace gets crumpled after washing or wearing, a quick re-block can bring it back to life.
Blocking is the final step in lace knitting, but it’s also the moment where your hard work shines brightest. With the right care, your lace will open up beautifully — every yarn-over, twist, and cable sitting just where it belongs.
📖 Want to get more advive on knitting cables and lace? Check out the full Clematis Scarf resources hub →
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