How on earth do I block this?

lindyloop · How on earth do I block this?

I am hopefully going to finish my lace Heartstrings smoke ring this weekend.
It is like a tube so how shall I block it? It should have pointy edges so I do need to pin it, I need a long bucket or something to stretch it over!
Confused

Lin x

jacquie

I have no idea, but the lace pattern on it is just breathtaking - I was looking at it on your blog earlier.

lindyloop

Thank you Jacquie.

I had a look at the pattern and it said to just stretch while drying but I want the pattern to show more!

Lin x

Gill

Hi Lin,

I emailed Jackie, the lady who designs these, and this is the reply I had come back a short while ago...

Hi Gill,

I use the wet blocking method described in this article -- i.e.
soak/wash-rinse as described in this blocking article, thus THOROUGHLY
wetting the fibers to relax them (minimum 30 minutes initial soaking). But
instead of blocking under tension with wires and/or pins. I just lay on a
flat surface and 'block' with my fingers, opening up the lace nicely and
gently pulling on the shaping along the edges to accentuate the points if
desired. Leave laying flat until thoroughly dry (usually min of 24 hours
since fibers can feel dry long before they actually are dry throughout). You
might be left with a slight crease in the smoke ring where folded while
drying, but this can later easily be steamed out under low heat (do not
allow iron to touch fabric though - we are just talking about a little bit
of moist steam applied along the crease if there is one). There could be
more elaborate ways, and ones using more fancy equipment, but this works
fine for any that I have blocked.

http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/blocking.shtm

Best regards,

Jackie E-S / jackie@HeartStringsFiberArts.com

lindyloop

Thank you very much Gill for doing that. I hadn't even thought of asking the designer!

I must go and finish it!!

Lin x

Blossom

This is a gorgeous pattern...I have it ready to do...my friend Jo did it last year in 4 ply and it is gorgeous! Smile

lindyloop

I finished it and blocked it as Gill said. I just pinned the edges a bit to make them pointier.

More pictures on the blog but this is a good one to show the pattern.

Lin x

n

Oh Wow!
I want one.... is this 4 ply or laceweight or something in between?

n

lindyloop

It is 4 ply sock yarn so nice to knit with!
Lin x

LittleBerry

it's beautiful and the colour is fantastic...

Nevisknitter

Thats a beautiful pattern, love the colour too.

KnittingLadybird

That's just beautiful...I need a lacy tube scarf (I do y'know Wink

)

gilraen

Stunning Lindy, stunning. I love the new look blog too Smile

FatCat

gosh, that's simply gorgeous! Stunning even! Glad you got the blocking thing sorted out, that would have stumped me too Confused

lindyloop

thank you. Embarassed

Lin x