I’ve been reading a lot on the internet lately. Mostly blogs, forums and such, related to knitting, and it amazes me that people can do things in so many different ways to achieve the same result. For example, one woman was saying that she didn’t know all the ways of Casting On, she only knew about thirty of them. Now, I have a lot of knitting experience and am definitely not a Newbie in any way, shape or form but I never even knew there were thirty ways. Thirty ways … it boggles my mind! I laughed when I read that and I’m still chuckling now even as I write this. I tell ya, ever since the internet came into being, there’s no shortage of information.
Another thing I keep seeing reference to is “Blocking” your knitting. Do most people do this? Because that’s not something I can say I’ve ever done, unless you count laying a damp tea towel over your knitted item and passing a hot iron over it to create a little steam. The idea of buying a blocking board and pinning your garment down seems a bit unusual to me but then again, that’s probably just me. I’ve read that blocking is especially important for lacy shawls and similar items, to open up the lacework and show off all the detail. I can see the sense in that case, but what about things like socks? Do they need to be blocked too? Or gauge swatches? I just shake my head when people say do it for their gauge swatches … I must be missing something here (and I don’t think its my marbles).
If you’re someone who makes the effort to block all your projects, would you please let me know what benefit you find in it? I’m sure there must be some, or else people wouldn’t bother and I’m curious, since I’m not one of those people.
Another thing I keep seeing reference to is “Blocking” your knitting. Do most people do this? Because that’s not something I can say I’ve ever done, unless you count laying a damp tea towel over your knitted item and passing a hot iron over it to create a little steam. The idea of buying a blocking board and pinning your garment down seems a bit unusual to me but then again, that’s probably just me. I’ve read that blocking is especially important for lacy shawls and similar items, to open up the lacework and show off all the detail. I can see the sense in that case, but what about things like socks? Do they need to be blocked too? Or gauge swatches? I just shake my head when people say do it for their gauge swatches … I must be missing something here (and I don’t think its my marbles).