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When To Block: That is the question

February 10, 2009 By Carole

The pieces of the Everyday Cardigan are finished. Hooray! Here we have a pile:

everyday-cardigan-pieces

That’s the back, the left front, the right front, and the sleeves. Ready to be seamed. Or not. You see, I have a dilemma. Do I block before seaming or seam before blocking or both? Let’s have a little survey, shall we?

What would you do?

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Comments

  1. Nora says

    February 10, 2009 at 6:51 am

    It appears I am in the majority thus far. Whichever method you choose, it’s going to look wonderful!! Can’t wait!

  2. Julie says

    February 10, 2009 at 6:53 am

    I like to block before I seam for 2 reasons: 1) flat edges are easier to block than edges that are curling, and 2) I find it easier to block the individual pieces than the seamed sweater.
    That being said, I’ve done it both ways 🙂

  3. Manise says

    February 10, 2009 at 7:22 am

    Most books say to block the pieces first- I find it makes for flatter edges and less fighting trying to pin the edges before finally seaming them. Can’t wait to see it on you!

  4. margene says

    February 10, 2009 at 7:25 am

    It is so much easier to block the pieces and then seam. In fact, I block the pieces as they are finished so I can see how beautiful my handy work is. 😉

  5. Beth says

    February 10, 2009 at 7:31 am

    I’ve only made one sweater that had individual pieces. I blocked the first piece right away just to see if it would grow enough to fit me!

  6. LittleWit says

    February 10, 2009 at 7:34 am

    I know I am s’pose to block and then seam but umm I always seem to seam then block. Call me lazy I guess. 🙂

  7. Judy says

    February 10, 2009 at 8:06 am

    Beautiful sweater – I am almost tempted to try to knit a sweater this year, but not sure I am ready.

  8. Donna says

    February 10, 2009 at 8:14 am

    I would block then seam it. I find it easier. I would also give another little touch-up blocking after it is put together.

    I can’t wait to see it when it is put together. It looks so comfortable!

  9. Jamisyn says

    February 10, 2009 at 8:15 am

    I’ve actually never knit a sweater in pieces. I’m a fan of the seamless raglan. Maybe that will change one day…but it’s looking unlikely. I can’t give you any advice…I’ve actually never blocked a thing. I’ve never had a need to.

    Do you block socks?

    Okay, there is one project that I will block when I am finished. I’m knitting a scarf sized Clapotis in laceweight…

  10. Chris says

    February 10, 2009 at 8:17 am

    Of course, I haven’t actually knit a sweater in pieces before, so my answer was theoretical. 🙂

  11. Karen says

    February 10, 2009 at 8:31 am

    I vote “light” block, seam, “soak in water and wool wash” block again. Of course, the only seam-able thing I have ever knitted and had to block was my wedding dress (and it was lace), so that required a bit more effort, but I can see myself going in that route when I do start knitting sweaters. Love that yarn btw!

  12. Karen says

    February 10, 2009 at 8:32 am

    I think it’s easier to seam once the pieces have been blocked. It’s going to be a beautiful sweater no matter how you do it.

  13. Dinah says

    February 10, 2009 at 8:39 am

    I always block the seam. I think it ismuch easier to make and invisible seam when the piece if flat….at my advance age I can see the “ladders” much better that way!

  14. Robin in VA says

    February 10, 2009 at 8:41 am

    I use the idea that if the fabric looks good I generally don’t block until after it’s seamed up…if the edges are curling bad I do lightly steam them before sewing up. (leave it to me to have such a convoluted answer!)

  15. Wool Winder says

    February 10, 2009 at 8:49 am

    I always seam before blocking. If the fabric is so unruly I can’t work with it, then I will use a little steam on the edge.

  16. Joy says

    February 10, 2009 at 8:53 am

    Mostly I block, then seam, but sometimes steam edges first if it makes things easier, so whatever works best at the time 😉

  17. deb says

    February 10, 2009 at 9:07 am

    Of course – if you had a finisher at your yarn store like I do another option would be to give it to her to work out those details! That being said, block first, then seam!

  18. Liz U. says

    February 10, 2009 at 9:24 am

    At this point, I do a quick iron/steam block, just to neaten everything up to make seaming easier.

  19. Kassia says

    February 10, 2009 at 9:36 am

    I am totally inexperienced with blocking as the majority of my projects are smaller ones where it’s not required (hats, socks, mittens, etc). However, I’ve read on many people’s blogs how difficult it can be to block a finished sweater….trying to get everything to lay out right when you’re talking about 2 layers of fabric. So my vote was to block and then seam. 🙂

    The color you chose looks really pretty- can’t wait to see the finished sweater!

  20. elizabeth says

    February 10, 2009 at 10:16 am

    Having just seamed a sweater without blocking it, I found myself thinking several times during the process that I wished I’d blocked it first. It went together fine, but it would’ve been even easier if it had been blocked.

  21. Knitnana says

    February 10, 2009 at 11:22 am

    Don’t know enough about sweater making to contribute. Unless you have a column inserted for “WHAT??? You block sweaters???”
    lololol
    (((hugs)))

  22. susan says

    February 10, 2009 at 12:09 pm

    You know that I voted for block, seam, block again.
    I’m just sayin’

  23. Marcia says

    February 10, 2009 at 12:15 pm

    Although I clicked on Who the Hell Blocks, I would go with block then seam. If I blocked.

  24. kmkat says

    February 10, 2009 at 1:14 pm

    I have read that it is best to block the pieces, seam them, and block the entire garment. Good luck!

  25. Lucia says

    February 10, 2009 at 1:32 pm

    As I uderstand it, the blocking is supposed to make all the pieces even and the size they’re supposed to be. (Assuming that they were close to begin with.) Of course, the only sweater I’ve actually finished that fairly closely approximated its intended size was a one-piece knit, so I never blocked it.

  26. Kara says

    February 10, 2009 at 1:47 pm

    Hmm, I just made my first sweater in pieces (usually I knit top-down all-one-piece). It seemed like a pain in the butt to try to block all the bits so every edge would match up, not to mention needing a million pins, so I just seamed it all without blocking, which was perfectly easy, then blocked the finished sweater by laying it out and patting it into shape — no pins! Worked great 🙂

  27. Carol says

    February 10, 2009 at 2:17 pm

    I never block except lace. Even that is a struggle. I know you are *supposed* to do it though. Gorgeous yarn. It will be lovely when it’s done.

  28. Cookie says

    February 10, 2009 at 3:11 pm

    If I were you, I’d block, seam and block again.

    Then again, I usually knit top-down raglans. What do I know? ;^)

  29. Karen says

    February 10, 2009 at 4:18 pm

    I blocked before and after for the last sweater I made. Before for ease of seaming, and after for the button bands and collar.

  30. Robby says

    February 10, 2009 at 4:34 pm

    First, if I could reach through my monitor and snatch that yarn up for my own, well, let’s just say you wouldn’t be worrying about when to block. Sadly, I believe the block, seam, block method will produce the snappiest results. Such is the way of the world.

  31. lisa says

    February 10, 2009 at 5:44 pm

    Oh well, not in the majority… I’d say for a complicated or very well fitted sweater, then block first then seam… but for an EVERYday sweater… just seam and then block, or not!

  32. JessaLu says

    February 10, 2009 at 7:03 pm

    Blocking then seaming makes it *way* easier. This way all your parts will match up. ;o)

  33. Kim says

    February 10, 2009 at 7:13 pm

    Looks like you got lots of good advice. 🙂 I’m looking forward to seeing it blocked and modeled.

  34. Nell says

    February 10, 2009 at 8:18 pm

    If I don’t seam right away, I’m going to really lag on that part of the project. So seaming quick seems like the thing to do.

  35. Ingrid says

    February 10, 2009 at 8:28 pm

    It is wool right? I steam (actually press very gently), seam while the pieces are still nice and flat, then block or steam again. Whether I wet block depends on how much the project needs a wash.

  36. sandy says

    February 10, 2009 at 9:32 pm

    I am so excited that your Everyday is almost done! You are going to LOVE it! And literally wear it…..every. Day.
    xo

  37. Teresa C says

    February 10, 2009 at 11:59 pm

    Block. Seam. Do the finishing work, keeping in mind the blooming of the yarn after getting it wet, so don’t panic when the button bands pull in, then reblock the sweater lightly, maybe steaming (very lightly, through a towel and don’t let the iron touch that) the seams and pay special attention to the bands, getting them wet and pinning them out to fit the garment. Then pray as it dries, make deals with the devil as you pull out the pins…….. and rejoice when you try it on and it is lovely!

  38. Sarah says

    February 11, 2009 at 2:10 am

    Those are interesting poll results. Block, seam, block was my vote.

  39. Laurie says

    February 11, 2009 at 6:39 am

    Terry and Margene are sweater goddesses. I will now change my evil ways of blocking after all the sweat is done. I was always concerned that I would block different pieces differently. Lazy me.

  40. gayle says

    February 11, 2009 at 9:26 am

    I’m the worst possible combination of impatient and lazy. I always seam right away, since I can’t wait to see how it will look/fit. Then I sometimes never get around to blocking at all, because I’m too busy wearing the sweater. My Rogue still doesn’t have a zipper because of this – I’m waiting to put in the zip until after blocking, and I don’t get around to blocking because I don’t want to be without it while it’s drying…
    Bad knitter, bad!

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