How to Block Knit or Crochet Shawls

A little while back, I invited you to join me in an assessment of our unfinished projects. While I enjoyed reading your comments, I was surprised by how many readers reported that they had one (or more!) shawls just waiting to be blocked.

I’ve always blocked my projects as soon as the knitting is done, and I don’t think of blocking as an onerous chore. Yes, blocking takes some space, but it need not take a lot of time if you have some simple equipment. In this article, I’ll show you my process for blocking both a knit shawl and a crochet shawl. I’ll also show you the equipment I use and tell you where you can make do with items you already have at home.

Hopefully, you’ll be inspired to block your own shawls and move them out of the UFO pile!

The Shawls

I didn’t have any newly made shawls ready for blocking, so I chose a couple of shawls from my collection that looked like they were due for a refresh. The crochet shawl is Lost in Time, a free pattern from Mijo Crochet, made with Fiesta Yarns Linnette, a sadly discontinued hand-dyed fingering weight cotton/linen blend. The knit shawl is Nightshift from Drea Renee Knits made with Malabrigo Rios, a superwash Merino wool.

Related: Shawl Shapes Explained

The Blocking Process for Shawls

Step 1: Wash

For me, the blocking process begins by washing the piece. Some people swear by steam blocking or using a spray bottle, but I prefer a full-on soak. You do you.

I fill my sink with warm water and swirl in a dollop of Eucalan, my favorite no-rinse delicate detergent. I submerge the shawl in the warm, soapy water and leave it to soak for 20–30 minutes (or until I next go into the kitchen and remember I left a shawl soaking).

If you don’t have a delicate wash on hand, a bit of gentle shampoo will work. Just be sure to add a rinse step to your process.

Step 2: Remove Excess Water

I move the shawl to my washing machine (in a bowl so I don’t leave a trail of drips across the floor) and run the cycle called “drain and spin”. This cycle involves no agitation; it simply spins away the excess water.

If your machine doesn’t have a similar cycle, or you don’t have a washing machine at home, gently press out the water with your hands (do not wring), then lay the shawl on a dry towel, roll it up, and press firmly to move the water from the shawl into the towel.

Related: How to Wash and Care for Luxury Knitwear

We’re aiming for damp, not drippy and not dry.

Step 3: Lay Out the Blocking Board

I’m a recent convert to blocking mats. For years, I blocked shawls on an old polyester tablecloth laid on top of the carpet and stuck my pins right through to the carpet padding. That works perfectly well if you don’t have a blocking board or blocking mats.

A couple of years ago I invested in two sets of these blocking mats, and I’m not sorry. They come as a set of nine interlocking 12″ squares in a zippered vinyl storage bag, with a bonus box of T-pins. The 1″ grid marked on the mats makes it easy to square up the edges of my project. I can configure the mats to the shape I need. Note that the thickness of blocking mats varies by brand. If you’re going to buy more than one set, be sure you get the same kind so everything lines up.

Step 4: Thread the Blocking Wires

Blocking wires save a huge amount of time when blocking shawls. I’ve had this set of blocking wires for years, and it has served me well. It comes with rigid wires both 18″ and 36″ long, flexible wires 27″ long (for shaping curves), some T-pins, and a yardstick. The wires have polished ends, so they won’t snag your shawl, and they are stainless steel so they won’t rust.

Thread the wires along the edges of your shawl. If your shawl had a scalloped or pointed edging (like our crocheted example), insert the wires at the outermost part of the scallop or point. If your shawl has an I-cord edging (like our knitted example), insert the wire either through or just inside the cord.

Related: Our Favorite Blocking Products

If the edge of your shawl is longer than your wire, overlap the wires by an inch or so in the middle.

Step 5: Stretch and Pin

Line up a straight side of your shawl with one of the grid markings on your blocking board and insert a few T-pins to keep it in place. Think about pinning the wire, not pinning the fabric. If you’re using blocking wires, you won’t need many pins—just one near each end of the wire and one or two toward the middle to keep the wire from bowing. My crochet shawl needed just 12 pins; the knit shawl took 18 pins. Without blocking wires, you’ll need to place a pin every inch or two along the edge (ugh!). I use the T-pins that came with my blocking mats and blocking boards. Be sure your pins are stainless steel, so you won’t have issues with rust.

Pin out the remaining sides, stretching the shawl as desired. For lace shawls, I stretch pretty aggressively to open up the lace pattern. For shawls without lace, I focus less on stretching and more on making everything look straight and even. You’ll probably need to return to the first side and adjust the placement of the pins. Aim to make the stitch pattern look consistent throughout and avoid stretching so much that the pattern is distorted. If your shawl has a definite center point, like my crochet example, a yardstick is helpful for maintaining symmetry.

Step 6: Walk Away

Once you’re happy with how your shawl looks, leave it undisturbed until it is completely dry. Overnight usually does the trick. If you’re in a hurry, or if it’s particularly humid, a fan can speed drying time.

Step 7: Release Your Shawl

Remove the pins and slide the wires out of the edges. Give yourself a moment to marvel at the difference blocking can make, and to appreciate the results of all your hard work!

Do you enjoy blocking, or does it feel like a chore to you? What are your best blocking tips for shawls? Tell us all about it in the comments below.

Sandi Rosner is the technical content editor for all things yarn at Interweave. When she isn’t knitting, she usually has her nose in a book. You’ll find new technical content from Sandi nearly every week at www.interweave.com.

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