Blocking Instructions
For natural fibre yarns such as the By Laxton’s range, blocking the finished pieces before sewing together is recommended. Blocking sets the knitted yarn in place and makes the finishing and sewing up so much easier. It also helps the finished garment drape beautifully on the body.
The best way to block any such piece of knitting is to pin the knitted pieces on to a soft board or large towel, making sure all edges are straight and the piece square.
Using long glass-headed pins, pin the pieces to your surface at 90 degrees to the edge of the knitting so keeping the edges flat.
To block successfully the fabric needs warmth and moisture.
There are a number of ways to introduce this once pinned.
- Using a bottle with warm water spray the knitted fabric, press down with your hands to introduce more warmth.
- Alternatively, if you have a steam iron, carefully hover the iron over the fabric and let the steam pulse onto the knitting. Do NOT let the plate of the iron touch the knitting.
- A last suggestion is to pin the knitting to a large towel, spray with warm water and roll the towel up. This will also act as a press.
Do NOT remove the pins or move the knitting until it is completely dry. It may stretch the knitted fabric if you do so.
Once dry, remove the pins and enjoy how easy your knitting is to sew together
KNITTING ABBREVIATIONS
K knit
P purl
st(s) stitch(es)
inc increas(e)(ing)
dec decreas(e)(ing)
st st stocking stitch (1 row K, 1 row P)
g st garter stitch (K every row)
beg begin(ning)
foll following
rem remain(ing)
rev st st reverse stocking stitch (1 row P, 1 row K)
rep repeat
alt alternate
cont continue
patt pattern
tog together
mm millimetres
cm centimetres
in(s) inch(es)
RS right side
WS wrong side
sl 1 slip one stitch
psso pass slipped stitch over
p2sso pass 2 slipped stitches over
tbl through back of loop
M1 "make one stitch by picking up horizontal loop before next stitch and knitting into back of it "
M1P make one stitch by picking up horizontal loop before next stitch and purling into back of it
yfwd yarn forward
yrn yarn round needle
meas measures
0 no stitches, times or rows
- no stitches, times or rows for that size
yo yarn over needle
yfrn yarn forward round needle
wyib with yarn at back
sl2togK slip 2 stitches together knitways
