Washing and blocking are so important because they are what shape and perfect your knitted piece.

Right after knitting, your project is often still a little crumpled, and the edges curl inward. After washing and blocking, it unfolds its full beauty. It has the correct dimensions and drapes as desired; the edges are straight and create a beautiful finish.

Here you can see my Remember Me shawl before and after washing and blocking. It only becomes smooth, drapes beautifully, and falls evenly after this step.

Whether you want to wash your knitted piece in the machine or by hand, you should follow a few basic rules to ensure good results. 

Every yarn is different and a beautiful natural product, so you should always wash a swatch beforehand. Since you should wash your gauge swatch anyway, it is especially well suited for testing!

If your swatch comes through washing perfectly, you can use the same method for your knitted piece.

In principle, you can wash your knitted piece in the machine under certain conditions:

• your washing machine should have a wool cycle
• always use a good wool detergent
• never use fabric softener, and also avoid fabric-softener residue in your machine
• wash your knitted piece in cold water or at most at the temperature specified for the particular yarn
• wash your knitted piece alone or with just a few other wool items

If you cannot meet the requirements for machine washing, it is better to wash by hand in the sink. You can keep the following points in mind:

• wash your knitted piece in cold water or at the specified temperature
• always use a good wool detergent
• make sure not to apply too much mechanical pressure to your knitted piece; wet wool is especially delicate and can easily tear or become damaged
• Tip: you can also hand-wash your knitted piece as described and then spin it gently in the machine; be sure to test this beforehand with your swatch

Wool detergent is absolutely essential for your knitted piece. You put a lot of love and time into making it, so you should also give the fibers the proper care. The natural yarns we love so much simply feel good and deserve to be washed with a really good detergent.

Things you should pay attention to:

• the detergent is suitable for the fiber type of your knitted piece
• use it as specified each time and pay particular attention to the correct dosage

Properly blocking your beautiful project is essential for a beautiful drape and a great fit.

Blocking involves shaping the knitted piece while it is laid flat and securing it in place with pins. The project then dries completely before you can remove the pins and finally use it.

You need:

• Blocking combs and pins
• A blocking mat
• A measuring tape
• If necessary, a checked cloth to help with the angles

Tip: Investing in a really good blocking set is worthwhile. If you don’t have one available, you can also block on a mattress or carpet.

Blocking correctly isn’t difficult, and you’re sure to succeed.

1. Measuring

First, you need to know the desired measurements precisely. So try on your knitted piece and measure exactly how it should be.

2. Shaping

Then place your damp project on the blocking mat and shape it correctly. Make sure not to lay it at an angle. A checked cloth is very helpful here.

3. Securing

Now secure the knitted piece using blocking combs when you need a longer straight edge, or using individual pins when you want to shape points.

For particularly long edges of a shawl, you can thread a blocking wire through the edge and secure it with pins. This ensures that the edge becomes evenly straight.

4. Drying

Now you only have to wait until your project is completely dry. It’s best to let it air-dry, as this is especially gentle. Do not use warm air, as it could be too hot and pose a risk of damaging your knitted piece. 

5. Finished!

Then carefully remove it, and you’ll have a perfectly fitting dream project!