If you don’t block sweaters…why the hell not? Nothing makes a piece look as professional and finished. I almost always block a sweater before seaming, like I’m doing with this Hugo. 
Blocking before seaming lets you make sure you get the pieces to the exact measurements you want and it smooths out all of the slight imperfections in the stitches. Pre-seaming blocking also allows the sweater to dry faster since it’s still in pieces. You need to block the pieces to get it to the gauge of the swatch you washed and blocked, right?
I know, I know. It’s a pain. You need to soak it in some wool wash, like Eucalan, and squeeze out the water gently, then roll it up in a dry towel and smoosh the water out with your feet. Then you finesse the pieces into the finished measurements and maybe you pin it lightly. Maybe you pin it aggressively if it’s lace. I think the sweater pieces should be fairly relaxed when you pin them because if you’re getting aggressive at this point you might not have made the correct gauge or size in the first place. I’ve learned that lesson a couple of times.
But seriously, if you’re not a dedicated blocker, try it next time you do a sweater. It’s well worth the effort and I know you can hold on just a little longer on the finishing. Just cast on something new while you wait for it to dry. Read this Knitty article for more specific tips, especially for dealing with different fibers.
This sweater is now so close to being finished! After seaming it just needs the ribbed collar and some buttons. It’s for my brother and I’ll see him next weekend for our little sister’s wedding. Then he can cart it home to Minnesota where it will surely get lots of use. I should probably send him home with some wool wash and washing instructions. I made this out of Cascade 220 (non-superwash).
The pattern looks amazing and so fun to knit! 🙂
The pieces look gorgeous already! Lucky brother.
I actually always use a damp iron for blocking. I was taught this by my mum 30 years ago (then we sprayed water on it and damped with an ordinary iron). The challenge is to control the temperature and handle it very lightly so it cools down immediately. Probably not ver professional!
I think that sounds great if it gets the job done and works for you!
Do you know about steam blocking? There may be other methods , but I use an iron on the steam setting and basically wave it maybe 1 cm above the garment (which you pin in place first). Essential for yarns that can’t really be washed, but also really useful for awkward shapes that need to block in sections like this skirt.
I do know about steaming. I use that for something that needs lighter blocking. This is my preferred method.
Exactly! For some garments I press the iron lightly also and ruffle it in-between! I have seen more professional solutions, but this works for me!
Gorgeous sweater! What colorway of 220 is that? I love 220 for sweaters. I block the pieces separately. Even with math, swatching and blocking, things don’t always turn out the size I expected and I discover some piece needs to be ripped back and corrected.
The color is Japanese Maple. Sometimes I can squish or pull things into place a bit with blocking. The sleeves seemed about 2″ too long but I was able to get them to behave.
What a beautiful color and your knitting is amazing! I’m inspired! Can’t wait to see it done!
Do you block, seam, then block again? I’ve always blocked after seaming, but was told recently that I’m doing it all wrong. So now I’m blocking first, but the seams look… Like they need to be blocked!
I don’t block after seaming unless it looks like I need to again. Usually doesn’t seem that way. Sometimes I steam if it’s just one section, like the collar in this case.
Wow! Both pattern and yarn looks lovely and what a good color for fall.
like this knit the hell
Beautiful work, and good info about blocking. I only knew about blocking with a steam iron, this seems more thorough.
Lovely Lovely fine work!! Wished I could knit. 😛
I’m not a huge fan of blocking, but my cats love sitting on wet wool (cats are strange), and I prefer the way regular wool wears rather than superwash. Blocking is worth it!
Great post! I agree. .. blocking is an important step especially when you’ve spent so much time to knit your project!
I don’t know why I have never blocked out sweater pieces before assembly. It makes so much sense! Also, as said by many others here, gorgeous sweater!
Great post! I am still a beginner at knitting, do you have any sweater patterns to suggest to me? This one is great, but it is beyond my skills
Where do you get your blocking board? The one with the measurements on it? Thanks!!
I believe it’s Sew-Ez blocking board. I bought it online AGES ago and don’t really remember.