Finished Object: Knitted Baby Magic Slippers and Why Blocking your Knits is so Important




Pattern: Magic Slippers
Yarn: Zitron Trekking XXL #415
Work in Progress Post

Ever wonder why blocking is so important? Check out the top photo. Booty on the right was blocked. Booty on the left was not. In the bottom photo both of the booties have been blocked. 

Blocking:
  1. Evens out the stitches, making them more uniformly shaped. 
  2. Allows you to manipulate the dimensions a bit. In this instance helping me make sure that both booties were the same size. 
  3. Opens up the stitches, showing your pattern better, as in lace knitting. 
How to block booties:
  1. Place the finished booties with all ends woven in, in a sink of warm soapy water and allow them to sit (don't agitate) for 15 minutes or so.  (I use wool wash that doesn't need rinsing.)
  2. Press out the water and roll the booties in a towel, to get out the excess water. 
  3. Stuff the booties with paper towels, manipulating them into the shape you want. 
  4. Set them out to dry. I pinned my toe and heel to a blocking mat because I was trying to make sure that they were the right dimensions in the sole. 
Turns out that didn't matter because they were too small for the baby. Dang. I took too long to actually sit down and knit them. The baby grew up on me! Oh well, into the container for future baby shower gifts they go...

Joining with Linda, Tami, and Andrea

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