Blocking a Hat
Now that you have a hat blocker, we are ready to block. Go wash your hat in lukewarm water, add a drop or two of wool wash, and then gently press out all the excess water. Go ahead, I’ll wait.
Ready? Me too.
1) Stretch that hat around the disc. Get it nice and centered.
2) Now you will need more string and that tapestry needle. Put in a loose, widely spaced, running stitch around the bottom edge.
3) Pull both ends of the thread and cinch that bottom edge together. Tie a quick square knot in the thread to hold it.
4) Done!
Interested in making these hats? I figure some readers might want links to the patterns so, from left to right:
- Spliced, design by me
- Chambered Nautilus Tam, design by Elizabeth Zimmermann
- Get Around, another design by me and a freebie. Go grab it!
Like tutorials? I have more for knitters, crocheters, and handspinners. Enjoy!
"There is no failure. Only feedback." - Robert Allen
10 Comments on "Sunday Stitch – How to Block a Hat"
Thank you so much!
You are very welcome! Have fun blocking all your hats, lol.
I knit a new beret every year, whether I need it or not. I simply use the same pattern and come up with a different design always using the instructions from Anne Budd’s Handy Book For Patterns. Therefore, the same dinner plate always works for blocking my annual output.
That’s a good system you have there!
Great tips as usual. Thank you!
Most welcome!
Nice hats! I especially like the colors you used in your design on the left. And the hats certainly do look more beautiful when blocked – thanks for the tip on the cardboard! I don’t really need to block socks but it does show the stitches off better, so I do it if the socks are meant for a gift. I made a couple of coathanger feet that do the job. Now I’ll remember the cardboard option, too.
Socks are the one thing I don’t block. Don’t tell anyone. Its not that I think they aren’t worth the effort, its that I LOVE handknit socks and I can’t wait. I finish ’em and they go right on my feet.
Oh good! Let me know how it goes!