Hello All - I’ve taken up knitting again after many years of being away. My husband used my blocking mats in his workshop! It is so cluttered in there that I didn’t notice and now I am close to finishing a project and would like to block it. I am looking for suggestions for mats that are available that you are happy with using. Thank you in advance.
I have the mats from Knit Picks which are fine but don’t have a grid of one inch squares printed on them. That grid is very helpful and I’d recommend finding mats that have it.
1 Like
I have 18" squares that interlock intended for going on the floor. I much prefer them over the smaller ones intended for and sold as blocking mats. I got two packages of them (4 or 6 each, I don’t remember for sure) for less than one package of the smaller ones I got from Knit Picks. If blocking something large like a shawl they’re great, for smaller items one will do where I’d need multiple of the smaller ones. Some people have the mats intended for garage floors and like them just fine; they come from some place like Harbor Freight. Mine have no lines or markings on them. My suggestion would be to explore the less expensive options. The money I saved buying mine paid for my blocking wires.
1 Like
I use Knit IQ blocking mats. They come in package of 9. They are 12.5 x 12.5. They do have marked 1inch grid and interlock. I like the grid marks because it makes it easy to match up different pieces of your project. You can use your patterns schematic to help with that. Actually have 2 sets. I’ve been very pleased with them
2 Likes
I was just at Sam’s Club and they had those foam mats for children’s play area. It seems like it would be easy (but tedious) to put my own markings on them.
I do know that you don’t want to block on a water bed. 🫠
2 Likes
I don’t have blocking mats but if I did get some I’d use these kids foam mats which interlock because they are significantly cheaper than knitting blocking mats. But I think if you are going to knit and block a lot it may well be worth the extra to get proper blocks with measurements.
1 Like
Speaking from experience? 
What could go wrong? 
I wondered the same thing.
1 Like
I never had a water bed. But I did know someone with one. She was a professional seamstress and did alterations and tayloring. She shared that advice with me at about the time they got rid of their water bed.
1 Like
Glad you didn’t find out the hard way!
1 Like
I have KnitIQ mats (2 sets), so do my knitty friends actually. They are brilliant. Also for blocking the Knit Pro Rainbow blockers are awesome. Well worth investing in IMO.
2 Likes