Opinion on blocking scarf?

#1

Hello there! I’ve just finished my first knitted scarf. I’ll be adding some fringe on to it, but I wanted to find out if I should block it first (and how).

It’s rather large: 12 stitches across, 114 rows on US19 needles and measures approx. 5.5 feet. I had to use a piece of computer paper to measure since I couldn’t find a tape :wink:

I know that blocking will make a patterned stitch more visible (as shown here), but this is just a simple garter stitch scarf and I’m not sure it won’t make it too…holey for lack of a better term.

I’ve attached two pictures of it.

Thanks for all your help!

#2

Lace patterns get ‘holey’ when you block them because they’re supposed to–all the YO’s and k2togs create the lace.

Garter stitch won’t get holey, the stitches might relax and even out, depending on the yarn used. If it’s acrylic, it won’t change too much. You can just wash and dry it. If it’s wool, it might grow a bit, but it won’t change appearance too much.

#3

Yeah, if it’s acrylic it probably wouldn’t make too much of a difference. Even if it’s natural fiber, the stitches may even out but that’s probably all you’d notice. It would get holy if, when blocking, you reeeeally stretched it out, but you don’t necessarily always do that when blocking. You pin it to size.

Anyhow, I wouldn’t worry about it on a scarf. I usually just do it on lace (definitely), sweaters or parts of sweaters, other garments, and socks (though I don’t find it necessary). Good luck :muah:

#4

Okay, thanks! I’m just going to wash it and lay it out flat to dry, since I don’t have any pins. I think it’s acrylic, but I don’t know for sure. My gram bought a bunch of already balled up yarn at a rummage sale and a lot of it didn’t come with the little label thingie.

Thanks again!
RoxAnne

#5

It looks acrylic, and it might stretch out a little as you wear it, but wash and dry will even out the sts.