Listening to: New Teller – Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers
I have a knitting question, to which I should really just look up the answer myself, but anyway: if I want to block a hat to make it a little bit bigger, do I just do it flat? Will that create weird side creases? I don’t know what else I’m expecting – some sort of papier maché hat-blocking solution? Should I just find someone with a bigger head who wouldn’t mind wearing it for a bit? The first Saartje’s Noro Hat I knit is completely lovely and fits nicely, but I don’t like it quite as much as the second one, which had five extra stitches and is that little bit roomier.
Today: Shepherd’s Bush (I’ve missed it! I got a bit nostalgic for that first London house), a haircut (I look so weird with my hair blow-dried straight – there will be no pictures) and sunshine (I had to take my coat off on the walk home!).
17 February, 2010 at 9:05 pm
It’s difficult. I’ve used balloons before, but they’re not quite solid enough if you need some “aggressive” blocking (and obviously you can’t use pins). People who make a lot of hats often get one of those foam heads they can use for blocking. I’d probably try stuffing it with a towel and putting a bowl or something inside to keep the shape. Otherwise, yeah, get somebody with a big head to wear it around!
19 February, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Thanks, Kris! I was sort of leaning towards balloons (I think you can get a sort of heavier duty kind? They’re probably tough to blow up, though) – the towel/bowl thing is a much better idea!