Tools/Accessories NEW! Blocking Wires
| NEW! Blocking Wires |
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| Written by Barbara Rottman | |
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Brand: in-spin-knit-y
The Look Whether for cooking, sewing, wood working, or knitting,the right tool makes even the most difficult task easy. Rachel Calado’s Premium and UltraFine blocking wires are the perfect blocking tools for your knitting, especially for stretching lace. The very fine but highly flexible wires can be contorted into any shape and always spring back into perfectly straight lines, ready for the next application. Bend this fine gauge super elastic wire into any shape to draw out the detail in your knitting. With this tool, you can shape lace into delicate scalloped edges and picot points easily and quickly to achieve expertly finished results.
The Feel In-spin-knit-y’s high quality blocking wires will not rust, tarnish or corrode. Like my hair, the fine gauge wire seeks only a straight line. No matter how many times it's bent or shaped, it returns to a straight line. The resilient wire is extraordinarily flexible but always bounces back into its original shape. The warm wood crochet hooks are ergonomically balanced and carved to fit the hand so perfectly you may never want to put them down. Crocheters who have tried them rave about the comfortable grip and the natural beauty of the woods. Stitches slide like silk over the polished surface.
Applications As evidence of how effective the blocking wires are, Rachel’s blog includes a picture of the Hemlock Ring Doily she blocked on just 3 of the Ultra Fine 36" wires using 25 T-pins, and taking only about 25 minutes to block. With results like that, why not knit more lace?
Size Range Both sizes of wires are available in silver, gold orblack. Each set contains:
A set of 6 super long wires that is ideal for outsized projects like circular shawls is also available in a choice of silver, gold or black.
Usage Lace knitting comes off the needles blowzy, rumpled and a little bedraggled. Careful blocking transforms the tousled bundle into the lyrical lacy patterns that so captivate us. Knitters have used curtain stretchers, carpet tack, and piano wires to stretch lace. The near-lethal sharp points of these tools could snag delicate lace or pierce fingers, risking bloodstains that could ruin the knitting. Other time-consuming methods involve lacing the knitting onto frames ortemplates. Circular pieces present a special problem in achieving a perfect outline. One method is to use a length of nylon cord which pinned to shape, but brings challenges of lacing thecord into the knitting and calculating the proper length of cord needed. In-spin-knit-y blocking wires solve these problems. Use the Premium gauge wires for general blocking. They are suitable for all gauge knitting, especially curves as in necklines and straight lines needed for sleeves and cardigan fronts. The Ultra Fine gauge wires (.19” in diameter) are designed specifically for delicate lace knit in laceweight or fingering yarn. You can easily and quickly block out points, curves and circles for a perfect finish to lace.
What I'd Like to Use it For Use in-spin-knit-y wires wherever you need to block a curve, point, straight line or angle. In other words, these wires are perfect for all your blocking needs with the possible exception of socks.
Knitting Outside the Box Don’t limit use of these wires to lace. Use them to block all your knitting projects. They are remarkably easy to use and deliver such superior results that you will never go back to just pinning.
Care Very little care is needed for the wires as they are durable and non-corrosive. Package instructions suggest wiping with isopropyl alcohol if the wires become dirty or smudged. The end protectors are very tiny and could easily get lost. If you are obsessive about this, keep a small dish handy to collect them during use. Once dropped or misplaced, finding them is as challenging as searching for a lost contact lens or ear ring back. The plastic storage bag is compact and handy, but could get worn with frequent use – and I predict you will like them so well that you will use them for every project. There are multitudes of storage cases for knitting tools, and here is another reason to indulge in a lovely silk bag specially fitted to store the blocking wires.
Durability If you guard against loss of the tiny accessory pieces, you should have complete happiness and success with the blocking wires. I can’t think of any blocking needs that would overstress or cause permanent damage to the wires. These flexible wires can withstand even determined shaping and return to a straight line. The special property of the wire that prevent skinking also preserves the wire by preventing it from weakening at any bendpoints. These wires will serve your needs for years. Overall Recommendation:
There is a special satisfaction that comes from using awell-crafted tool that performs its task well. In-spin-knit-y blocking wires are simply sensational. I consider them an essential knitting aid and rate them #10.
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