It may feel counterintuitive, but do not put your first pins in the corners. Pin in the centre of the sides and keep opening up the fabric out towards the corners. Water – you can soak your project in a clean bowl, basin, sink or bath, and you may also find a simple spray bottle useful Lion Brand® Yarn Company is a fifth generation, family-owned business. Lion Brand® yarns are sold online, at craft chains, discount chains and independent shops across the United States. We are passionate about helping people enjoy the pleasures of working with yarn. That’s a simplistic example which gives you an idea of the variation. It’s hard to be definitive about which projects will retain the best stitch memory, but it’s the kind of thing that becomes more intuitive with experience. So give it a try!

It is also used to evenly shape pieces; whether they are panels for a sweater or simple granny squares, finished items look a whole lot better if their parts are neatly shaped. Keep collections to yourself or inspire other shoppers! Keep in mind that anyone can view public collections—they may also appear in recommendations and other places. Some purists might say absolutely, but honestly I don’t think it’s necessary in every project. It really depends on what it is and what it’s going to be used for. The precise approach to pinning will depend on the shape and style of the garment you’re working with, but I wanted to include this image to give you an idea. If you’ve read any of my posts on gauge, you will know that I am a fan of always making a swatch for any crochet item which needs to fit.Records the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie.

Once you have the pins in the centre of the sides, continue to evenly shape the fabric, then you can add the pins in the corners. To use them, you weave the sides of your fabric onto the wire (think of the tip of the wire as a yarn needle) at regular intervals, spreading one side out evenly over the wire If you are working with a larger or more complex shape, this process can take a while as you may need to adjust pins as you shape your work. Especially if you’re working with lace patterns. I aim to reassure you too, that it’s not as intimidating as it can seem. And in addition to my normal disclaimer, as I so often find in crochet, there is rarely only one correct approach. When pinning out, place the pins around a cm or more in from the edge to minimise this dipping, particularly if you are bringing quite a lot of stretch to the project .Throughout the instructions, I have given some guidance about the best method for different fibres but I wanted to take a moment to clarify this. I have used glitter glue mixed with water (I’m not sure what sort of glue gorilla glue is so not sure if it works) to stiffen small items such as decorations – I talk about it briefly in my little Christmas trees post https://doradoes.co.uk/portfolio/little-christmas-trees/

First you will add 1 wire on each side of your project. Then either pin the wires out flat to shape or hang the piece from one of the wires, depending on the shape you’re working with. It is a very effective way to even out tension and, especially for open work, to really show off the pattern. They are essentially boards with holes drilled into them at regular intervals, like peg boards, into which tall solid doweling type ‘pins’ (pegs) will fit.Also take care that your pins do not go through the board and scratch or damage the surface underneath. Keep your pins away from pets and children. (My cat likes to try chew on the tops and it terrifies me!) It does tend to stretch with wear though – which could be an advantage or disadvantage – again depending on your pattern! The next pin(s) should go half way across the gaps between pins and so on until you have your straight edges.

Ideally you would use a garment steamer because you have more control, however a steam iron can work if you hover it an inch or so above the fabric. It’s important not to work too close to the fabric and not to apply direct heat to the fibres. Steam is an alternative way to get a small amount of moisture into your fabric. The added element of heat can be used to create shape and additional drape on your fabric. Please take all the necessary safety precautions when working with steam appliances and follow manufacturer guidelines. Starting in the centre of your work, use your fingers to manipulate out the fabric to the tension you are looking for and work out towards the edges.Once you have allowed the fabric to fully soak, carefully squeeze out the excess water and lay it flat on a towel. Gently roll up the fabric in the towel and give it a soft press to take most of the water out.