The final stage of a hand-made textile is where a great deal of damage happens, because the work is finished, attention has moved on, and it is frequently left somewhere unsuitable while it dries or waits for the last few steps.
Why Blocking Matters
Blocking sets the finished dimensions of a knitted or crocheted piece, evens out the stitches and opens up lace patterns. Unblocked work looks noticeably less finished, and pieces intended to be joined will not match without it.
It is also the stage where an item is at its most vulnerable, since it spends a day or more damp, flat and exposed.
After Blocking, Before Use
A finished piece frequently waits: for a gift date, for the recipient to visit, for the next item in a set to be finished. That waiting period is where handmade items get dusty, creased or damaged.
Storing a finished item folded in a closed bag rather than draped over a chair protects it. Fabric project bags, of the kind catalogued by homest, work well for this because they contain and protect without sealing in moisture the way plastic does.
Where Blocking Goes Wrong
- Drying somewhere with poor airflow, which causes mustiness
- Direct sunlight, which fades dye on the exposed side only
- Pets sitting on a damp piece laid on the floor
- Colour bleeding from adjacent colours in a wet piece
- Rust marks from pins that are not rust-proof
The airflow point matters most. A wool garment drying flat in a closed room can take days, and a damp wool item left too long develops a smell that requires rewashing.
Never Store It Damp
This is the rule that matters most. A piece that feels dry on the surface can hold moisture in a thick section, and a folded item stored slightly damp develops mildew.
Give it longer than seems necessary. A day beyond the point where it feels dry costs nothing and prevents a problem that cannot be reversed.
Folding Versus Hanging
Knitted items should be folded rather than hung, since the weight of the fabric stretches the shoulders over months and the distortion is permanent.
Woven items generally hang without difficulty. Anything heavy or loosely constructed is safer folded.
Long-Term Storage of Finished Work
Handmade items in natural fibres are vulnerable to moths, and moths are attracted by residue rather than by clean fibre. Storing anything unwashed is what causes damage.
Wash or air the item, ensure it is fully dry, fold with acid-free tissue if it is something special, store in a breathable bag rather than sealed plastic, and add cedar or lavender.
Recording What You Made
Photographing finished work, with a note of the pattern, yarn and any modifications, takes five minutes and is worth far more than it seems.
Three years later, when someone asks what yarn you used or you want to make it again, the note is the only record that exists.
