Before you sew your garment together, block or form it first. Get it to be the width and length desired. Your newly finished pieces might be curly, lumpy and bumpy and need to be shaped. Many sources tell you to block or form your garment pieces using pins every inch or so around the edge. If you need to move the edge, you have to pick up all the pins , measure, and arrange and pin them again. Instead of using many pins, simply insert the tip of the the blocking wire along the edge every inch or so. Then position the wire on your blocking surface using only three to five T-pins to hold them in place. If you need to reposition the piece, it is so much easier to move a few pins holding the blocker to your desired measurements. It’s like having a handle on the edge of your piece and is so much easier to move it and get the measurements you want. You will experience a much neater, and well-made piece. After steaming the pieces in place over night, remove the blockers and store them for the next blocking event. Blocking wires are made of stainless steel and the tips are hand finished and cleaned. In each kit there are extensive directions for not only blocking your garment pieces but you’ll learn how to make a tension swatch to learn how many stitches and rows you have so you get the dimensions you want. Have you ever had a sweater grow or get longer? That won’t happen with you learn how to prepare your swatch to know the future of your garment. This information involves learning how to make the swatch a certain way, followed by washing and possibly wire blocking and steaming the swatch to prevent your garment from stretching as you wear it. This applies to crochet as well. Cabled or all over ribbed knit fabrics, garter stitch, lace stitches, granny squares, and more can be steamed to enhance the form and lights and shadows of your work by slightly spreading an over-elastic or rolling fabric. Intended measurements of width, length, and shape of your project will be accomplished so much easier than using multitudes of pins every inch. Knitting It is a popular, relaxing hobby. Knitting is done either by hand forming one stitch in a series of loops/stitches along a row on one needle. A knitting needle is inserted into the next loop on the left needle or stitch, yarn is wound around counterclockwise on the right needle and brought through the left loop, a new loop is formed, and put on the right needle. Knitting length is formed by repeating the series of stitches along the knitting needle to the end of the row. The last stitch of a row (when turned )becomes the first stitch of the next row and continues to the end of that row. Length is made by repeating rows of stitches, row by row. It transforms a single, long strand of yarn into flexible, stretchy fabric for sweaters, blankets, and socks. Knitting either brings a stitch/yarn through the front (purl) or the back( knit) of the loop. Combinations of the directions of loops create texture or stitch patterns. Knitting is widely celebrated for its mental health benefits. The repetitive hand motion relieves stress, reduces anxiety and may have an affect on improving motor skills. Enjoy knitting by finding a world of beautiful yarns in both colors, fibers, and texture. The knit fabric can be formed into sweaters of a particular width, length and shape. Garments, blankets, and/or sock patterns are a source of directions to follow from the simple beginner to a more complex item. Keeping your hands busy and the feeling of the fibers moving through your fingers is a wonderful pastime. Getting together with knitting friends is another way to share the love of knitting and enjoy the craft.