Blocking Knitwear FAIL: Foxes Blog Knits | Video Knitting Podcast 

I know this is 3 years old but the algorithm gave it to me and the involuntary "oh nooooo" that came out of my mouth 😭😭😭

When my first granddaughter was coming up to her third birthday I decided to knit her a cardi-vest. I searched for the perfect pattern, then the perfect yarn, a Malibrigo in the most gorgeous medium blue colour that matched the blue in her eyes. I was at her little birthday party and she seemed to like showing off her new possession. A few months passed and we were apart, living in different parts of the country and the next time I visited was helping my daughter by putting away toys when I came across this tiny little blue doll sweater. You guessed it! Was the Malibrigo sweater that was now doll size. I took a deep breath and put it in the toy box. At a later time my daughter sheepishly admitted to what happened and apologized to me for not giving it the care needed. The story is now a family laugh, and my baby granddaughter who is now a beautiful 15 year old, is a knitter herself. At the end of the day, the life of the sweater didn't matter, I loved making it for her, then I had to do the hard part, which was letting go.

Not exactly about blocking, but...I sent my daughter a wool sweater I had made for her. It was finished, blocked, and ready to go. I was so excited, I wanted to see how it looked on her. I mailed it to her at university and told her not to wash it in the machine, it had to be handwashed. I told her if she needed to wash it to take it to her aunt's one weekend and do it there. Fast forward to me picking her up at the end of the semester....she broke down and told me she forgot and washed it. Ugh. It still fits her, but oddly. She wants to give it to a shorter friend that it will look better on. That is probably better than it not being wearable at all. The good news is that she was in a play during the semester and wore the sweater pre-shrinkage! So, my knitting made it on stage!

Years ago I knitted my newborn daughter a gorgeous cardigan and embroidered on it bullion roses. It was a labour of love and made whilst nursing her in hospital when she was sick 9 days after she was born. One day shortly thereafter, at home, pulling laundry out of my old and decrepit top loader, that my husband had loaded earlier, I removed a mass of tangled cream yarn. I only recognised what it used to be when I spotted the tiny cluster of colour that used to be the embroidered bullion roses. Somehow the exquisite cardigan made its way into the machine. The tears came and I then purchased a new machine…. Not that the new machine would have made a difference but my old machine was ferocious. ( I kept the husband 😂)

I didn't want block something, I accidentally washed a crocheted, wonderfully soft lace-dress that my sister-in-law made for my newborn daughter ten years ago. It was rather felted and smaller than before, and I shed tears for all the painstaking work my sister had invested in it. I never told her, and luckily my second kid is a boy. Nevertheless, I kept it as a dress for my daughter's doll; the doll wears it with pride.

As soon as you said “front load washer” my hand went over my mouth and I watched the rest near tears for you. Such a nightmare! Love your new channel, keep it up!

I knit my very first project in high school in 1974, a three colour Icelandic wool sweater. My gauge was spot on, until I added in the colour changes. But I didn't know that. I didn't leave the carries loose but pulled them tight. When we finished my sweater I cried and cried, it was made for a giraffe! My school librarian, a very talented Icelandic and fair isle knitter, helped me to steam block it. It just never fit me right. I gave it away a few years later to a friend with a much tinier frame than mine. I learned my lesson the hard way. Onward.

Ohhhhh jeeez! Sorry for your loss - totally feel with you. Thanks for sharing and warning! All the best from Copenhagen :)

I got to wear my sweater once before I did the very same thing to what would have been my favorite sweater. I feel your pain - literally. !

Oh no I could cry for you. I can see the work you put into this.

Thanks for the video and useful info. When you said you put it in the front loader I knew where it was going. I don’t know how people get away with it. I have just finished the cardigan version from the same designer!! It’s a lovely pattern.

I feel your pain through the video. I always wash my woolens by hand. I have just tried my hand at crocheting a cashmere shawl ! Wish me luck with blocking🥰

Oh, you poor thing! I am SO sorry this happened to you. Your sweater is absolutely gorgeous. I can feel your pain in the way only a knitter can. When I first started knitting (less than a year ago, ha!), I used to get physically ill when I made a mistake. I could not believe how stressed out I got. I would almost throw up. I think that if (when) the day comes that I make an unfixable mistake, I will probably have a nervous breakdown! I guess we have to remember to breathe, right? Anyway, thank you so much for your tips. This was actually the first video I watched on the subject, as I am getting ready to block my sweater. Wondering now if it’s even necessary!

You tearing up as you’re still telling the story is breaking my heart! I’m so glad I saw this before I blocked my item! I’d turn the sweater into a sweater dress for a doll. I wouldn’t be able to throw it out either ❤

This is so helpful! Thank you so much for being so descriptive in your explanations with each technique! I have been searching so long for a video like this. Absolutely wonderful! Thank you again!

Awww no! I’m so sorry !

Totally cute and informative story about your blocking fail. I absolutely refuse to allow my hubby to wash my oh-so-delicate sweaters and cardigans bc he has felted and ruined so many of them in the washer. Thank you for sharing your story with us - it will no doubt help many fellow knitters. I love all (most?) Kiwis btw, so extra love sent to you there in NZ! ❤ A quick FYI: not sure about washers in New Zealand, but I am aware that washers in the US are not prisons, one should be able to immediately stop whatever washer cycle it is in by simply powering the washer off. Again, locked cycle can be unlocked by turning the washer off. The tub will drain if need be, and unlock. Good blocking-luck my knitter friends around the world, and thank you! 😊

Omg no! You poor thing! 😭 I sat with my hand over my mouth throughout your story. I'm a relatively new knitter and this is a nightmare of mine. Thanks for your advice.

Oh my goodness, I have almost finished my first sweater, and was going to put it in the machine on the gentle setting. Not now.... 100% going to handwash. Thankyou!

Enjoying your channel and learning...

Thank you so much for sharing your story.

I had sort of an opposite fail. I made a cowl that was supposed to fit close to the neck. (Wolkig by Martina Behm). The intended recipient is sensitive to wool, so I made it out of a cotton/silk blend that feels heavenly. I had recently discovered the magic of aggressively blocking lace, so I stretched the heck out of that cowl when I blocked it. Of course those fibers have no resiliency and it was just a useless rag. So yeah, fiber matters! (Also have subsequently learned that non-lace items usually don’t benefit from aggressive blocking.) Thanks for the video!

I felt sick to my stomach while listening 😥😥😥so so sorry this happened to you!

Oh my goodness - your sweater looks EXACTLY like the one I made and which came out like a board and shrunk - same colour everything!!! Mine was pure wool and the washing machine ruined mine too! I know just how you feel believe me!! Never again!!

I felt all the feels watching this. I could picture it in my mind. Such a bummer that this happened. I had blocked something yesterday. I ran to check on it. And hugged it. Lol. Hope you can still get use of the sweater in some form. ❤️

Ouch, I have done an exact same thing to a cardigan last year, it came out toddler size! So put it down to experience and had a good laugh after a while. Now it's upcycled into some slippers and a festive door wreath :D

I worked as a nanny years ago. My boss was a very successful clothing designer and had gorgeous clothes. She’d travel overseas fairly regularly and would show me things she bought on her travels. One trip she brought home a stunning cashmere sweater. Not too long after she showed me said sweater again. She’d accidentally put it in the washing machine with a regular load of laundry. It’d shrunk to toddler size. 💔

I am so sorry!! I can relate, but on a much lesser fail. (Don't worry, I've had plenty of knitting and non-knitting fails in life! I'm not ashamed to admit I've cried over my own dumbness! Anyway!) I knitted a sweater vest that was supposed to hit at mid-hip after blocking. I made gauge, soaked and blocked the swatch and then measured to be sure. What I didn't know at the time was how much superwash wool yarn will STRETCH. I blocked to the specified measurements and it looked great. Once it was dry, I eagerly put it on and after a few minutes became aware that it was lengthening. The armholes were a little longer and the length grew to about 6" too long. It's still wearable and looks ok to an untrained eye so I do wear it and have received lots of compliments. I could have avoided the whole superwash and stretching problem by wet blocking my swatch and once dry and gauge was met, hanging it for a few days to see what havoc gravity would cause. I honestly didn't know how much superwash stretches! I am super wary of using it now. Maybe your sweater would make a nice doggie sweater? so much work - again, so sorry - we've all been there.

Hi I’m a kiwi also, I’m so glad I found your channel. I learnt to knit in June and I have made 3 sweaters I’m too terrified to block. Thank you for making this video I found it so helpful. I think I’m brave enough to wet block now following your tips . I’m so sorry about your beautiful sweater though!

Arne & Carlos have a very good tutorial on their RU-vid site regarding finishing knitted garments. They don't block but use an iron and a wet tea towel and it gives a wonderful finish. I remember my grandmother doing the same thing. Thanks for your interesting and informative content.

Just saw this video...you clearly described a lived experience I had a few years back, my sweaters never go near the dreaded washing machine for fear of shrinking!!! All my friends apparently have that ‘spin only’ feature, so I thought I’d try it... little did I know my didn’t! Somehow I was able to save my sweater, it’s a bit cropped but wearable to some degree. I feel your pain!

I feel your pain. I have just blocked my first jumper in gloomy Melbourne. Luckily it was cold yesterday and we had to light the fire- it was 4 days drying. I did the towel sausage but was thinking if it didn't hurry I'd need to wash it to keep it smelling fresh, at which stage I had decided to put it into a pillow case and spin it. From your story I'm glad it didn't come to that.

Poor thing! Anyway, thanks for sharing your fail as a lesson for all of us. Never block my project before and if I do, I will super nervous...I crochet very slow as a beginner.

I'm crying for all of you in the comments (and the video), I can totally feel the pain! 😭😭😬🧶

Listened to your story with my hands over my face. Absolutely gutted for you!😢

I have never really blocked anything as yet but I am getting ready to do so, hence why I am watching all these videos about blocking! However, many years ago, when I was newly married, I washed, rinsed and spun my husband's beautiful wool sweater in the machine. What was a beautiful sweater before now looked like a doll sweater. Lucky for me, he was not too upset with me!

First of all: I love your accent. 🙂 And I could literally feel the desperation and pain you must have felt when this "accident" with your sweater happened. All the work, all the love, and also the lovely wool - but then, lesson learned. And probably a help for fellow knitters who can avoid the very same mistake. Thanks for sharing. I'm just about to block my first finished sweater. I read about blocking sweaters before sewing up the seams, so I'm going to try it that way. My yarn is 65% wool and 35% alpaca, and it's the first finished knit for my daughter at all, she's as excited as am I (only that I'm scared to death about possible blocking disasters!). So definitely NO super wash and anyway, I don't like to put woollens into the machine, even if they're super wash. But, I do have a question: what about blocking cotton? I knitted an Arran cardigan ages ago (my first knitted garment ever), but little did I know back then, so I didn't block it. Sadly the cardigan is now about twice the size it was intended to be - can a proper blocking fix the problem? Otherwise I am seriously thinking about unravelling the entire garment to save at least the material, because in the current shape I can't really wear it.

I'm almost finished with my Sunday Sweater and I was looking on ways to block it when I found this video!! I noticed your shrunken sweater is the Sunday Sweater by petiteknit as well! (Or looks extremely similar). Thanks for sharing this with us!!! I'll make sure I only hand wash for blocking :) Greets from San Francisco 🌉

Try to make a bag out of your felted jumper just sew it as an ordinary fabric it would looke great

Yes that happened to me with a hat and scarf combo I was gift knitting for a friend for Christmas 🎄 so sad seeing that before your eyes

THANK YOU will remember to add these directions & tips when gifting my knitted items 👍🏻👍🏻

Oh my dear, so sorry for you loss. I never machine block because I’m scared of exactly what you described. My husband recently felted a finished top in the washing machine (accident). It’s currently in time out but will eventually become either a: project bag, cushion, or pencil skirt. Hopefully you can find a way to repurpose that piece of gorgeous and luxurious felt.

I've never ruined a garment in the blocking but lost a few to improper storage. The dreaded moth larvae quietly munched all through a spring and summer and after never seeing an adult moth flying about i was horrified to see my sweaters riddled with holes. So sad and disturbing. Now, all my woolens go to bed with moth balls and red cedar planks and scraps my husband gave me after acquiring some from his tree cutting business that he milled up himself for his woodworking. I'll never again be so dumb about it!

This is one reason I almost always make a big swatch (or two) before starting a project, especially if it’s a large, time consuming, and/or expensive project. If necessary I buy extra yarn and do not plan to unravel the swatch to use the yarn in the garment. Test blocking methods with swatches to avoid unpleasant surprises, such as a change in the yarn appearance, the garment size due to shrinking or relaxing, excessive dye bleeding (especially with multi-color items), likelihood of felting, etc. Test seaming methods, buttonholes, ribbing, and other techniques for the garment with swatches to save time and get the best finished look. Hang the swatch and clip light weights to the swatch to simulate gravity and test for excessive garment length growth/stretching with wear. The swatch is also great for testing stain removal products or over-dyeing.

I am in Australia and never heard of blocking before until finding a pattern for a shawl I want to make for my sister. My husband once felted a cardigan in the front loader but he was as simple as fogetting to select the wool wash cycle and washed it on cotton hot - he will never do that again. I have found this video very helpful. Thank you.

Thank you for sharing your experience and your tips. I love that you can say it straight and true but also not beat yourself up about it! The sweater actually is still very gorgeous looking. Hang it on the wall?? 😎

This is fab - I watched another 'blocking fails' and I gave up after 2 minutes - so boring. Your's is upbeat (though I can imagine you weeping as your first sweater drowned) I rarely block but have noticed that my knitting is getting a tad wobbly (think it's my age) so , for the first time, I'm going to wet block this cardigan I'm knitting...wish me luck x

Thanks for your video, I was raised in England and steam blocked now living in US they wet block. Question: Do you block each knitted piece separately and let dry to correct pinned on mat size and then sew together or do you block the entire knitted garment with all seams sewn together?

Ugh, I have also ruined a few sweaters and other woolens. My front loader gentle cycle also caused felting and shrinkage! I didn’t realize until too late. It seemed to be fine with cashmere but not with thicker wool and alpaca.

Aww, I’m so sorry! If you still have your beautiful felted sweater make it useful. There are videos on RU-vid that show you how to cut up a sweater into pieces (yes cut up) and sew a hat and mittens from the pieces. I bet your beautiful sweater would make a beautiful hat and mittens! Good luck!

I washed a store bought wool sweater in the washing machine accidentally. I gave it to my ten year old friend. It fit her pretty well.

It’s funny because I’d never heard of blocking either until RU-vid. My mam and grandma have knit my whole life and they never blocked anything but I have blocked something and saw no difference! I’m planning on knitting something with lace pattern and I think that’ll need blocking.

I really enjoy your vlogs! I thought maybe if this happened again by accident you could unplug your washer? Ahh I dunno. My heart sank for you!!

Years ago I mean decades I knitted a lace mohair sweater - I didn't read the washing instructions. If I think about it too long I could cry now. The sleeves grew to almost double the length whilst the body shrunk to a ten inch square.

Oh nooo. That’s so sad. I’ve had to learn things the hard way too, despite watching endless you tubes as well. Thanks for sharing. Are you able to unravel your jumper and use the wool for a different project?

So sad to hear this, but thankful for sharing this as I have never blocked anything yet so will make sure to follow your tips. The sweater you are wearing, did you knit that one? If so could you share the pattern? It looks lovely.

I did this a few years ago..... my mother took my ruined sweater and put it on a Christmas statue for decoration (because it was red). Every Christmas when I see it, it makes me so sad😭 but it is a little reminder to be careful with my knits!

omg---sorry babe--I just this very second finished a sweater---which looks perfect so I don't know why I should block...I was just about to put in the wash on delicate---thank god I saw this!!!!!!thank you and sorry again

I just finished a silk and cashmere tank that I was concerned about as silk is very particular. I spray misted it which only showed a stain which must have been acquired in the month that it took me to knit. I thought I was clever and dyed it with black tea and it came out a wonderful tan. Unfortunately a dark line appeared that must have been a flaw in the original fiber but I will still wear it!

Yes yes yes. I make the Boxy by Joji Locatelli. I soaked it in the sink and spun it in the machine. My yarn was super washed but it still felted. It was my first sweater. I won't throw it away, I want to keep it as a reminder to Not Take Shortcuts.

Yes, regrettably, 2 pairs of socks that i knitted and a garter stitch jumper in my front loader, the colour ran and they just got huge!😢

Thank you!!!

I was tearing up a little when you told about watching it shrink in the washer... It must have been terrible

I knit my mother a hat for Christmas last year. I’d been knitting for 1.5 winters (I don’t knit in the summer (yet😉)) it came out large, I thought, it’s a wool blend, so if I wash it it will shrink a little- Nope. The thing relaxed even more to what may as well have been garbage bag proportions.😞

Oh no...that was beautiful jumper...I felt my favourite jumpers as well and I promise myself not to put in the washing machine anymore... lesson to learn.i am only use wool wash cycle without spin on superwash wool. all non superwash wool- hand wash only... which takes forever..😉

When I had a newborn I was so frazzled and sleep deprived that I some how threw my knee length fingering yarn cardigan with tiny delicate cables into a warm wash . It felted so badly it stuck together at the sleeves. It has now become toddler slippers. Making something useful out of the felted fabric was the only way I didn’t loose my mind. I feel your pain, so disappointing when one silly action ruins months of work!!

I had a similar experience with opposite results. My knitted jumper was the perfect perfect fit before blocking. I blocked it and it stretched massively it’s unwearable. I’m so upset. I’ve put it in hot water and dryer and waiting right now. This has put me off blocking completely. I might try steam blocking. Wet blocking stretches too much!! I feel the garment looses it shape a bit

So sorry I was introduced to your channel with such a heartbreaking story, but I’m glad to have found you! The blue v-neck you’re wearing in this video is beautiful. Is there a pattern available?

I’m so sorry that this happened to you, but while I was listening to you, all I can think is how awesome the sweater you are wearing is. Do you have a pattern for it?

Oh snap! Here I am wearing my sunday sweater and watching this video :) For anyone interested, it's PetiteKnit's Sunday sweater (unless it's some other pattern that looks very similar :) )

Hi Jessica, I’m also from NZ, in Auckland, unfortunately not the Winterless North!! I see why you knitted this sweater, it’s such a gorgeous pattern. Did you use the yarn suggested? Just wondering as I really want to knit this and deciding whether to order yarn from overseas or source a NZ wool. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks

Omg 😱 it was painful to watch. I can’t imagine how you felt 😢 I only just wet blocked my first sweater, terror kept me away from the machine and now I’ll definitely stay away. Loving your channel 🥰

it is still beautiful tho! u could probablu salvage it as fabric for a hat or something:) id love to see closer what the fabric behaved like when pulled and moved and if u can wear it or what it can and cant do

Oh wow how sad! I'm so sorry 😢 I'm about to steam block an ABC bobble baby blanket I've made for my son and dauther in law. Their baby is due in June. I'm absolutely terrified to block the thing. I want the corners to permanently stop curling but I also don't want to turn it to ribbon. Ugh

Thanks for the tips... LOVE your sweater..where can we get that pattern?

Lol 😂 I have once chosen wrong program (my washing machine got not that user friendly controlling panel) and the machine has just done the same to my sweater. Now it is a fancy little thing for my cats to lay on 😅 I am not gonna putting my knits into washing machine ever again.

Oooh Noooo What a shame ... maybe you can use the felted fabric now for some accessories like mittens or so.. Pinterest might have some ideas! I also heard that when you block your FO the temperature needs to be always the same.. Soaking water and rinsing water need to be alike because it’s the quick temperature shifts that make the yarn felt. Good luck guys!

I steamed acrylic with an iron steam function and it was so horribly ineffective that I thought blocking would always be that way. I didn’t know steamers actually existed. I pressed the steam button so many times on that darn thing. Thought it was normal. I also tried to sell the iron but no one in cities ever has a need for an iron so I ended up having to give it to my own mother. 😂

Not laughing at you. I would have been devastated. However your “ruined” sweater would totally fit me. 😊

I'm from the US and you have a beautiful accent. Could you fix the sweater for a smaller person? Maybe an older kid. Frog the sleeves and it should be fine, right? Or just pull out the sleeves to a certain point and create a tunic/vest garment. It is so pretty and you've done a lovely job of knitting it. It should be nice and warm too since it's felted. I do think it can be salvaged for someone else to enjoy. I think I recognize the pattern. Is it PetiteKnit's Novice sweater?

I learned to knit at around age 8 ( now in my 50's) from my Mum who never did this blocking business. I think it must be an American thing, I dunno! I usually do it, but find it doesn't seem to do much, plus trying to get jumpers dry in our damp NZ winters is hard.

I haven’t ruined my own work (yet), but I have ruined a very expensive handmade Aran sweater… Hopefully I can avoid that ever happening again!

😭 I had exactly the same tragedy of a beautiful laced wool cardigan. 😭

I'm in the middle of my first sweater. I searched the internet for the exact yarn (wool/ acrylic blend) and started crocheting it. I was following the pattern perfectly and after getting past the arm holes I was excited to try it on. But they don't comfortably fit and I'm kind of terrified if blocking will be enough to be my size. Or do I just frog a bit and make it bigger before putting more time into it??

If only I had watched this 8 weeks ago! I’m a fairly new knitter and did exactly the same and thought it was just as I was impatient and a novice. I like you cannot throw the jumper away after all those hour of work so I’m waiting for granddaughter to grow into a felted jumper.

You should make something with it.... Jacket for pup? Cut off a sleeve and put leg holes in it 🤷‍♀️ Felt it even more and make mats, slippers??

That happened to me once with something I bought and I was very upset it was my favorite sweater too and the only thing I could do is give it to my little daughter so if you have a kid or somebody you know that needs a sweater give it to somebody who will use it give it to somebody smaller than you

I'm a new knitter. Made a sweater for my son, dark purple with a gold band around the chest. %100 wool, not superwash. Put in the warm water with wool wash and then started watching a basketball game and completely forgot about it until the next morning. The purple dye bled into the gold. Its BAD. Have tried to block again with wool wash. Not getting any better. Any suggestions?

I am really sorry it was not something you have been expecting to see and after all that effort. It hurts. My mum told me that soaking the garment in room temperature water bath with white vinegar can help. Apparently the vinegar releases the felted fibre. Never tried that but tried hair conditioner for a curly hair and that has worked. Best of luck.

Wow!! I have never ever heard of popping a wet blocked item into the washer. Like...EVER!! And I have watched lots of blocking videos. Eeek!!

I'm guilty of something similar - and it was totally my own fault; and that's me speaking as an experienced knitter. I made a Shetland lace shawl 8 years ago for my first grandchild, and despite knowing that I shouldn't wash it in the machine, I did. In my defence, I was lured by having a new Miele washing machine with a new cycle called 'delicate'. I know! It came out like a handkerchief. If you're reading this Foxes Blog Knits, you can sometimes salvage tightened knits with a few drops of glycerine in the water.

each machine can be stopped in any process. You stop the program and after couple minutes the doors can be open

Maybe an idea : I always put knitting inside out in a washing bag. If you have a front loader, you can switch it off, wait till the water resides and then you can open the door. Can imagine you felt horrible

No my dear it is no laughing matter. I almost suggested to install a zipper in the front and gift it to a smaller person but the yarn could wiggle through with time. What if you turned it upsideown, carefully cut a bag from it, securing the edges with a certain glue let dry and stitch with a binding then glue the stitching again. If this is an option, and it works, NEVER mention that it came from a failed project. It dredges up the pain again and you will start a craze with knitted bags. Ad a fabulous clasp, glue in a few rhinestones and your off to the races you go.

OMG. Maybe, if you sew, you can make plain mittens and ribbed cap from beautiful yoke.

How horrible for you! Very much a "Know Your Washing Machine" tale, which isn't top of mind for many. Thanks for sharing.

it is still a beautiful sweater :)

I wonder if you came up with anything in the time since this video had been filmed. I am not that experienced so I wonder if there would be any point in unraveling the whole thing, maybe drowning it in fabric softener and knitting something else with the yarn?

Washing machines are supposed to come with pause/unlock button

M beginner n dont know much about techniques...i have iron my 100% acrylic scarf n now feeling just like you 😭😭no videos found to resolve my problem 💔