How to block purse bag tote

Block purse bag or tote for a neater finish. Unless your purse, bag or tote is knitted from one of the eyelash or Ostrich type yarns it will gain a far more professional appearance if blocked before seams are sewn.

Many synthetic yarns advise you not to iron your garment, but it's obviously a must if you are planning to stiffen your bag by using fusible web lining such as Thermo Web or similar product.

Follow our instructions for the safest methods to block purse.

Warning : temperature is critical - hotter is not faster or better. If unsure - start low and gradually raise the temperature.

If you are in any doubt, try your iron on the test tension/gauge swatch you knitted prior to knitting your item (you did knit a tension swatch didn't you?)

There are a couple of questions to ask yourself before you begin blocking your purse, bag or tote.

Question 1 - Is it clean?

Make sure your knitted item is clean. If not go to wash hand knitting ( if this page doesn't open in a new window hold down your "Ctrl key and click the link again, your pop-up blocker may be stopping it).

Question 2 - what equipment to you need? And how do your prepare to block?

Go to blocking equipment required you'll also learn how to prepare your iron and ironing surface.

You're now ready to begin :

Step 1 - check and pin stabilize your item.

Lay your item on the ironing board or padded surface. Check you know the measurements your finished piece should conform to.

Check the width of your purse, bag or tote is correct.

Check width again in several places along your knitting.

But what if your knitting doesn't have the correct measurements?

Should your knitting be a little narrower than desired, pull it gently out to desired width and pin into place, you will also need to pin the opposite side to block purse and stop it simply moving over instead of widening.

The key is to place plenty of pins - you will discover it will shrink into place (horrors…..no, the yarn doesn't shrink - it simply fills the air pockets between your stitches!!).

If your purse or bag has a pointed flap check both pointed edges are equal length.

If not, again gently pull into shape and pin in place.

Remember to check your bag is square.

Also check opposite corners. If your bag isn't square your lining won't fit correctly.

Use plenty of pins.

By this stage your iron should be heated and ready to use. You'll now see why you aren't using pins with plastic heads - they would melt onto your knitting.

Hold the iron just above - but not touching - your knitting - let it steam for for 3 or 4 seconds. Don't rub or move the iron the way you normally iron your clothes – just hold it there. (If you are using a regular iron and a cloth you may need to actually touch the knitting through the cloth)

Repeat the above over the edges you wish to flatten, also any areas that look a little lumpy or bumpy.

But don't press down on your knitting - particularly if it has a raised pattern you wish to keep.

Check a) did the iron do the job? Is your bag neat and are all edges in place.

If yes to above you're done. Just let your knitting cool for a couple of minutes before you un-pin and store it flat.

If you still have gathers or it doesn't look the correct shape, re-pin and repeat.

Keep in mind the thinner the knitting the less time your iron needs to be in used.

Well done … you now know how to block a purse, bag or tote.

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