:: September 2004 
Feature
Blocking Handmade Fibre Clothing
Most handmade fibre garments consist of pieces that are finished one at a time and then sewn together to form a complete item of clothing. The process of blocking occurs before the individual pieces are combined and can make a huge difference in the accuracy of a garment's measurements. This accuracy of fit will directly affect the pleasure and frequency with which your handmade garment will actually be worn.
What exactly is blocking? Blocking is the process of gently stretching or compressing fibres to conform to the measurements you intended your handmade garment to have. If you were knitting a sweater that was intended to have twenty inch sleeves, blocking would allow you to achieve that measurement precisely.
Blocking involves dampening the fibres of your garment pieces so that they become more elastic. This can be done be briefly immersing the garment pieces in room temperature water, or by generously spritzing them with the same. Once the fibres are relaxed in this way, they can be pinned to the desired dimensions and allowed to air dry. Be careful not to agitate the fibres because you do not want to promote felting or pilling during the blocking process.
You will need to plan on giving your blocked fibre pieces at least 24 hours to dry completely. Be sure to lay them out on a flat, clean surface such as a towel, sheet, or cardboard grid (see Advice). If you air them on a table out of doors, avoid direct sunlight and brisk winds. It is important to keep the fibre pieces as still as possible while they are drying to conform to your pinning. CyberFibres uses rust-proof straight pins for blocking