Have you ever wondered why some hand knit (or crochet) socks look perfect while yours may look a little wonky and shriveled? Why the heel is pointy and the toe doesn’t have a very round look? It’s all in the blocking! Wet blocking your socks gives the texture a nice, fresh look. It also relaxes the fiber and helps your socks fit better and more comfortably.
In this post, I’ll show you how to wet block hand knit socks. I don’t enjoy blocking sweaters or other garments because of all the pinning that’s involved, and how long they take to dry. But I LOVE blocking socks because it’s quick and easy!
Here’s a picture of a sock that hasn’t been blocked and one that has:
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What you will need:
- Bowl or sink (clean) with lukewarm water
- Small towel
- Sock blockers
- Soak wash (optional)
Step 1:
Fill your sink or a bowl with lukewarm water. For socks, I usually just grab a mixing bowl since they’re so small. Add a wool wash if you want. I like and recommend the Soak brand for keeping your knits clean and fresh. It’s rinse free and gentle on knits. I have a bottle of unscented but recently got a variety pack to try some scents. They are all very lightly scented.
Step 2:
Submerge your sock in the water and make sure it is completely saturated. Then let it sit for at least 15 minutes. If you forget about it for an hour that’s ok too!
Step 3:
Next, grab a small towel and your sock blockers. I use a bathroom hand towel and these plastic blockers from KnitPicks.
Remove the sock from the water and gently squeeze out as much water as you can without wringing the sock. Spread out the towel and place the sock flat at one end. Roll the sock into the towel like a burrito.
This is the fun part. Step on the towel and gently stomp. You may see water begin to soak the towel. This gets out all the excess water that is left!
Step 4:
Unfold your sock and slip it onto a sock blocker. It may be a little loose when it’s wet but it will shrink up when it dries. The blockers have a hole at the top that I hang on a hook on my back porch. Socks dry super quick when it’s sunny and warm! If you don’t have somewhere to hang them, just lay flat on a towel.
When your sock is dry you can slip it off the blocker and you’re done!
I love how beautiful the stitches look after wet blocking, especially with more intricate designs like lace or ribbing that looks messy.
I hope this post was helpful for blocking your socks! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll be happy to answer.
If you’re looking for a quick and FREE sock patter, check out this post!
Happy sock blocking!
What sock pattern did you use?
Hi Steph! It’s a new pattern coming out next week. Subscribe to my email list for updates. 🙂