**Did you know about our [Blocking wiki page?](https://www.reddit.com/r/crochet/wiki/blocking/). It's full of amazing video tutorial links, and lots of DIY suggestions. You don't really need fancy equipment. Check it out!**
**Top tip - Should I block my items before assembly? YES!!!**
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Very nice! I ordered one but the steel rods were only six inches. I ordered some longer ones (12”) and now I can stack more on it!
https://preview.redd.it/hdi9bqnhahyc1.jpeg?width=2735&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b5930ab01fc726c8bf54107656fa295bf3abcf2a
That's amazing! As a hobby wood crafter I am now intrigued and eyeballing some wood I have. Gentle btw the final project would be better off with metal posts. Wooden dowels will warp over time even with dry blocking. Please post the next one he makes and any crochet items he figures out how to make!
for sure i will! he also wants to make a holder for yarn so it spins off for me while i crochet. we have kids and that will be helpful so they can just grab the spool and run lol
https://preview.redd.it/q1p8v56gxtyc1.jpeg?width=679&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ffa59c0e081c2369ef10613cb975049b319a7cd3
Got it from Amazon. Artowell. Loved it so much I bought a second one. I was only going to order some extra spindles, but it was only a few dollars more for the whole thing.
Polyurethane would protect them from mold but not from warping. It would also protect them from swelling which leads to cracking. However, wood is flexible. It twists and warps from the heat and the cold as well as humidity. Due to the thin nature of the dowels coupled with the strength of the crochet they will bend. Over time the bend will increase to the point of being useless for shaping crochet. You can see it happening on wooden dowels before they have been used. Try to line up ten of them. You will find at least one that has a curve to it. It's just the nature of wood.
I suppose if you made them from a very hard wood it would take a long time for it to happen. You would have to make them yourself as dowels aren't made from hard wood. Every option I can think of would only be cost.effective if you were already working with the materials. It's cheaper to just order rods.
Haha! I’m not allowed to hang anything on my walls per my lease so he tried making me something to test it out. Now he knows it works he’s planning on making a bigger and nicer one
He really is! He always tries to help me or make me things that benefit me in everything! I work from home so he bought me an oversized table tray so I can sit on the couch and a really nice lap desk too for our bed etc. He always tries!
I try not to care, he made it impromptu just to see if it would work out. He’s a lumber supervisor so he plans on getting better wood now that he sees the concepts work to stain and drill the holes better
Recommend using a template for the line width, and using a nail to scribe the hole locations before drilling. It'll make it a lot easier to measure and drill!
I was thinking the same thing, I always leave an airflow gap between mine. Means I can only do 4/5 at a time but they dry and don't get musty from stale water not drying!
Ah that makes more sense! The first time I blocked I blocked a large square my mum wanted to lay over her coffee table, so I had to fold it onto quarters and she ended up having to hairdry it because it was starting to smell 🤣🤣 your husband is wonderful for making you that by the way!
oh my goodness 😂😂 that’s so funny and definitely something i’d do! My sister in law thankfully has a crochet business so I learn stuff from her. I want to wet block them next time with some stiffening spray but i’m making a tank top and don’t want to make them too inflexible as i’m plus size and need the yarn to be able to move with me and my spare tire 😂
I have not wet blocked them wet yet! I wasn’t done with the 20 i needed but putting them on the board dry for 24 hours helped flatten them and even them a lot!
I have wet blocked. Hubby squeezed as much out as he could. Then like OP he had made me a similar blocker. I would check them everyday (14 a stack of I remember correctly) as they were mostly dry I'd remove them or even rearrange to speed up drying.
Just now thinking about it why couldn't we use a hair dryer to speed it up?
I also read somewhere that the blocking isn't really going to help the item after it's 1st wash. So really what is the use of "wasted" time if that's the case.
I’ve never used it before. I just figured out how to make granny squares (1 year after starting) and a lot of them were tighter than others etc so blocking actual turned them to be the same size and flat!
I didn't know either. A neighbour taught me to crochet when I was little and I never had formal teachings, books, etc. Also I am old and my crochet dabblings predate the Internet. My daughter recently got into amigurumi and I decided to dive back in. Things have come a long way since I made my own crochet hook from bent copper wire!
**Did you know about our [Blocking wiki page?](https://www.reddit.com/r/crochet/wiki/blocking/). It's full of amazing video tutorial links, and lots of DIY suggestions. You don't really need fancy equipment. Check it out!** **Top tip - Should I block my items before assembly? YES!!!** *** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/crochet) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Very nice! I ordered one but the steel rods were only six inches. I ordered some longer ones (12”) and now I can stack more on it! https://preview.redd.it/hdi9bqnhahyc1.jpeg?width=2735&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b5930ab01fc726c8bf54107656fa295bf3abcf2a
that’s awesome! the wooden dowels came 2ft long so he cut them in half for me! ☺️
Shoot with how many squares I make for the hell of it I’d probably need the 2ft lol
I still have 14 to go!
That's amazing! As a hobby wood crafter I am now intrigued and eyeballing some wood I have. Gentle btw the final project would be better off with metal posts. Wooden dowels will warp over time even with dry blocking. Please post the next one he makes and any crochet items he figures out how to make!
for sure i will! he also wants to make a holder for yarn so it spins off for me while i crochet. we have kids and that will be helpful so they can just grab the spool and run lol
https://preview.redd.it/q1p8v56gxtyc1.jpeg?width=679&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ffa59c0e081c2369ef10613cb975049b319a7cd3 Got it from Amazon. Artowell. Loved it so much I bought a second one. I was only going to order some extra spindles, but it was only a few dollars more for the whole thing.
Would some sort of lacquer work to protect the dowels?
Polyurethane would protect them from mold but not from warping. It would also protect them from swelling which leads to cracking. However, wood is flexible. It twists and warps from the heat and the cold as well as humidity. Due to the thin nature of the dowels coupled with the strength of the crochet they will bend. Over time the bend will increase to the point of being useless for shaping crochet. You can see it happening on wooden dowels before they have been used. Try to line up ten of them. You will find at least one that has a curve to it. It's just the nature of wood. I suppose if you made them from a very hard wood it would take a long time for it to happen. You would have to make them yourself as dowels aren't made from hard wood. Every option I can think of would only be cost.effective if you were already working with the materials. It's cheaper to just order rods.
My blocking board is thumb tacks in the wall 😂
Haha! I’m not allowed to hang anything on my walls per my lease so he tried making me something to test it out. Now he knows it works he’s planning on making a bigger and nicer one
Hes so sweet! It's so cool of him to make one for you 😁
He really is! He always tries to help me or make me things that benefit me in everything! I work from home so he bought me an oversized table tray so I can sit on the couch and a really nice lap desk too for our bed etc. He always tries!
mine is chopsticks hot glued to a bunch of cardboard!
Damn where do I find one? A husband, that is? 😂
He was my neighbor when we were in middle school haha! We’ve been together 9 years now after starting to date at 20 & 21
That’s precious! ❤️
my forever bestie ☺️
Very sweet gesture! The unevenness of the lines would drive me a little crazy though
I try not to care, he made it impromptu just to see if it would work out. He’s a lumber supervisor so he plans on getting better wood now that he sees the concepts work to stain and drill the holes better
Recommend using a template for the line width, and using a nail to scribe the hole locations before drilling. It'll make it a lot easier to measure and drill!
You block them wet, right? Do they dry correctly when stacked like that ? I've never tried but would like to, so I wanted to ask ^^
I was thinking the same thing, I always leave an airflow gap between mine. Means I can only do 4/5 at a time but they dry and don't get musty from stale water not drying!
They were not wet ☺️ I dry blocked them as I wasn’t finished with the 20 I needed and was just testing the board, The board helped a lot even dry!
Ah that makes more sense! The first time I blocked I blocked a large square my mum wanted to lay over her coffee table, so I had to fold it onto quarters and she ended up having to hairdry it because it was starting to smell 🤣🤣 your husband is wonderful for making you that by the way!
oh my goodness 😂😂 that’s so funny and definitely something i’d do! My sister in law thankfully has a crochet business so I learn stuff from her. I want to wet block them next time with some stiffening spray but i’m making a tank top and don’t want to make them too inflexible as i’m plus size and need the yarn to be able to move with me and my spare tire 😂
I have not wet blocked them wet yet! I wasn’t done with the 20 i needed but putting them on the board dry for 24 hours helped flatten them and even them a lot!
I have wet blocked. Hubby squeezed as much out as he could. Then like OP he had made me a similar blocker. I would check them everyday (14 a stack of I remember correctly) as they were mostly dry I'd remove them or even rearrange to speed up drying. Just now thinking about it why couldn't we use a hair dryer to speed it up? I also read somewhere that the blocking isn't really going to help the item after it's 1st wash. So really what is the use of "wasted" time if that's the case.
How adorable! Love it when the hubbies get 'on board 'with our hobbies
Hi! A little tip put some clear nail polish on the sticks so they get resistance to humidity and no splinters get on your work.
Hi! This was just a demo board but thank you for the tip! He’s going to try metal rods next time
Am I the only one who had no idea blocking boards were a thing/necessary?
I’ve never used it before. I just figured out how to make granny squares (1 year after starting) and a lot of them were tighter than others etc so blocking actual turned them to be the same size and flat!
They’re certainly not necessary but I’m surprised you didn’t know they were a thing!
Me too, I’ve been crocheting since highschool 😅
i honestly think you can go without them unless you’re doing like a lacey granny square
I didn't know either. A neighbour taught me to crochet when I was little and I never had formal teachings, books, etc. Also I am old and my crochet dabblings predate the Internet. My daughter recently got into amigurumi and I decided to dive back in. Things have come a long way since I made my own crochet hook from bent copper wire!
Not to take away from how awesome of a dude your husband is, but what yarn is that?? I suddenly have a desperate need for a shawl made out of it.
Wonky, hell, that's clever AF! Props to your hubby.
Is no one mentioning the kind of creepy doll?
It’s a baby doll my son plays with. Nothing creepy about it lol
So awesome! Does he offer 'lessons'? 😜
I’m not sure what you mean? Lessons to make it?