Needlepoint blocking - hurry up and wait!

I was ready last night to start prepping the giraffe needlepoint to use in a pillow.

Borrowing a blocking board from Mom and following her instructions, I'm now in the hurry up and wait phase. The canvas needs to dry and set in its new straightened position.

Tools at the ready

It's actually my first time blocking a canvas - and here's the directions I followed:

Tools required:

• steam iron
• blocking board and pins/nails
• damp pressing cloth (I used a tea towel)
• cardboard for under the blocking board to protect counter from nail protrusion (even if you don't like your mauve countertops)
• phone to call Mom - just in case ;-)

1. With needlepoint face down cover with damp pressing cloth.

2. Waft steam from iron over the back WITHOUT applying any pressure until canvas softens.

3. Starting from a corner apply nails every one inch along top - following a straight line on the blocking board.

4. Apply more steam if necessary and tack a nail in other two corners, pulling gently to square.

(severely twisted canvases may need more than one blocking effort)

5. Continue adding nails every one inch around the perimeter of the canvas, bottom then sides, using steam when needed to resoften the canvas as it cools.

6. Remove damp pressing cloth.

7. Allow 24 hours to dry/set - repeat if necessary.

On the back the texture of these basket weave stitches is interesting too.

 And now I wait!

Will it need another squaring effort? Time will tell. Then comes the fun part - fabric shopping for the backing!!

Have you had success blocking a needlepoint? What method did you use?

Thanks for stopping by!


Sharing today with: