Review-Knit Picks Premium Knitting Blocking Mats
Price (at time of review): $39.99
Contains:
- Nine 12 inch square (puzzle piece) light grey double-sided mats (one side with 1 inch grid and one side textured) ½ inch thick polystyrene
- 100 x t-pins in small plastic container
- Clear plastic zippered storage/ travel bag
In the kit I received:
- Everything as stated except I received only 99 t-pins
I bought this set from KnitPicks.com and tested it in several ways.
Firstly, I took the foam pieces out of the bag and tried connecting them together as they are intended. The pieces fit together very well but in several cases the grid lines do not line up. The only way they will line up in a perfect grid is if they are assembled EXACTLY as per the instructions on the front. Assembling them this way creates a 3×3 square so if you were wanting to block something longer like a scarf the gridlines will not work for you. So this is disappointing. If you only need a couple of mats lined up for blocking your work, or if the square shape works with your item, the gridlines work well. But if you need several mats connected in a long row the gridlines are pretty useless.
Secondly, I test knit a piece of fabric using several different stitch combinations. I used 100% wool and then soaked it very well and pinned it on the mat. As you can see in the pictures, in this scenario the gridlines are helpful. You can also notice there are water droplets on the surface of the mat which means it is waterproof. I blocked my test piece and had no issues with the gridlines lifting or transferring onto the knitting (I have read in reviews for OTHER mats that this has happened to people and wanted to make sure it wasn’t the case here).
Next, I can tell you that these foam mats have no memory to speak of. Meaning that once you have pushed pins into the mat, the pinholes remain. I have left the mats for several weeks after blocking and the pinholes are still there. I did expect this because of the foam’s stiffness which I think is appropriate for a blocking mat. If the foam was less stiff, the pins might not stay in place or it might tear, so those are important considerations. Having said that, no matter how I stabbed the mats with the pins, the mats held up well. No chunks came off and I really stabbed the t-pins in on a lot of different angles to see if the pins would dramatically damage the foam and they did not.
Lastly, I tested the t-pins themselves. I did everything I could to bend or break the pins. In the end I had to use a wire cutter and it was really difficult to cut through one. So I can confirm they are very sturdy (and now I only have 98 lol). I also tried everything I could think of to get the pins to rust or corrode because I think the last thing I would want is rust marks on a project that I’ve spent many hours knitting. I tried soaking the t-pins in water, salt water, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. I even left them long enough for complete evaporation to take place. No signs of rust whatsoever and the bit of salt that was left on one of the pins just washed off. As far as I can tell with the naked eye, they remain unchanged and undamaged.
The price for the set is $39.99 which seems to be the average price for this type of set. I got mine when it was on sale for $27.99 so I think I got a great deal.
I think if I had something larger to block, like a large sweater, I would want a second set for sure even though the gridlines probably wouldn’t line up this way. All the sets I have seen have nine blocks, but I don’t think that’s enough for me. Although you could probably make one set work especially if you have lace blocking wires. Since the gridlines don’t line up you could just use the textured side, using your own measurements to lay out the knitted piece. (It’s probably a good idea to use your own measurements anyway).
Pros:
- Fair price
- Mats and T-pins are very sturdy
- Mats are all the same thickness and fit together well
Cons:
- Grid lines don’t always line up properly
- I wish there were more than nine mats (although that is standard for every set I’ve seen)
Final thoughts: All in all I like these mats and think they are sturdy and very useful for blocking. Even though the gridlines don’t always line up, I will definitely be buying myself another set in the future.
If you’d like to pick up your own set (or other knitting tools) just click on the link above.
And remember, no matter what happens just Stick To The Knitting 😊
