Along with correctly blocking the swatches, the Masters requires a report on blocking and in my mind this is the logical time to start to research and write this requirement. It is also the logical time to put what I learn into practice. My plan is to block the first 3 swatches and get them all prepared for the binder with labels, Swatch sheet, etc. I will polish the report and put that in the binder as well.
Of course any good report requires reference materials and with a gleam in my eye - that means BOOKS!! So I quickly rationalized the need to buy three new books and a blocking kit. Okay, I know that I could have probably done the whole thing without a blocking kit. The report could have been written with a library card and the Internet - but this just gave me the excuse to buy what had been on my list of "I wants" for some time. Besides, one can never have to many wonderful, glorious reference books about knitting I chose to buy the following:
The Principles of Knitting
The Knitter's Handbook: A Comprehensive guild to the Principles and Techniques of Handknitting
The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques
I have my eye on the Vogue Knitting Book, but that will have to wait. I hadn't counted on the US Post Office choosing not to deliver the books and declaring my address undeliverable. Considering I have been here for 3 years and they just delivered an Amazon package last week this was bizarre. Maybe they think I have too many knitting books and are staging an intervention. In the meantime, I found this great video specifically targeted to the MHK program and blocking. We don't know what we don't know and yes I bought the above picture of the blocking kit, when a couple of towels, some rust proof pins and a mat from Lowes or Home Depot would have been good enough. I don't have a reputation as an equipment junkie in my guild for nothing.
References: Blocking Swatches for the MHK Program, LippizanKnitter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id0ti5-c1ds&feature=endscreen&NR=1
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