Knitters should not overlook the importance of owning a good blocking board or blocking mat system. Using blocking mats can give your knits a more professional appearance, help you reshape a knitted piece, create intricate lacework, and more. These blocking and knitting boards are also fantastic for wetting and steaming your knits for wet blocking. Plus, they can help to ensure that everything will dry properly throughout the entirety of the wet blocking or steam blocking process.

With so many crafting products available to help you with your knitting, it can be challenging to decide which options may best for you. This in-depth guide will help you better understand the importance of knitting mats and blocking boards, how to properly use them, and which knitting mats are best to use for specific projects.

Our Top Picks for the Best Blocking Boards for Knitting

To save you time, if you’re looking for a great all-around blocking mat set with a reliable grid pattern that can be used for various projects of different shapes and sizes, including steam or wet blocking, you might want to check out the KnitIQ Blocking Mat System. It’s a great overall value that’s easy to use and comes with lots of bonus items.

Read on to learn more about some other impressive knitting and blocking mat options and how they can help you easily complete your next crocheting, knitting, lacework, or pin work project.

Now that you have a better idea of what knitting boards and blocking mats can be used for, you may want to consider buying a few of your own.

Let’s take a look at some of the best options currently on the market. We’ve included 5 impressive products that are awesome options for knitters, crochet enthusiasts, and crafters of all kinds.

1. KnitIQ – Best Blocking Mats for Knitting

These blocking mats by KnitIQ are unique in their design and versatility. Ideal for knitters and crafters at all levels of skill, KnitIQ blocking mats utilize a complex and intricate grid system that allows you to create professional-looking knit, crochet, needlepoint, and lacework patterns.

Features

The dense foam of these mats will help to ensure that your pins will have a secure hold and won’t poke through. These mats are also resistant to heat and moisture and can be used for steaming and drying your projects.  They’re perfect for wet or steam blocking as well. 

They feature aligned grids which allow for easier blocking and a precise overall finish.
These mats a great option if you want to have a set of high-quality versatile mats that can be reused on projects of all shapes and sizes.

Since this kit comes with a nice travel bag, if you want to knit while traveling, these mats are a durable and lightweight option you may want to consider.

Specifications and Details

With this kit, you’ll get 9 mats, 100 smooth head t-pins, and a reusable storage bag with a handle for easily packing things up. These mats are made of dense steam and heat resistant foam. You can follow the precise grid lines for complex patterns and reconfigure them for unique knit assembly patterns. They also interlock, so if you want to do large projects like blankets, sweaters, and other big knits with intricate features, these might be a good option to consider.

Recommended For

This kit is fantastic if you’re a novice knitter and want your work to look neat and clean. This kit is also great for anyone wanting to do big projects with precise details. It is also perfect for wet blocking.

Pros and Cons

2. WOOLOVE Blocking Mats with Grid

These WooLove gridded knitting boards allow you to create pristine edges and perfectly aligned patterns with interlocking blocks that can be configured to form various shapes and sizes. They’ve been made with durable foam, so they’re great if you need to work on lengthy projects with pins left in for long periods.

Features

WooLove mats are water and heat resistant, so they’re safe if you need them for steaming, wet blocking, and drying without having to be concerned about any risk of color transfer.

With this kit, you can easily knit square scarfs, blankets, sweaters, and even glove patterns. Use the full system to crochet elaborate designs or complete needlepoint work on a large scale.

 These mats have innovative dual-color grid lines that make it easier to block than with other similar mats. This lets you eyeball measurements without getting stuck counting squares. 

With the purchase of every blocking mat, you will receive a travel and storage case and 100 t-pins, as well as a risk-free money-back guarantee.

Specifications and Details

Each mat is a 12.6” x 12.6” * 0.7″ square with precise gridded squares. This kit includes a free storage bag and t-pins as well. These mats are also steam and heat resistant and made of dense 1.8 cm thick foam.

Recommended For

These knitting boards are great for knitters who wish to create complex designs. They also work well for the creation of needlepoint work and various crochet projects of all shapes and sizes.

Pros and Cons

3. Hephaestus Wet and Steam Safe Crochet Blocking Board

Number 3 on our list is this pack of 9 gridded blocking mats from the Hephaestus Craft company. These boards have clean lines and are very easy to use. They also come at a great price.

Features

You can use each singular board on its own or connect multiple boards like a puzzle for larger projects. The grid patterns on these boards are also very accurate. This makes them ideal for anyone doing lacework, crocheting, knitting, and the like.

 They are heat and water-resistant so you can steam and dry your projects pretty easily.  They’re also designed to be lightweight and extremely portable so you can craft on-the-go.

Specifications and Details

This kit includes 9 12” x 12” blocking mats and 150 t-pins. They are made of dense portable foam and can be used for projects of all sizes. They easily fit together in grid squares. They are also resistant to heat and steam. They prevent moisture from seeping through, making them perfect for drying your knits.

Recommended For

These knitting mats are ideal for anyone who wants to create precise patterns. The lines are very well spaced for precision and simplicity. They’re also lightweight, making them the perfect option for anyone who wants to knit, crochet, or craft patterns while traveling.

Pros and Cons

4. BeadSmith Mini Macrame Blocking Board

This BeadSmith macramé board has been designed for braiding, cording, pin work, precise knitting, some kinds of lacework, and other small projects.

Features

It features useful notches on all sides to hold cords, thread, and yarn securely in place. This board is ideal for multiple cord projects including ludes macramé, Shambhala bracelets, knitting, lacework, decorative knotting, and craft projects of that nature.

It is not for large knit projects, though it will work for small complex knitting projects. It can be used for wet blocking as well.

This mat has a smooth surface, so it won’t snag as you work on fine details. It’s also lightweight and great for traveling.

Specifications and Details

This board is 9″ x 6″ and has a grid design for easy measuring. It’s 1/2 inch thick and made of high-quality ethylene-vinyl acetate giving it a smooth and springy surface. It can be used with pins and needles and bounces back easily, making it a durable and convenient option.

Recommended For

This is a great knitting and pin work board that is ideal for smaller projects and precise measurements and designs.  Unfortunately, it won’t work well for larger knitting or crocheting projects like sweaters or blankets.  It’s better for needlework, small knits, beading, and knotwork.

Pros and Cons

5. Knitter’s Pride Blocking Crochet Squares

These blocking crochet squares are colorful and easy to assemble. They can be fit together for shawls, sweaters, and other similar projects.

Features

They are made of springy foam, the same kind that children’s play-mats are made of. They can easily be used with pins and can be steamed and dried.

These mats are not the best option for steam blocking, though they can easily be used for wet blocking.

Specifications and Details

This kit comes with 9 separate 12 x 12 mats in three colors; you’ll usually get three of each color in a package. The mat dimensions are 3.5 L x 12 W x 12 H in. These mats do not have a grid pattern, but they are textured and colored for the pin and design composition.

Recommended For

Knitters Pride Mats are perfect for flat blocking of knitted and crocheted projects. They can be used individually for smaller projects or joined together for larger projects. They do not work as well for steaming because color transfer may occur. They also do not have guidelines, so if you want to follow a grid for complex projects, these likely aren’t the best option. They are great for big projects like shawls, however, and interlock together easily so you’ll have plenty of space to work with.

Pros and Cons

You May Also Need

If you’re looking for blocking mats with grid systems for precise knitting, you may also find a few of the following products helpful.

1. Knitter’s Pride Knit Blockers & Pin Kit

These are easy-to-handle blockers that substantially speed up blocking for all types of different projects. Their design helps you maintain even tension across the width of your blocking pins. These are a good choice for anyone who will be blocking straight edges on things like sweaters, shawls, and scarves.

2. KnitIQ T-Pins for Blocking, Knitting & Sewing

These t-pins are an essential buy for anyone who will be knitting, crocheting, or working on other similar projects. Though many of the grid blocking mat kits featured here come with free t-pins, having extra pins on-hand never hurts. Plus, some of these blocking boards don’t come with any t-pins at all, so these stainless steel pins are a good option to consider. They are the perfect size for blocking your knit, crochet, or lace projects, and help to give you a more accurate, professional finish. Plus, they come in a handy storage tin with a hinged lid. This pack includes 150 t-pins.

3. Knitting Stitch Counter Crochet Locking Markers

These stitch markers are great for marking the beginning and ending of pattern stitches. Also, if you want to know where to increase or decrease the number of stitches you’re putting in, they can be helpful. They come in bright colors and are of good overall quality.
They’ve been designed to hook into the knitted or crocheted stitch so they will not slip out easily.

4. Ultima Craft Clips

If you want it to be easier to hold multiple layers of fabric together, for example, when you’re making quilts, these are useful. These craft clips come in different colors and have an impressive holding capacity. If you don’t want to use pins for keeping fabric together when sewing, quilting, or crafting, you might want to check these out.

Buyer’s Guide

Now, let’s go over a few frequently asked questions about blocking boards and interlocking blocking mats and how they can help you as you knit and crochet.

Why might you wish to use a blocking mat system?

Whether you’re going to be knitting or crocheting a large or small project, a blocking mat system can be an extremely useful tool.

These mats are usually made of foam or similar pin-friendly materials to help you as you knit, crochet, or craft using similar yarn or string-like materials. They will also usually have some kind of a grid system to help you more easily keep track of your work.

Many of these mats snap together at their edges so you can create larger and more complex projects. Alternatively, you can use single squares for smaller projects. Snapping them together to create a large grid is especially helpful if you’ll be crafting sweaters, shawls, scarves, and other similarly expansive projects.

These boards are great for saving space. Unlike regular large grid blocking boards (which can be very helpful for blankets and very big projects), these grid-style interlocking blocking mats fit together like puzzle pieces making them much more versatile, space-efficient, and an awesome option for knitting on-the-go. Since you can unlock these mats and store them by stacking them one on top of another, you’ll be able to save more space in your craft room.

How to use a blocking board?

Blocking boards aren’t especially hard to use once you get the hang of things. Block crocheting and knitting is fantastic for improving the overall look and professionalism of your projects. Blocking is important when working with motifs. Blocking is a term used to refer to knitting or crocheting on a grid system that helps you gain better precision and accuracy.

There are three main blocking methods. These are pin blocking, steam blocking (or wet blocking), and finger blocking. You essentially will use pins to hold your yarn or thread down and make it stay in shape more easily.

You pin your yarn, thread, or fabric, down, to make it hold its shape for complex designs and straight lines.

If you use steam blocking or wet blocking, you’ll add water to make thread lines stay straight. This is why having them pinned to a board is so helpful.

To learn how to do this, you can watch this helpful video.

How to block acrylic yarn?

Since steaming acrylic yarn isn’t always the best idea, you’ll want to use a blocking mat and plenty of pins to make things stay flat.

First, you’ll set up your foam blocking boards in a way that ensures that the surface is slightly larger than the measurements your piece needs to be blocked at.

Next, spread out your piece on your blocking boards and begin pinning to the measurements in the pattern you’re using. If you’re going to be working with a square or rectangular piece, you can measure from corner-to-corner.

You might wind up needing a lot of pins if you’re using acrylic yarn. Use as many pins as you need, especially around the perimeter of your piece.

Sometimes less is more, and proper tension will help to ensure your piece stays flat and can reduce the number of pins you’ll have to use.

Once your piece is measured, you can then move to spray or steam blocking.

How to block a knitted blanket?

This will be done the same way that you block a smaller piece, just on a much larger scale. If you’re using blocking mats that interlock, you’ll want to set them up larger than your blanket will be. You can check out this article to learn more about blocking knitted blankets and the process from start to finish.

In Conclusion: Buttoning Things Up

So there you have it! Now you know what blocking mats do, why they’re useful, and how to properly utilize them. Remember, your crafting and knitting style is unique to you, so choose mats and blocking boards that fit your individual needs and style preferences. Thanks for reading, and happy crafting!