Hat Blocking Question

[inchainz]

Hi everyone!

I made this Boyfriend Hat out of a wool-blend yarn (75% acrylic/25% wool, since I'm sensitive to wool) & would appreciate some ideas on how to block it so it gets nice & slouchy.  Right now the decrease section sticks up from the body of the hat like a nipple on a baby bottle.  It needs blocking anyway to even out that section (2x2 rib into 1x1 rib), but I can't get my head around a good shape/form to use.

Sorry if this is too vague, I'm having trouble getting my head around the explanation too.  TIA for your help!

Comments

[ginny_t]

I think some people use a balloon.

[inchainz]

Thanks! This got me thinking & before anyone else posted I was busy in my cupboard finding a bowl. :)

[pinesandmaples]

I am shameless with blocking. I use my own head for hats, my own hands for gloves/mittens, and my own feet for socks.

[ginny_t]

But cold! Wet wool smell so close to your nose! You are hard core.

[laughingrat]

You haven't washed fleece yet, have you. :-D WET WOOL SMELL GUUUUUUUD

[ginny_t]

Oh, nononono! My instructor made processing fleece sound like so much fun that I've been scared off. O_o

[inchainz]

I'm getting cold just thinking about using body parts to block fo-s! THe time involved must drive you nuts. You are definitely hard core. :)

[pinesandmaples]

I live in New Orleans. That explains a lot.

[inchainz]

Yes, it does. :)

[ysobel]

I've seen people use plates (for beret type shapes) or inverted bowls, placed so it shapes the main body of the hat but not the edging.

[sarah]

Second on the inverted bowls: I generally raid my tupperware to find something suitable.

[inchainz]

Thank you both!

I'd heard of plates for tams & such, but ended up using a mixing bowl. :)

[hugh_mannity]

Acrylic doesn't block. You'll probably not have much success with it.

[tephra]

Actually acrylic can be blocked. It is, however, a one shot deal for the most part, too much heat and you kill the elasticity.

[pinesandmaples]

I wouldn't heat-block a hat, especially my first time out. Imagine how heartbreaking it would be to melt one side to the other! (And with my luck--and my awesome iron--that would happen.)

I also refuse to find out what acrylic + my iron will do. My iron is too nice to come close to anything that melts.

[tephra]

Put the hat over a bowl (particularly if you only really want to smooth out the crown) and you can't melt the hat to itself. :) If your iron has a good steam jet (one of mine does, one does not) you don't need to get the iron any closer than about 6-8". Though I do recommend practicing on swatches until you get used to how a particular yarn reacts to the steam, some need more heat than others.

[inchainz]

Thanks -- I may try this if the bowl doesn't work out. :)

[inchainz]

I've had varying degrees of luck with the 75/25 blends. That's why I was only asking for ideas on how to get the right shape going.

[aunty_marion]

I use a small football (soccer ball) for hats.