How to properly block scallops?

[jackandahat]

I just knitted the Half-Camping shawl - my first big lace thing. And I love it... except the scallops. I cannot get them to block neatly - it says five pins per scallop, but mine look jagged from where they pulled against the pins. They're not horrific, but it seems a shame after how well the rest of it turned out.

Does anyone have any advice, either for this shawl specifically or pinning scallops in general?

Comments

[tephra]

A tip I picked up in the blocking before and after thread on Ravelry was to use a zip tie or piece of weed whacker line to block scallops. Just weave it through the edge like you would a blocking wire and pin it out at about five points for a smooth curve.

[jackandahat]

Ahh, so pin the wire rather than the knitting?

[tephra]

Yes. I pin at the corners between the scallops, at the center of the curve, and the two points in between usually. I'll pin more if the scallop is larger or if the tension of the knitting deforms the zip tie/heavy plastic line.