I will show no fear!

This is my pile of things waiting to be blocked.

Or at least this is the pile I found in my hutch. I did not check my craft closet, or my knitting corner in my bedroom. Nor did I grab the piece I think is on a shelf in my closet. This is just a pile of the unblocked knitting that was closest to the computer.

That is just sad.

I have a real mental block about blocking. I love the results of blocking. It simply transforms the knitting. I think it is magic. And it isn't even complicated magic. You soak the knit in soapy water, you lay it flat to dry. The actual labor is minimal. I know it takes a bit of time for the knit to soak, but you don't have to do anything while it is soaking. You can even wander off and knit something else if you'd like. And it takes even longer for the yarn to dry, but again, you don't have to actually DO anything to the yarn while it is drying, just leave it alone. This should be a preferred activity for a lazy knitter like myself. Honestly, my four year old can do this.

So why do I resist?

I've been working on a theory.

I think it has to do with laundry.

I hate laundry.

Again, this should be a preferred activity for a lazy housekeeper like myself. You throw the laundry in the washer and go knit. You throw the laundry in the dryer and go knit. Minimal effort with maximum results. In go dirty clothes, out come clean clothes. But there are all these steps you have to go through before you can put the laundry in the washing machine. You have to gather it all together in one place, and sort it, then throw it in the washer.

Or at least that is how laundry was before I had children.

Now I have to ask the children to bring me their laundry. Then, once they have thrown their laundry over the banister, I have to go into their rooms and claim the pieces of laundry they left behind, the sock peeking out from under the dresser, the underwear behind the bed, or my favorite, the jammies behind the toilet. Having treasure hunted for their laundry I must then sort it. But while I sort I must examine each piece for stains. And trust me, every piece has stains. I am consistently amazed at their inability to eat something without creating a souvenir to mark the occasion on their shirt. And did I mention that each article of clothing is also inside out? So I must turn the clothing right side out, examine it, spray it, then toss it into the appropriate pile. Once this is all done I can FINALLY begin with the actual washing of the laundry.

It used to be I tossed the laundry in the washer, I toss it in the dryer.

But that was before I had children.

Now, once the washer has done its thing, I must take each piece of wet laundry out one at a time. Each piece must be examined to be sure the stain remover did its thing. If not the clothing must be re-sprayed and returned to the pile for additional washing.

Then the clothes can be dried.

Once dried they must be folded and put away. Another chore that was simpler before I had children.

Now, in my efforts to have my children grow up to be reasonably responsible adults with functioning life skills, I fold them and have the children "help" me put them away. With Pork Chop I can just put her clothes on her dresser and she does the rest (I L.O.V.E. that kid). But with Meaty and Bird I have to take the clothes to their rooms and stay there with them, "helping" them sort the clean clothes and put them away. There is a lot of re-folding that happens during this point as they grab and drop and basically abuse the laundry. And did I mention that this job takes three times as long with help as it would if I just did it myself?

I hate laundry.

And blocking, with the soaking, and the wet, and the laying flat to dry? Well, it feels a lot like laundry to me.

But I will not fear the blocking!

Because I now come armed with pointy sticks!

My dear friend Shiloh must have gotten sick of my whining about blocking, and my coveting of blocking wires. Because she sent me a set of my very own for my birthday. They're so shiny and pretty. How can I fear blocking when I'm armed with dangerous pointy things? I will show no fear. And I will show no mercy! I shall conquer this pile of unblocked knits, and any other rogue camps of unblocked knitting I find hiding throughout the house. Every job is easier when you have the proper weapon right?

In fact, I speared a lace shawl on my wires this morning.

(why yes, my knitting is blocking on garbage bags, is that a problem for you?)

Unfortunately, when I said my four year old can block knitting, I was speaking from experience.

She absolutely loves putting pins in the knits. Aren't I lucky to have such a cute little helper block my knits with me. She just chatters the entire time and puts pins willy-nilly through my knits. Once it was done she spent twenty minutes watching the yarn dry. It's cute, and sweet, and endearing. And did I mention how much longer any job takes when she "helps"? *le sigh* Despite my super cool blocking pins, it felt like I was doing laundry.