Listen, you all know by now that I don’t need any excuse to buy a new crafting tool. So when I tell you that I’ve been knitting for years without a proper set of blocking mats, that should be legitimately shocking news. However, since I recently signed up to earn my Master Hand Knitting certification, I decided it was time to invest in a nice set. After checking out all the best blocking mats for knitting, I decided to invest in a set of KnitIQ blocking mats. In this post I’ll review this set of mats and tell you all about the other options I considered.
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KnitIQ Blocking Mats
Pros: Printed grid, are thicker than many other options, come with t-pins, and have a canvas case, usable for wet or steam blocking.
Cons: The grid isn’t exactly 1″ wide, no curve lines or centimeter markings, price is higher per square-foot than other options, pins leave permanent holes.
There are an overwhelming number of different blocking mats on the market right now, so when I decided to buy a set, I spent a good afternoon reading reviews and looking at posts on r/knitting. Having never used them before, I wasn’t really sure what to look for in a good set, which made the process of shopping. bit overwhelming. Eventually comments on this post lead me to the KnitIQ set I decided to purchase. I went with this set over the others because they seemed to get good reviews, were on the thicker side, and (based entirely on the name) seemed to be made by a company that focused on knitting products.
I ordered the set from Amazon (though they’re not an exclusive product), so they came quickly. Since they’re made of foam, I wasn’t too worried about them being damaged in shipping, but you never know. So, it was nice to see they arrived in perfect condition. There was a slight plastic smell when I opened up the package, but that’s to be expected with something like foam mats. The smell dissipated within a few hours for me, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it. But if you’re extra sensitive to these things, you may want to let the mats air out for a day or so before using.
The KnitIQ set I got has nine mats, each about one square-foot, or about nine square feet of blocking space. These connect like puzzle pieces, so you can lay them out in whatever shape works best for you. This means that there is plenty of space for blocking swatches or sweaters, but may not be enough if you need to block a large blanket or shawl. Each of the blocks is 3/4″ thick, which is plenty thick enough to product the surface below from the pins and to keep the mats rigid enough to provide a solid blocking surface.
The mats also are all marked by a roughly 1″ grid. I say roughly, because if you hold a ruler up to the grid lines, it’s clear that they’re ever so slightly smaller than a true inch. I think they may be spaced at 2.5cm instead, which is fine, but also should have been fully disclosed in the product listing.
For the vast majority of the things most people will be blocking, this tiny measurement issues will have no impact on their blocking. However, it’s important to remember that the lines are liars if you’re working on something very large or that needs precise measurements.
All nine mats fit neatly in the canvas case. This case has a robust metal zipper, nice handles on either side, and a front pocket the perfect size for a tin of t-pins.
The case appears to be cotton, but I can’t say for certain as there isn’t a fiber content tag. The case is spot clean only, which shouldn’t be a problem (how often do you need to wash this sort of thing anyway?) but is worth noting.
Of course, I had to put the blocks through some tests before writing this review. I had a few swatches that needed blocking, so I gave them a good 20 minute soak and gently pinned them in place. When pinning all of the swatches, I did really appreciate the grid. It kept me from accidentally stretching my swatches out of shape as I was pinning them in place. It took about 36 hours for my swatches to fully dry on the board. This feels like a long time, but the room I was blocking in is on the dark side and it’s gotten fairly cold out. I also didn’t bother to roll them in a towel first, which would have sped things up.
The first (bright green), was some lace weight silk mohair and DK weight merino held double. This was knitted at a fairly normal stitch density (it was a test for a sweater) and so needed very few pins. The only purpose they really held was to keep the edges from rolling. The next swatch (blue) was a fingering weight merino held double with a silk mohair blend and knit with US size 0 needles. It was a little bit denser than the first swatch, but the pins still did a good job keeping the edges from rolling.
The last swatch (dark green) was my second attempt at properly blocking the gauge swatch I knitted in fingering weight superwash merino with my US size 000 (1.5mm) needles for a recent pair of socks. This was a very, very tightly knitting swatch. The pins weren’t quite enough to keep the edges from rolling. I probably would need a set of blocking wires to get them straight. However, the pins were enough to significantly flatten the rest of the swatch. I could easily get gauge off this swatch after it dried.
Once I removed the swatches from the board I did find that there were holes left by the pins. This is expected, but still annoying. However, they do close up a bit over time. if you look at the above image, the smaller pin holes are about 24 hours post-pin removal, while the bigger ones are what they look like right after the pin has been removed. If you tend to block a lot of things that are the same size or shape (like gauge swatches), you may want to rotate the mats in your set to avoid too much wear and tear in a specific area.
Overall, I’m pleased with my purchase. The mats themselves feel substantial, which I hope means they’ll last me for years. They give me enough blocking square footage to block the things I need to block and I find the grid useful. I’m also a really big fan of the cloth case with pin pouch since it keeps all my blocking things in one place. If you’re in the market for a set of blocking mats for knitting or crochet, you could do a lot worse than the KnitIQ mats, but there are other options out there worth considering too.
Other Options
KnitIQ is far from the only company making blocking mats. So, it’s worth looking around a bit before committing. Below are my favorite alternate options. Depending on what you’re blocking and what you’re budget is, one of these may work better for you.
Best for Blocking Large Items: Play Mats
Pros: Least expensive option per square foot.
Cons: No grid, less than 1/2″ thick, doesn’t come with pins.
On any post in r/knitting about blocking mats, you’ll find a ton of people in the comments recommending children’s play mats as an economical alternative to blocking mats.
On a per-square foot basis, they are much less expensive. This set has 16 square feet of mats for about 32$. That’s seven more mats than the KnitIQ set for about half the price. Not a bad deal! If you tend to knit larger size sweaters, shawls, or throw blankets play mats might be the best option for you.
However, there are some downsides to using play mats. First, I haven’t been able to find a set with grid or other guide lines. This was something I really wanted. And while I have heard of different work arounds (such as adding a thin piece of gingham on top of your mats), that is another thing to buy and another step to add to your blocking process. The extra fuss may or may not be worth it to you.
The play mats also are a little thinner than the KnitIQ mats. Most were advertised as about 1cm (just under 1/2 inch) thick. This makes them less durable and also means there’s a danger of your pins going all the way through, which can damage the surface underneath.
Another downside is that the play mats don’t come with any pins to hold your knitting in place during blocking. A set of rust proof T-pins isn’t terribly expensive (these were about 6$ when I last looked), but it is another expense to add into your calculations.
Last, there is the element of the unknown whenever you use something not as intended. Before using play mats for blocking something important, I’d test them to make sure that there’s no color transfer. It’s a small risk, but it’s always better to be safe. I also don’t think I’d feel comfortable using play mats for steam blocking unless the pack I bought specifically said they were heat proof or heat safe.
For More Markings: INMAKER Double Sided Blocking Mats
Pros: Thick can be used for steam blocking or wet blocking, comes with T-pins, markings in inches, centimeters, and curves.
Cons: Also on the more expensive side per square foot, cardboard case.
Honestly, I may get a set of these INMAKER Double Sided Blocking Mats too eventually. The big edge the INMAKER mats have over the KnitIQ set is the markings. INMAKER has two grids, one-centimeter and one-inch, printed on either side of the mats. They also have circular markings in a variety of diameters and a few diagonal lines.
Like the KnitIQ mats, they’re 3/4″ thick, which allows you to pin without worry about scratching your work surface and theoretically should make the mats more durable over time.
At full price, the INMAKER mats cost about the same as the KnitIQ mats. However, I did recently see them marked down to about 33$, so you may be able to catch them on sale if you’re lucky!
The big downside of these mats is that they come in a cardboard carrying case. I doubt for most people this will be a deal breaker, but it is something to consider. If you’re a teacher who takes your mats on the go or if you want a good case to keep everything organized, these may not be the perfect set for you.
Less Expensive Dupe: 9 Pack Blocking Mats for Knitting & Crochet Project
Pros: Thick, can be used for steam blocking or wet blocking, comes with T-pins.
Cons: Plastic carrying case, be careful when ordering.
One of the reasons it’s so difficult to find good blocking mats is that there are a million different companies selling a million different variations on this pretty simple product. I sorted through a bunch of low cost options before finding a close enough dupe that looked legit: the Knitting Blocking Mat with Grid Lines, Knitting Mats with 100 T-Pins and Storage Bag.
This set of blocking mats is not quite as thick as the KnitIQ set, but at 0.68″ thick, it’s pretty close. Functionally, I don’t think there should be any difference between the two sets based on depth.
The listing for this set also includes a cheaper option with just four mats. So read the listing info carefully before you click “add to cart” to make sure you’re buying the size set you need..
Do you have a favorite set of blocking mats? Let me know in the comments below or over on Instagram!