Blocking

Definition: A technique used to straighten a finished needlepoint canvas. Blocking is done by dampening the finished piece, pulling it back into shape and securing it in place while it dries. Once dry, the piece will retain its shape. Needlepoint canvases - especially those stitched while held in the hands rather than placed in a stretcher frame - are often warped or stretched after completion. This is due to diagonal-based stitches being worked on a squared ground and the way the canvas is held, squished, folded and creased in the hands. It’s an inevitable part of the process. Blocking helps return a warped canvas back to its original shape and size.