How to give your knitted garments the PERFECT finish by ARNE & CARLOS

In this week's tutorial we talk about how we like to finish our knitted garments. Learn our tricks and tips and give those future heirlooms those beautiful finishing touches that they deserve!
ARNE & CARLOS
How to give your knitted garments the PERFECT finish by ARNE & CARLOS - blocking steaming
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Hi and welcome to our channel!
Who are we:
Scandinavians Arne Nerjordet and Carlos Zachrison are highly regarded designers, textile artists and authors. They are best known for their craft books and their original, colourful and visually striking designs. Their work is highly influenced by their Scandinavian background and their everyday life in rural Norway. They work under their artist name ARNE & CARLOS, which they established in 2002.
We publish a weekly, new tutorial every Sunday on both our KZbin channel and our Facebook page. We hope you enjoy it!
• See our Japanese site:
arne-carlos.co.jp/
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arnecarlos
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• Buy our yarn here:
arnecarlos.com/yarn/
• Buy our books here:
arnecarlos.com/buy/
• You find all the patterns in our blog:
arnecarlos.com/blog/
For any business inquiries please contact:
[e-mail]

[@gydha]

Dear Arne and Carlos. You are pressing the garment, not steaming it. The difference is very important, you see when you press the garment like you do, all the elasticity in the wool disappear. If you steam it as in only using your steam on your iron without pressing you will get a better result. The wool will "blossom", stitches get even and you will keep the elasticity. In tailoring we use steam and heat to shrink wool fabric and heat and steam is not the reason your ribbing gets wide, it's because you iron/press it. I design knitwear as well and all I use is steam, but never with a pressing cloth and iron. And when knitted garments get out of shape and you used the sweater a lot, all you need to do is steam it and it will look like a new garment again. All the best, Kirvil.

[@LucindaL413]

This is what I learned in my Home Economics classes in college!

[@judym8557]

The steam appears to be coming from the wet towel.

[@cosminpreda4093]

Sorry to ask, should the Iron touch the garment or should be a 1-2 cm cm distance between iron and garment? And if iron should touch, should it be soft? Ty❤

[@brandip2446]

ThanksI thought they weren't steaming it, glad saw your comment I would have got a whole different out come then I wanted

[@mimivoiculescu326]

Ya , I just steam keaping the iron at a small distance above the garment . I can also see what I'm doing .With the other hand I pres geantly if necessary.

[@jennyweyman3039]

You are like the wise family I never had. I only ever got half the information. Now I know to NOT steam the waistband or placket. No one ever told me that!

[@lunahoneyknits]

I hate blocking and you saved me XD I just steamed 3 sweaters that I made a year ago. Wasn't wearing them, because I'm too lazy to block them. Thank you , thank you, thank you!

[@ARNECARLOS]

You are very welcome.

[@MazzyMadness]

I’m hours away from blocking a cardigan and I’m SO glad I stumbled across this!! I was dreading pinning it out

[@carollucey111]

me too 😂😂

[@Booboonancy]

Wow, even your steaming towel is beautiful !

[@jannaparks6132]

I LOVE Carlos’ sweater!

[@rainieraine1192]

You two just make me smile so much, thank you

[@anneobrien7439]

Wish I had seen this a lot earlier! This makes so much more sense than wet blocking. Thank you!

[@nellymaitin2326]

Thank you Arne and Carlos for the great tutorial. You guys are awesome!!

[@wandaflessner4444]

Thank you both so much for teaching this easy method of blocking, I can finally finish my beautiful scarf I knitted years ago... yeah!💕

[@karenhenslee4126]

This is great! I just steamed a poncho and was so easy and it looks fabulous!

[@judithah41]

Thanks for sharing the PERFECT finish!. ❤️ You both are treasures!

[@MarinaMandarinaWoolyWorld]

This is a great sound, you are right! And also the smell of the moist warm wool adds to it, sooo cosy, reminds me of my childhood when I spent summer holidays at my grandparents and grandma steamed her knitting, made with a wool she made herself. Good good memories 😌 warm memories 💖 thank you, Arne and Carlos 💖

[@bluegrassdreams2seams510]

Thank you for this demonstration! I’ve always wanted to know how to finish using my iron! You two are awesome!

[@liquidlites]

Thank you! I was having a bit of appreciation about finishing a project I designed and recently finished. It is too big for a pinning blocking method. You guys are such a wealth of useful information. Thank you again for sharing.

[@mistyblue5312]

Still sharing this with knitting friends...thanks for saving us from a whole lot of “blocking” grief! Invaluable info!!

[@grammieluli]

You guys are so awesome! This tutorial couldn't have come at a better time. I just learned how to knit socks and wasn't sure how to finish them. So much easier than I thought it would be. Great tip on not steaming the ribbing.

[@normalisoy1561]

I love your plates and dishes in the background. I have a set of these which I use daily. They are so cheery!

[@zQoQz]

You say English is not your first language, but you both speak it very, very well! The sweater is absolutely beautiful, and thank you for the tip to not do the waistband and cuffs! I would have never known! You both work so beautifully together and it’s adorable! Keep it up! :) ❤️

[@ARNECARLOS]

Thank you!

[@jlt131]

@@ARNECARLOS would you use this method on items that have cable stitching? or is it to be avoided like the ribbed waistband?

[@Tinacrafts2]

@@jlt131 I’m wondering the same thing. I’m on the neckband of my Aran sweater now.

[@rebeccabello3103]

Thanks guys...just what I needed. you guys are the "Rocket Scientist" of knitting! ❤️

[@carmitaliac6624]

Thank you so much! Great information and tutorial.🌸 Yes very simple for a perfect touch !

[@mrsmarciad]

Your advice to steam knitted or crochet projects are the best so far. I have watched other tutorials on blocking, and Your tutorial is THE BEST ADVICE. Thank you so much. London xx

[@terryscott9498]

you two make everything so interesting, thank you

[@christinebirch9141]

Thank you Arne and Carlos. This was very helpful and easy to do. It worked very well.

[@Kimbrockett37]

Thank you for this fabulous informative video, I have just finished another garment and watched this again to remind myself of your technique. Thank you I am now going to start my Easter eggs from your sit and knit pattern this march - love you guys!

[@nightsky8007]

Thank you so much for making this video and for explaining everything in such detail. I have confidence now to continue with steaming and not blocking.

[@memyselfandeye8377]

As usual, very entertaining and informative! Love you both!

[@alisonmary1443]

That was a blast from the past lol, Mum taught us to steam the knit wear like this and yes that hissing sound :) but you know I had forgotten this great tip because of the fabby new irons and "microwave" sweaters, Thank you both for this, I am smiling at the memories.

[@AnnikaTanja]

This saved me soo much possible stress as a new knitting. I was dreading the blocking everyone was talking about.

[@zz-by4jb]

This was such a great tutorial! I learned so much! I've never understood blocking and didn't know how to finish my garments... Now I do! Thank you so much 😊

[@karenfarmilo3067]

I have just finished the Kyler shawl by Isabell Kraemer using Rowan Fine Tweed. I'm now going to steam my shawl!! So easy.. Thank you for explaining your process. Love it!!

[@chlexiel.1022]

I have used this method- it’s amazing. Thank you for sharing. I just needed a refresher 😊

[@suegraham4323]

So happy I discovered this tutorial at the perfect time! I've just finished the knitting on a sweater, and now I know exactly how to steam it. Your instructions are excellent, thank you!!!

[@ARNECARLOS]

You are welcome Sue, thank you for watching!

[@sunnymountainhoneyfountain]

So grateful for this video. You two just saved me so much time

[@BeautifulBlueHeart]

Can you please make a video on how you wash your beautiful hand knit things. I would love to watch all your tips and see the process. Thankyou for all your lovely videos!

[@kristibbradshaw]

Your English is very good!!!! I love your garment finishing techniques. Thank you.

[@cannabis1490]

Blocking made simple. Thank you Arne n Carlos.🇯🇲❤

[@lesleygoodman6986]

I just finished a wool baby cardigan and used your finishing method. It turned out beautifully! I am going to gather up all the fingerless gloves I’ve knitted this year and do the same with them. Thank you.

[@TheCratsky]

Oh wow. I will try this on the first cable scarf I made. It is a bit too lose but hopefully the steam will tighten it up a bit. Thank you for posting.

[@suzannelegault4959]

Je vous adore, j’apprends beaucoup avec vous deux . Un gros merci de partager si généreusement votre savoir. Votre complicité et votre humour est touchante.

[@anncarrington9784]

Thanking you both so much I've just finished an all wool jumper and this worked perfectly x

[@ARNECARLOS]

👍

[@iChillypepper]

Amazing you can actually see the difference

[@rosemarieherman7790]

Thanks, guys, so informative and easy. Who knew? No one ever told us this before. ❤️🌹

[@MsGroovemom]

Thanks so much for making this tutorial. I've only been knitting a year, and I thought you had to block everything (meaning, get the piece wet and lay it flat and stretch it out)...I just finished the Hitchhiker Shawl and was dreading having to block it. It's really, really long. Anyway, thanks to you guys, I set up my ironing board, got a wet towel, and used your steam method to make that shawl look absolutely fabulous. I'm a convert now. Any more fundamental advice you can give will be most welcome. :)

[@marynimocks6791]

Thank you for the option other than blocking. Much better! AND the sweaters you are wearing are terrific! 👏👏👏

[@ARNECARLOS]

Thank you!

[@christinelinn9250]

Good evening to you both. You both look great in your beautiful kitchen with the lovely Freja barking in the background. I've done steaming for the past 50years it gives a beautiful finish and you explained it so well to everyone no cause for confusion there. I statted making socks this year and they spoke about blocking I had no idea what they meant until I saw the wooden feet they were on and shawls pinned to washing lines. Your way is so much easier. Its common sense a medium hot iron and damp cloth cost nothing and so simple to use. You both make the show so enjoyable and fun. I made my first Magnus Mouse this week in the evenings as I had my top teeth removed and was unable to sleep due to pain. Can wait till next Sunday when we see you lovely guys again. Take care look after each other. Puss och Kram x

[@janeriles1795]

Love watching you two. You make it interesting, simple and practical.

[@ARNECARLOS]

Thank you for watching Jane!

[@GrandmaMarlayne]

Excellent video. You two experts take this as just a common sense issue but for many of us we hear all these gadgets we need to do the proper job, so it is wonderful to see how easy you can do a block on the ironing board with what you have around the house. Loved the video!

[@rosspreston7539]

Thank you for the wonderful video; I come back to it time and time again. This time, I tried the tip of simply covering the knitting (your Tove sweater, actually) with a damp cloth and it worked so well! Thank you once again! :)

[@louisewinter7614]

I just love your sense of humor.’ Good information also!

[@lynetteruest480]

Hello Arne and Carlos - I love your videos! More, More, More!! I must tell you I used your method on three garments and just as you said it makes them look polished, professional. I thought I would need to take out a neck ribbing on a sweater but decided to steam press it and viola! it looks great!

[@janelatimer4773]

Lovely. Problems solved! You two are delightful to watch.

[@RonPiggott]

Thank you for the time you spent making this.

[@travelingsnail]

I just watched this so I could give my Christmas stocking a good finishing. Thanks so much, I'll be steaming knitted things from now on unless blocking is absolutely necessary.

[@Mindfulnessification]

This was so good! I started my garment knitting finishing by steaming, then moved to “blocking.” Now, I honk I will go back to steaming. I did love the results!!! Thank you!!!! ❤️👏🏼❤️

[@drhelenloney1426]

that's really helpful. I've just washed two 30 year old Rowan jackets I knitted before I was married, and the combination of machine (top loading) washing and a bit of pressing, they both look like new.

[@marilynnsimmons1417]

You have helped me tremendously. I will always steam now and never the cuffs. Thank you.

[@ARNECARLOS]

You are welcome!

[@leighabresch8143]

Thanks for another great video. Please consider doing a video showing how you knit and apply the bindings for the armholes. They look beautiful and finished.

[@dizzyk54]

😼 Thanks so much! I just did this on my finished sweater & it worked beautifully!! No problems sewing it together!....Take care...Vicki

[@ARNECARLOS]

You are welcome Vicki, we are glad you are happy with the finished result!

[@lyndajohnston9875]

This is fantastic it’s the European way of finishing or pressing a garment that I’ve done when I was a child, my mother is from Holland and this is how she always did it and how she showed me how to do it, it’s so much quicker than blocking that takes for ever, thanks you so much you both have reassured me of my thoughts that this would be a easier way of finishing of my sweeter. 💙💙

[@ARNECARLOS]

It is a great way!

[@helenwilliams1468]

Thank you I haven’t knitted for 30 years just finished a jumper and now it looks just right

[@ARNECARLOS]

You are welcome.

[@ireneparks7392]

Working on my first shawl project and was going to wet block but I will try your knit spa finishing technique. Thank you 🙂

[@uprincon7424]

This makes so much sense! I was dreading blocking a long wrap I just finished and have been putting it off. Will definitely try this method because who has time, space and an expensive mat for wet blocking? Btw, love your iron.

[@LecheVitrineUK]

My grandma used this method for all her knitting. At university where I studied textiles with knit pieces we pinned them on a big stream press we didn't press the to half down we just got the steam lever which worked perfectly, people have their own favourite methods.

[@nancyb.9759]

Thank you for all of your videos!! I am loving the methodical from Carlos and the lightheartedness of Arne. Somehow both in combination make me feel that I CAN do these things too. Not to complain, because I feel very Lucy and happy, but I have a head injury that makes it usually difficult for me to pick up the understanding and feel successful at many things. Your particular blend has made me want to not give up. Thank you most sincerely, yours from Rochester, NY, Nancy.

[@ARNECARLOS]

Don’t give up😊❤️

[@newday4936]

Thank you both so much for this video. I love your common sense approach

[@ARNECARLOS]

We are glad you liked it!

[@chriscaine7689]

Thankyou both for yet another informative video. Sometimes the old fashioned methods are the best, and this is one of them.

[@ARNECARLOS]

You are welcome Chris!

[@raewynlevis2298]

Thank you for sharing it was lovely to watch

[@lengl1125]

Thanks for this! I just finished the pieces for my baby girl's cardigan and thought I would have to block so can't wait to try this! X

[@ARNECARLOS]

Good luck!

[@terryscott9498]

it makes me feel very special to get your answers back ,when you write to us.you both areas sweet, thank you.

[@ARNECARLOS]

Thank you Terry! We like reading your comments aswell.

[@giudittalucia9545]

Thank you so much. I really didn’t want to submerge my sweater into water. This is such a better process. Thank you!!!!!!!

[@ARNECARLOS]

Have fun!

[@kaben20]

Excellent video! I too did not realize we weren’t supposed to steam the ribbing etc. ( My grandpa came to Canada from Norway when he was 19 yrs old)

[@marinawilkinson5840]

Excellent tutorial. I will do this in future. Thank you. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@Khandi311]

As always useful information presented in an entertaining manner. You two are GREAT! Thank you.

[@ARNECARLOS]

You are welcome!

[@Sophira1]

Thank you so much. This is such a simple and effective way of finishing the garment. You also answered a question that was bothering me - should I block the pieces or the whole garment. I feel a lot more confident now xx

[@monicarevey9911]

Love the info! I'm from Bellingham WA. I learned knitting from KZbin! I'm beginner pretty much. You two are heaven sent!

[@ARNECARLOS]

Thank you!

[@pauladylan5388]

thanks so much, very handy tutorial! looking forward to next week! :)

[@chrisdavis1962]

Thanks guys for this so helpful video - this has answered all my concerns on pressing my new knitted creation.

[@ARNECARLOS]

You are welcome, and remember to not be afraid of steeking.

[@martinabuenning2763]

Hi, thank you so much for this entertaining and informative vlog 😊 I‘ve been a knitter for over 50 years (I‘m 62 today) and I always used your blocking method. Just tought about switchting and buy mats and needles for a better result... But now I with your support I‘ll stay to my old method and use the saved money on some Arne and Carlos sock yarn 🤓😉😻

[@ARNECARLOS]

Stay old school!

[@kopcat49]

Thank you so much for relieving me of the guilt I have had because I never block my garments or anything else I knit. I've always steamed them with a wet towel just like you showed on this video and never saw the need to pin and wet them and go through all that work. And I didn't want to buy all that equipment. For sleeves I use a tailors sleeve roll instead of the little ironing board or just move them like you did on the ironing board to avoid the crease. Love your helpful videos.

[@ARNECARLOS]

We are glad to help!

[@LeAvventureDiArianna]

Thank you guys! I am Italian, and my gran used to do exactly the same to finish her garments! It brought back memories! Thank you for the great videos xxx 👏🧶🧶

[@thecupandmug6745]

I'm so glad I watched this just in time! This is how we used to do it in the old days. All the modern knitters I know swear and declare that blocking is way superior and so I was about to attempt my first blocking effort. If something's better I'm happy to try it but it's too easy to doubt yourself. Thank you. 🙂

[@ARNECARLOS]

You are welcome!

[@diane7167]

Thank you so much for this tutorial! I have always blocked my knitted items with pins, water, and waited days and days for it to dry properly before I could stitch the seams together. This method is so quick and easy to do; thank you for your expertise!

[@ARNECARLOS]

You are welcome!

[@JuragoAgata]

Perfect! Thank you ! Also I love the towel you are using :)

[@maureenhebert7673]

Oh my goodness! Thank Goodness I found your video. I was dreading pinning out a large heavy cardigan I just finished. This makes so much more sense and was how my mother always blocked her knitting. I kept finding videos where they would pin the item out and I was thinking my mother may have been doing it wrong. I now know it’s a preference. Thank you. You are both delightful

[@ARNECARLOS]

You are welcome Maureen❤️

[@bazoin1]

I think this is a great way to finish garments and no need to go out and buy special equipment, also it's quick to do. I was impressed with how the inside of your sleeve was finished, I think you said it had been 'faced'. Do you have a tutorial on this method?

[@belindavalentyn9509]

Thank you for this thought I had to buy very expensive gear to block my sweaters. This was great. Thank you again.

[@ARNECARLOS]

As simple as this!

[@anncarrington9784]

Thanking you both so much. I have just knitted a shawl and was wondering how to Finnish it without going down the road to blocking it and up you two lovely people popped with the answer how fantastic and it's worked like a dream x

[@ARNECARLOS]

We are glad to hear that!

[@cherylnissing717]

You both are adorable! I loved the video! I am Norwegian but three families ago near Oslo! Is am American , can’t wait for Knit Stars Three, hugs to you both!

[@cruisepaige]

Guys, it is such a gift to us for you guys to share your experience and talent with us.

[@ARNECARLOS]

Thank you!

[@alexhawkhead]

I am SO glad I saw this video

[@catherinewilson1610]

This tip did rock my world. I am new to blocking I was no afraid of it that I did not do it at all. Now I use the method and my knits look so much better.

[@ARNECARLOS]

Good to hear that, steaming is alot easier and makes a big difference.

[@ewamahring]

I love you guys, so happy I discovered you. Better than Netflix!

[@ARNECARLOS]

Thank you!

[@nicolewatkinscampbell2842]

Thanks, guys, for a stress-free way to finish our garments nicely. And I agree that “moist” is a lovely word, perhaps even the Queen of all Words.

[@ARNECARLOS]

😂😀

[@kml223]

Always such great videos, I was just thinking about blocking two sweaters but now I'm gonna steam them. So nice. 😊

[@ARNECARLOS]

Glad you liked it!

[@hannahc933]

Thanks so much for sharing this piece of information. Learn much from you guys from this video channel. 👍

[@chickadeeacres3864]

This is much better! I tried the soaking first blocking on a huge granny square coat. It took so long to dry that it had started to smell musty. I had to wash it in delicate cycle and spin dry before I could try blocking it again.

[@GezButterworth]

Great information tutorial. I shall know what to do now when I finish my first sweater. I am knitting a pair a selbu mittens I am guessing I should do it the same way. Have a great week. Thank you. Gez

[@christinatang2133]

I've always disliked blocking, exactly for the reasons you've stated. Thank you for sharing this method. It's been extremely useful, especially on the patches from your quarantine knit along.

[@ARNECARLOS]

You are welcome!

[@jackiefitzgerald6995]

This is how I was taught to finish my knitting by my family back in 1950 in the USA.

[@ARNECARLOS]

😍