Blocking

 Patterns often end with, "Finish off, work in ends. Block." This is how I block doilies. I start with these Styrofoam sheets. They're about 2 inches thick.

I push toothpicks into the long side and push the Styrofoam together to make an area bigger than the doily will be.

A layer of wax paper so the doily won't stick. Toothpicks to hold the doily in place while it dries. When I was in high school, we went to the state fair. One year, while in the handcrafts display, I saw an embroidery piece with a dirt smear on it. On the judges' sheet was written, "Not judged because of dirt." That made quite an impression on me, so I always wash my finished projects. I start my washing machine and put the soap in. Then I wash the doily in the soapy water and rinse it thoroughly in the water still flowing in. (Then I load the washer to use the warm soapy water on dirty clothes.) Gently squeeze the water out. Don't wring or twist the doily. Now it's ready to be shaped or blocked.

Spread the doily in the middle of the Styrofoam. Put a toothpick in the middle to hold it in place and to measure from.

Working out from the middle, pick a point in the pattern to fasten. Measure that the toothpicks are the same distance from each other and from the middle.

 Pick another pattern point. Fasten around and measure again to be sure they're even.

 Move out again, fasten and measure.

 This doily has 360 little loops around the outside. I had to move the toothpicks from earlier places to have enough. This is why I'm so careful to measure. Unevenness is much easier to fix farther in, where there are fewer toothpicks.

Close up of final round of toothpicks.

I use spray starch. Heavy strength. Spray on lots. It will take 4 days or so for it to totally dry. I have to make one more for a scheduled wedding. Then I have to make 6 more for 3 nephews, 2 nieces, and a daughter. Plus more baby blankets! I'll be busy!