Choosing the prick - Blocking pins vs Blocking T pins

Boy do I know how to choose em' 

I get distracted by the looks and sometimes dare I say it, the price! 

I knew I had to use blocking pics at some point because I had been using my sewing push pins, and they worked okay. But I'm a cheap ass when it comes to things that aren't yarn, and I was not about to spend 30 bucks on the Knitter's pride blocking pins (at least not at that point). As you may have already guessed based on the title of this post, I ended up spending more money finding the blocking pins that worked for me. 

The first set that I tried were the Lazadas Blocking wire kit. What attracted me to the kit? The tin. Yeah, I feel like an asshole admitting that but it was nice and compact and I was able to fit everything in there without worrying about losing the components. 

When I received the kit I had no clue how to use the wire or the T pins. So word to the wise if you purchase this kit and if you have no clue how to use it, for the love of all that is holy, watch a quick YouTube video. It will save you a lot of energy and time. And better yet you will give this kit a chance before getting so pissed off at it that it will spend the rest of its days buried at the bottom of your stash of acrylic yarn. Here's a hint, this kit is killer if you are trying to block shawls or Lace [insert project here].

So back to my push pins I went! That is until I decided to purchase the blocking pins that I believe all knitters should have, Knitter's Pride Knit Blockers. Knitter's Pride - blocking pins

The bad boys are super poky. They help provide an even stretch for the projects that we failed to gauge correctly (because who truly has time for that).  And there are two sizes.  My only issue with them (aside for the small qty) is that it is so hard to put them back in their box. I honestly feel like I'm a child struggled to put the moon shaped wood block into the hole. And if you lose your cool and try to jam them in there at an angle it will ruin the fit for the rest of the blocks. :( 

But overall they are very helpful. And here's a pro tip, if you want to use the foam squares I suggest you head over to Home-Depot to get the foam puzzles squares that are meant for kids. They're big, they're made out of the same material as the expensive ones you'll find at a local shop, and they are reasonably priced. 

If anyone else had had experience with different blocking bases I encourage you to share!Wire T pins Kit