Blocking

Once you've finishing knitting all of the argyles it's time to block the knitting before starting the feet. This is a good time to weave in the ends,  if you haven't been doing it all along. I leave a few ends along the edges for sewing up the seam in the back.

As you can see in the pictures to the right, the edges of the knitting are curled up quite a bit. Blocking will smooth out all these rolls. Why bother? It will be easier to sew up the back seam if the edges are smooth. It's easier to do this before starting the heels and feet so that everything can be laid out flat.

Note that a second blocking should be done after the hose are completely finished. This blocking gives the hose a nice shape and smoothes out the stitches so that everything looks crisp and even. The second blocking includes soaking or washing the hose first.

The hose need to be pinned down in the correct size and shape. I use a big cushion with a towel wrapped around. The pins stick quite nicely. There are proper knitting, blocking mats that you can purchase. I've never bothered with the extra expense, as this seems to work for me.

Unroll the edges and pin every few inches. Make sure the length and width are close to what you planned. Try not to overstretch. 

Position your steam iron an inch or two above the knitting and thoroughly apply steam all over the piece, especially the edges. It's best not to actually press or touch the knitting with the iron. The steam should do the trick. It should feel a bit damp after steaming.

Keep the socks blocked until thoroughly dried. An hour should be good.

Carefully, remove all of the pins.

Now you're ready to knit the feet, starting with the heels.