Like a lot of other people during the pandemic, I learned to crochet this summer, and something I realized very early on is that blocking makes a HUGE difference to your finished pieces. I've attached two photos to this review: one is a finished scarf after blocking it with these mats, and the first is the beginning of the same scarf. You can see that the blocked scarf is perfectly rectangular and smooth, while before being blocked it had uneven edges and a pouchy texture.

Great things about this particular set of blocking mats:

1. The grid is indispensable. A lot of people will talk about using children's play mats as a cheaper alternative, but being able to actually pin along a straight line is mandatory if you want to actually end up with neat edges and corners. So far, in every configuration I've assembled these mats into, their grid has lined up.

2. The mats are really generously thick (another positive contrast with playmats, which are usually thinner). Pins will securely hold your item without pushing through the other side.

3. Including a box of 100 pins is a nice bonus, and the pins themselves are of good quality. So far, I have had zero issues with rusting or discoloration, even when wet blocking or steam blocking. Their plastic box isn't great, but you've probably got another container around that you could use instead. I actually pretty quickly went out and bought their 150-pin tin, as well, and combined the two, and all 250 pins fit (albeit tightly) into the tin.

4. Another bonus is the zippered case. It's just basic plastic, but for something that's going to spend a lot of time in a closet, you don't need anything fancy, and the handle is a nice touch.

5. Nine mats is a very good amount to start with, especially given their modular design. I haven't yet run into a project that I couldn't fit onto these nine mats, including a blanket that was about 7' on each side (by blocking one edge"”and its corners"”at a time).

Really my only complaint is that a 1" grid isn't super granular; it would be really nice if they would add thinner quarter-inch lines as well, or even just half-inch ones. I do see that they now offer a double-sided version that's a 1" grid on one side and a 1cm grid on the other, so if I need more mats in the future for larger projects, that's probably what I'll expand with.

Back in the day I blocked my crochet designs using cheap pins and a piece of carpet. I absolutely love these blocking mats and the high quality stainless steel pins. It's true that the grid lines are a bit wonky, but I measure meticulously while pinning so it's not an issue. The ability to configure the individual boards to fit my projects is everything. I have two Artisan sets and two 3-mat sets, enough for a 4'x6' grid and numerous configurations. Perfect for blocking sweaters AND afghans (the afghan pictured is 43"x63"). Worth every penny. LOVE!

I'm fairly new to the crocheting world, and I knew eventually I would run into the issue that I would have to block my work. I had finished 3 projects (a small bag for my crochet hooks, needles, scissors, and yarn, a blanket, and an afghan) that didn't need to be blocked. And then I started doing granny squares and realized it wasn't going to be as easy as the other things I had completed. I did not have any idea how I was going to block them because I did not have the right equipment, per se. Well I put my thinking cap on and did the best that I could do at the time. I improvised and it worked, sorta. Anyway, I started on another afghan and the yarn I used was not laying the same way my other projects did so I decided I was NOT going to go through what I went through the last time. So, the hunt was on! I looked at all the mats I could find and I kept coming back to these. I read the reviews and decided to give these a try, even though some reviews stated the lines didn't line up. I am SO glad I bought these! The afghan I made is long, like most afghans, so I needed several sets of these. I bought 4 sets, I only needed 2 mats from the fourth set but hey, I would rather have too many than not enough. Each mat is approximately 12 x 12 and they fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. They come with 100 pins, I counted them, and the case has a handle for easy carrying. Storing them is a breeze!

Now some people were saying the lines didn't match up when they connected them. I ran into the same problem. But, each mat has 4 sides so I just turned the mat. By doing that, problem solved! My lines are now straight!

If you are looking for mats for blocking your work, look no further! These mats are thick. They are sturdy. They are SO easy to use. And they do the job beautifully!

Thanks guys for making a wonderful product. And if I need more, there is NO doubt in my mind I will buy more!

THE GOOD PARTS: Nice, thick foam mats, perfect for blocking knitted or crocheted projects. Centimeter grid is pretty accurate. Storage case is nice (although Amazon shipped mine without a box or external packaging, so my case is covered in shipping labels or sticky mess).
THE BAD PART: Inch grid is NOT accurate; it's a bit short beginning with the first inch and gets worse as you go. Since I live in America and mostly work with inches, this was disappointing, but not a total deal breaker.

I got this for blocking crochet projects and have used it twice now, once for a sweater and once for a small lace bookmark. I'm glad I got this set because I ended up needing more blocking boards for the sweater than I expected. The included T pins were great for the lace bookmark, but I recommend getting blocking combs if you're doing larger projects, because otherwise it takes ages to pin everything.

A friend had mentioned buying a children's playmat for blocking instead of a more expensive set actually designed for blocking, and I'm glad I sprang for this set - the grid lines were super helpful for getting my projects lined up properly and pinned straight.