First, fill a clean sink or basin with water. For water temperature and soaking time, follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the yarn used. For knits in any Brooklyn Tweed yarn, use cold water and soak for 15 minutes. It gives the knitted project a smooth and flat look, which improves your garment’s overall appearance. If you’ve read any of my posts on gauge, you will know that I am a fan of always making a swatch for any crochet item which needs to fit.

Water – you can soak your project in a clean bowl, basin, sink or bath, and you may also find a simple spray bottle useful Step 3: Drain the water, then squeeze the knitted piece. This helps to get rid of excess water. Do not twist, wring or pull the fibers too much while it is still wet . That’s a simplistic example which gives you an idea of the variation. It’s hard to be definitive about which projects will retain the best stitch memory, but it’s the kind of thing that becomes more intuitive with experience. So give it a try! Step 1: Pour water into the reservoir of your iron to make steam. Ensure that you first heat the iron to high. They are essentially boards with holes drilled into them at regular intervals, like peg boards, into which tall solid doweling type ‘pins’ (pegs) will fit.In the pictures I am using knit pro T-pins which are super sharp (so please take care!), robust and easy to use, however any rust-proof dressmakers pins should work too. Step 3: Soak the knitted piece in water for thirty minutes. You should ensure that the fabric is fully submerged in the water. Consider squeezing the material a few times to ensure that the wool wash gets deep into the fiber.

Lay the item flat onto a towel and carefully roll it up. Press down on the towel to squeeze out the excess water. The shawl is washed and then placed wet on the surface. Starting from the centre, the knitting is smoothed out and pinned in place. It is then left to dry for 24 hours longer than when it feels dry. Starting in the centre of your work, use your fingers to manipulate out the fabric to the tension you are looking for and work out towards the edges.Steam is an alternative way to get a small amount of moisture into your fabric. The added element of heat can be used to create shape and additional drape on your fabric. Please take all the necessary safety precautions when working with steam appliances and follow manufacturer guidelines.