We here at the fiber republic wanted to take this season to discuss something that is almost as important as your knitting itself.  This season our new frontier is blocking!  

Blocking takes time, but especially if you are doing a lace piece, it is absolutely essential you wash it and stretch it properly, or your garment will 1.  not fit properly, and 2, feel like you are wearing a crumpled potato chip....The drape of a natural fiber piece of knitwear should be soft and flowing, not rigid and wrinkly.  

Here are a few videos to get you going:

In the second video, they discuss "smiley faces" that form when you pin out a piece of fabric.  One way to avoid this is to use a long bit of waste yarn and thread it through the straight edge of your work (if there is a straight edge).  If you want to see the entire process, the yarn harlot does it here.  

If you really don't have a place big enough to block, you can tie it up on your veranda like this: 

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