Blocking and Stiffening Triangular Shawls

Hi everyone,

can you tell me the best and easiest way to properly block and stiffen triangular shawls
—and, most importantly, what to use?

It would be really great if you could help me out.

Best regards, Heike

It depends on how delicate the shawl is. If it has a fairly simple pattern without jagged edges or points, it’s often enough to hang the wet shawl very tightly on a clothesline and weigh down the bottom edges with additional clothespins.
For finer shawls with lots of details, you should lay the damp (wet) shawl out flat on a large surface (this could be a covered board, a mattress, foam rubber mats, or even carpet) and pin it down starting from the center. As you do this, stretch the shawl as tightly as possible.
It takes some practice to get it even and symmetrical, and it requires time and patience.
I use spray starch, which I apply lightly to the still-damp shawl, using a little more along the edges.
After drying, the yarn feels a bit stiff due to the starch, but that goes away over time. (I’ve shaken out the shawl a few times.)
 

This is the simplest method 

If you don’t want to use too many pins, get some welding wire. It’s pretty inexpensive, and you can block your shawls quite quickly with it. You’ll get smooth edges, and if you’ve crocheted or knitted them in a semicircle, you’ll also get an even curve; wires are also perfect for creating a nice scalloped edge. You simply “thread” the piece onto the wires, secure the wires with a few pins, and then just let it dry. I knit a lot with Bobbel yarn or lace yarn; I’ve never used starch.

LG Steffi 

I also use these foam puzzle mats and looooooads of pins :-)
The puzzle mats also help to block the shawl symmetrically (you can align it with the squares).

Scarves, smaller shawls, or simple shawls are sometimes just “steamed.” Either place a dry dish towel on top and steam-iron them, or use a wet dish towel and iron them normally.