Blocking - or - Reshaping Cashmere

I first learned about "blocking" sweaters from Martha Stewart (hey, a girl has to do something to wile away the hours while on bedrest - and Martha was on TV conveniently after breakfast, but before anything really exciting happened in my day). The basic idea is, that you measure your sweater before you wash it (so you know what size it should be after it is dry). Then, after delicately handwashing, you lay it out on a flat surface and reshape it. That way it will still fit you and you don't have to donate it to someone like me who will just cut it up...but I digress.

Here are the basic instructions from Martha's website: http://www.marthastewart.com/article/blocking-and-folding-a-sweater

[I am posting this here, because it works great for reshaping my scarves after they are washed - and making them back into rectangles!]

Hand-washing is the gentlest of cleaning methods and, when done correctly, can add years to the life of even the most delicate fabrics. Sweaters are best when hand-washed, though it is important to be especially careful with wool and cashmere, because the fibers weaken and stretch out of shape. To prevent this, handle wet garments carefully, never wring or twist, and try Martha's blocking method to restore them to their original shape after washing.

1. Before washing, measure the sweater in the following four places: from shoulder to shoulder, down the length of the sleeve, across the bustline, and across the bottom edge. Write down the measurements so you can refer to them later.
2. Swish the sweater in cool, sudsy water, gently squeezing the suds through. Let soak for about three minutes, then drain the water. Run clean water into the basin to rinse the sweater until the water runs clear. Carefully press out excess water from the sweater.
3. Taking care to support the weight of the wet garment, lift the sweater onto a dry towel. Pat the sweater into shape, and roll it up in the towel, pressing to remove excess water. If the sweater is heavy, you may want to repeat this step with a second towel.
4. Lay the sweater on a dry towel, and reshape, referring to the measurements you recorded earlier. If a sleeve is too long, carefully pull it out widthwise to adjust the length. Allow the sweater to air-dry on the towel for several hours.
5. Once the sweater is dry, fold it carefully by laying it face-down, folding one sleeve straight across toward the opposite shoulder, then the other sleeve. Fold one side in so the corner of the sleeve is at the center of the sweater, then repeat with the other side. Fold the bottom up once. Never hang a sweater, as it will stretch out of shape.