Date: Fri, 28 Jul 1995 13:01:44 -0500
From: TomLaura@aol.com
To: knit@geom.umn.edu
Subject: KNIT: Whapping

This is to Nancy Lutz about another way to increase the size of her 2" too
small sweater, but I thought everyone might be interested.  I use this
technique instead of blocking.  It's called "whapping", & I learned it from a
knitting teacher & designer for Classic Elite named Tammi Mette.  After
finishing your sweater (or other item - works great on shawls apparently),
wet it thoroughly -- you can even wash it.  Remove the excess water by
wrapping in a towel for a while.  Then place the item on a table or other
flat surface & using your hands, arrange it in the shape it should have.
 Then take a wide yard stick (I use a quilter's yard stick) & "whap" the item
with the flat side of the yard stick.  Lightly at first, going in a circle
around the item so you hit each part of the item.  Slowly increase the
intensity of your whapping -- so by the end you're really WHAPPING!  This
causes the stitches to lay very flat.  After whapping, leave your item in the
same place until it is dry...  Items tend to grow somewhat when you do this &
depending on where you whap them, you can help the item grow in the direction
you need, e.g., to increase width, whap the item more on the vertical than
the horizontal.  I use this on everything I make now.  I've heard it even
works great on arans, although I haven't tried it.  Good luck!

Laura Rasmussen
TomLaura@aol.com