I just finished my first pray shawlIt is made out of good quality yarn, but it is not as soft as I want it to beHow do I soften it?
What kind of yarn is it? (fiber content) Acrylic yarns tend to lose softness if you dry them on high heatUnfortunately, I don't think you can get it back once that's happened:( Animal and plant fiber yarns (many of which can't be machine washed so check your yarn label) tend to really soften up and sometimes bloom (get thicker) when you soak them in warm water with a little speciality detergentYou can use a wool wash like Eucalan, or you can use Ivory dishwashing detergentJust make sure not to scrub; a little swishing around is enoughThen lay the shawl out to dry on top of a towel in a well-ventilated areaIf it's a lace shawl, you'll probably need to pin it out to shape so that it dries prettyGood luck!
One question - would you wear wool knickers? If not, why would you force your innocent infant to wear them? They ITCH!
