Blocking tams

Tams are a wonderful hat style that can incorporate anything from lace to Fair Isle. When you have finished knitting your tam, you will want to block it in a way that preserves the unique shape of the hat. The best way to do this is to use a dinner plate to achieve the appropriate circumference for your tam. This preserves the saucer shape of the tam. Depending on the fiber you have used for your tam, you will soak it or spray it to dampen it, then insert the plate inside the hat and let it dry on a colorfast towel. Allowing it to sit for 24 hours will ensure that it is completely dry and that the shape has had time to set.