How to Steam Press a Sweater or Other Knit Garment

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

You can't iron a sweater, and there are some garments that will be ruined if you try to iron them. Here's how to get your sweater looking like new again.

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/64\/Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/64\/Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-1.jpg\/aid112995-v4-728px-Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/87\/Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/87\/Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-2.jpg\/aid112995-v4-728px-Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2c\/Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2c\/Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-3.jpg\/aid112995-v4-728px-Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/88\/Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/88\/Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-4.jpg\/aid112995-v4-728px-Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3f\/Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3f\/Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-5.jpg\/aid112995-v4-728px-Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Keep the iron still, and do not slide it around the way you usually do when ironing.
  6. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f4\/Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f4\/Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-6.jpg\/aid112995-v4-728px-Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  7. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b7\/Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b7\/Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-7.jpg\/aid112995-v4-728px-Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
  8. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/5d\/Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/5d\/Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-8.jpg\/aid112995-v4-728px-Steam-Press-a-Sweater-or-Other-Knit-Garment-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Do not use hangers. That will misshape the garment.
    9. Advertisement


Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • If you are pressing a garment that is finely knit, use a towel that is not terry, or the texture in the terry may leave marks on the piece.
        Thanks
      • You may need to re-dampen the towel as you work to keep the steam coming.
        Thanks
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      Advertisement

      Things You'll Need

      • Iron
      • Towel or other medium-sized cloth, preferably not terry
      • Ironing board
      • Water
      • Rumpled garment

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Knit a Scarf
      The Easiest Way to Finger Knit: A Full Beginner's Guide
      How to
      Knit Left Handed
      How to
      Knit a Headband
      How to
      Use an Iron
      How to
      Use a Clothes Steamer
      How to
      Iron Pants
      How to
      Sew a Shirt
      How to
      Iron a Suit Jacket
      How to Fold & Put Away an Ironing Board
      How to
      Get Wrinkles Out of Tulle
      How to Iron on Patches to Jackets, Jeans, T-Shirts & More
      Advertisement

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 66,578 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement