Blocking is an essential technique for most knitted items. Shawls and scarves with lace patterns open up and show their stuff after they're blocked, and sweaters are infinitely easier to seam when the pieces have been blocked flat to the correct measurements. Blocking can seem like a tricky proposition, but if you have the right tools, and a little know-how, it's really a snap.
The Cocoknits Knitters' Blocks Blocking Kit is just what you need.