How to soften a cotton yarn?

Hi there! I've used this method in the past and it helped considerably! https://oureverydaylife.com/how-to-restore-stiff-cotton-sweaters-9763429.html

Hi Manuela, try this out, You can use cheap hair conditioner to soak your completed project in warm water for about an hour. Then, give it a quick rinse in cool water and lay flat to dry. The conditioner deposits a thick coating or a resin that smoothes the fibres and fills in the spaces that make them feel scratchy and rough.

Here's a link with some ideas:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-7656055/Heres-perfect-trick-make-sweater-smooth-warm.html

Here you go:

https://www.ehow.com/how_10021619_make-cotton-sweaters-soft-again.html

Hello. Maybe washing the project after it’s completed might make it I scratchy and softer. What a lovely gift.

You could wash it when it is complete