Breaking in new slings

My new sling arrived today :hooray: but it is stiff and not soft like my other one. What can I do to soften it up?
Its a linen blend too so needs to be taken to task!

Linen apparently needs quite a bit of breaking in.I think washing it helps,braiding it,sitting on it.
http://www.ehow.com/how_8443226_braid-d ... break.html
http://www.theslingstation.com/didymos-faq.html

put it under your mattress for a couple of nights, braid it, run it through some sling rings, generally give it a bit of abuse

It has now been washed, thinking that steaming it will be good too. Going to braid it and use as a swing chair.

Use it
Wash it
Iron it
Let the children play with it
Sleep with it
Sit on it
Pull it through the banisters
Braid it
Swing on it.....

Generally abuse it!