How to Wash and Care for Handmade Crochet Items

Crochet is sturdier than people expect. The stitches are dense, the yarn is strong, and a well-made piece will outlast most of the shop-bought things in your wardrobe. The only thing it really dislikes is heat and rough handling. Here is the routine we use ourselves.

Washing cotton bags, tops and coasters

Fill a basin with cool water and a little mild detergent or baby shampoo. Submerge the piece, press gently to work the water through, and leave it for ten minutes. Rinse in clean cool water until it runs clear.

Never wring a crochet piece. Press the water out between two towels instead. Wringing stretches the stitches and the shape never fully comes back.

Coasters and scrunchies can go in the washing machine on a gentle, cold cycle inside a mesh bag. Bags and tops should always be hand washed.

Drying

Lay the piece flat on a dry towel, gently pull it back into shape, and leave it in the shade. Hanging a wet bag or top lets the weight of the water pull it longer. Direct sun fades colour, especially reds and blush pinks.

Baby blankets and toys

Blankets made from anti-pilling baby yarn can be machine washed on a cold, gentle cycle. Dry flat. Amigurumi toys are stuffed, so they should be spot cleaned with a damp cloth; if a toy really needs a wash, hand wash it and squeeze it in a towel, then let it dry fully before it goes back to the cot.

Flowers and keychains

Crochet flowers never need water, but they do collect dust. A soft makeup brush or a quick blast from a hair dryer on the cool setting is enough. If a petal gets bent, steam it for a few seconds over a kettle and reshape it with your fingers.

Storing

Fold rather than hang. Keep pieces away from damp cupboards and add a sachet of dried lavender or a cedar block if you store wool for a season. Bags keep their shape better stuffed with tissue paper.

Follow this and a Crochet by Huda piece will look the same in five years as the day it arrived. If a piece ever needs repair, message us: we can usually fix a pulled stitch or a loose handle for a small charge.