A piece of handmade crochet can last for generations if you treat it kindly. It can also stretch, pill or lose its shape in a single afternoon if you wash it like a t-shirt. The good news is that looking after it is genuinely simple once you know the few things that matter. Here's how we care for ours, and how we'd gently ask you to care for yours.
First, know what it's made of
Crochet is only as delicate as its yarn. Cotton is hardy. Wool needs a soft touch and hates heat. Silk and bamboo are lovely and a little more particular. Most of our pieces are crocheted in silk or silk blends, so when in doubt, treat yours as delicate. If it came with a care note, follow that first.
How to hand-wash crochet
Hand-washing is almost always the safest choice, and it takes about five minutes.
- Fill a basin with cool to lukewarm water. Never hot, since heat can shrink and felt natural fibres.
- Add a little mild detergent, the gentle kind meant for wool or delicates.
- Lower the piece in and swish it softly. Don't scrub, and don't twist.
- Let it soak a few minutes, then drain and rinse in fresh cool water until the water runs clear.
- Press the water out gently. Never wring or twist, which pulls the stitches out of shape.
The one safe rule
If you're ever unsure: cool water, a mild soap, and a gentle hand will not let you down. Skip the machine, skip the dryer, and never wring. That covers almost everything.
Drying, without losing the shape
This is the step that saves a piece, or ruins it.
- Lay the wet piece flat on a clean towel. Roll the towel up with the piece inside and press to soak up the water.
- Unroll it, lay it on a dry towel, and gently reshape it back to its original size while it's still damp.
- Dry it flat, away from direct sun and radiators.
- Never hang crochet to dry while it's wet. The weight of the water stretches the stitches and the whole piece will grow.
Dry it flat and reshape it damp. That single habit is the difference between a keepsake and a misshapen one.
Storing it well
- Fold it, don't hang it. Hanging slowly stretches the shoulders and body over time.
- Give it room to breathe. A drawer or a cotton bag is kinder than sealed plastic.
- For wool, tuck in a little cedar or lavender to keep moths away. Skip mothballs, the smell lingers for years.
The little everyday things
- Caught a snag? Don't pull it. Ease the loop back through to the inside with a crochet hook or a blunt needle, then smooth the stitches around it.
- A little pilling on a well-loved piece is normal. A fabric comb or a careful hand lifts it away.
- You don't need to wash crochet often. Airing it out between wears keeps it fresh, and less washing means a longer life.
Blankets and baby pieces
Blankets take exactly the same gentle approach, just in a bigger basin or a clean bathtub. Baby pieces especially deserve cool water and a fragrance-free detergent, since little skin is sensitive and those are usually the pieces people keep the longest.
Heirloom crochet by Ellie
Every piece is one of a kind, crocheted by hand in silk and natural fibres. Cared for gently, they're made to be kept, and passed on.
Explore the crochet →None of this is fussy. Cool water, a gentle hand, lay it flat, fold it away. Do that and a handmade piece will quietly outlast almost everything else in your home.