How to Care for Your Handmade Crochet Pieces

One of the most common questions I get asked at craft fairs — usually while someone is holding one of my bookmarks and looking at it very carefully — is some version of “will it last?” It’s a fair question! Handmade things deserve a proper answer. So here’s everything you need to know about looking after your crochet pieces from Blue Belle Charms, so they stay as beautiful as the day they arrived.

What my pieces are made from

Every item at Blue Belle Charms is crocheted using 100% acrylic Women’s Institute yarn. I chose acrylic specifically because it’s incredibly durable, holds its colour really well, and is completely vegan-friendly. It’s also wonderfully practical, which matters a lot when you’re making things that people are going to actually use every day rather than just look at.

The good news is that acrylic yarn is one of the most forgiving fibres to care for. It won’t felt, it won’t shrink in the wash the way wool does, and it doesn’t need specialist cleaning products. A little care goes a long way, and “a little care” is genuinely quite simple.

Washing your crochet pieces

For most pieces (bookmarks, book covers, coasters, pouches, and scrunchies), hand washing is the gentlest and best option. Here’s what I recommend:

• Use cool or lukewarm water, not hot. Acrylic is heat-sensitive, and hot water can cause it to warp or lose its shape over time.
• Add a small amount of mild liquid detergent. Regular washing-up liquid works perfectly well; you don’t need anything fancy.
• Gently squeeze the piece through the water rather than rubbing or wringing it. Treat it kindly!
• Rinse thoroughly in cool water until the water runs clear.
• Press out the excess water gently, don’t wring or twist.
• Lay flat to dry on a clean towel, away from direct sunlight or direct heat sources.

The key things to avoid are hot water, tumble drying, and wringing. All three can distort the shape of a crocheted piece. Cool water and a flat dry will keep everything looking exactly as it should.

Can you put crochet in the washing machine?

Technically, yes, acrylic yarn can survive a gentle machine wash on a cool cycle in a mesh laundry bag. But hand washing is always my recommendation for handmade pieces because it’s much gentler on the structure, and it means your piece will stay in better condition for longer. If you do machine wash, use the delicates or hand wash setting, 30°C maximum, and always pop the piece in a mesh bag first to protect it.

For bookmarks specifically, I’d strongly recommend hand washing. The structured shape is part of what makes them work properly, and hand washing keeps that intact much better than a machine does.

Drying and storing your pieces

Always dry flat where possible. Hanging a crochet piece to dry can cause it to stretch out of shape as the water weight pulls it down. A clean, dry towel on a flat surface is ideal — reshape the piece gently while it’s damp if needed, and leave it to dry completely before using or storing it.

For storage, keep pieces somewhere clean and dry away from direct sunlight. Prolonged sun exposure can fade even the most colourfast yarn over time. A drawer, a box, or a fabric bag all work well. For book covers in particular, storing them flat or rolled loosely rather than folded will help them keep their shape.

Car mirror charms

Car mirror charms are a little different to the rest of the collection because they live in your car rather than on a shelf or in a drawer. They don’t need regular washing — just an occasional gentle spot clean with a barely damp cloth if they pick up any dust. Avoid getting them very wet, and they’ll be perfectly happy hanging there for a long time.

Scrunchies

Scrunchies probably get the most use of anything in the collection, and the good news is they’re also the most robust. Hand wash in cool water, press out gently, and lay flat or hang loosely to dry. The elastic inside is a standard hair elastic and will last well with normal use — just avoid very hot water, which can degrade the elastic over time.

A quick summary

• Cool or lukewarm water only, and never hot
• Hand wash where possible, gentle machine wash (30°C, mesh bag) if needed
• Press gently, don’t wring or twist
• Lay flat to dry away from direct heat and sunlight
• Store flat, dry, and away from prolonged sun exposure
• Spot clean the car mirror charms rather than washing