How to Care for Your Crochet Items: Washing, Blocking and Storage Guide

You've spent hours crafting a beautiful crochet project — the last thing you want is to wash it wrong and have it come out unrecognisable. Proper care for crochet items is simpler than it sounds once you know the basics, and it can genuinely transform the finished look of your work. Here's everything you need to know.

Washing Your Crochet

The most important rule: always check the yarn label. The care symbols on the label tell you exactly how the fibre can be washed. Acrylic yarns are usually machine washable on a gentle cycle — a huge practical advantage. Wool requires much more care; most standard wool felts badly in a hot wash or with too much agitation. Hand washing in cool water with a small amount of wool wash (like Eucalan or Soak) is usually the safest approach.

For hand washing, submerge the item gently, squeeze softly (never wring), and rinse in water of the same temperature to avoid shocking the fibres. Press excess water out by rolling in a clean towel.

Blocking: The Transformative Step Most Beginners Skip

Blocking is the process of wetting or steaming your finished piece and pinning it to the correct dimensions while it dries. It sounds optional but it's genuinely transformative — stitches even out, lace opens up beautifully, and seams lie flat. If you've ever wondered why your finished item doesn't look quite like the pattern photo, blocking is often the answer.

For natural fibres (wool, cotton, alpaca), wet blocking works best. Soak the piece, press out water, pin to foam mats at the correct measurements, and leave to dry. For acrylic, steam blocking (hovering a steam iron above the piece — not touching it) works well and can permanently set the shape.

Storing Finished Crochet

Store finished crochet items clean, dry, and out of direct sunlight (which fades colour over time). For woolens, consider cedar blocks or lavender sachets to deter moths. Fold rather than hang knitwear and crochet garments — hanging stretches them out of shape under their own weight.

For works in progress, project bags or zip-lock bags keep your yarn clean and your progress protected. If a project is going to be stored for a long time unfinished, take a photo of your last row and note your stitch count so you can pick it back up easily.

Taking proper care of your projects means they'll last for years. Explore our pattern collection and start your next heirloom-quality make.