Materials & Care
How to care for your bag
I made your bag to be used, not displayed. That said, a little care goes a long way, and it's honestly not complicated. I've been washing my own test pieces for over a year and they still look exactly as they did on day one.
The main rule: cool water, gentle soap, flat drying. That is really it. Everything else below is just detail.
Care Instructions
Daily use
Your bag is built for real life. Take it to the market, throw it over your shoulder, fill it with books. That's what it's for. The cotton yarn is surprisingly tough. Just avoid prolonged direct sunlight, which can fade the colours over time.
Washing
Hand wash only, in cool water with a gentle liquid soap. No scrubbing, just gently squeeze the water through the yarn. For a stubborn stain, spot-clean with a soft cloth and a tiny drop of soap. Never machine wash. The agitation loosens the crochet structure.
Drying
Reshape the bag while it's still damp and lay it flat on a clean towel. Don't hang it to dry. Wet yarn stretches under its own weight and the bag loses its shape. Keep it away from direct heat and radiators. Most bags dry fully within 24 hours.
Storage
Store the bag stuffed lightly with tissue paper so it keeps its shape. Keep it somewhere cool and dry, out of direct sunlight. For long-term storage, a cotton dust bag works well. Avoid plastic, which traps moisture.
Materials
What your bag is made of
Cotton yarn
Most bags are 100% mercerised cotton: smooth, colourfast, and easy to clean. Cotton handles daily use extremely well and softens slightly with age.
Wool yarn
Some seasonal designs use wool or a wool blend for a warmer, more textured feel. Wool needs extra gentle care: cool water only, and reshape immediately after washing.
Nubuk leather handles
A few designs have nubuk leather handles. Wipe them with a barely damp cloth. Condition occasionally with a leather balm. Never saturate leather with water.
Leather Handles
Caring for leather handles
Leather handles are attached with reinforced stitching and made to last for years. Wipe them with a barely damp cloth if they get dirty.
Once or twice a year, apply a small amount of leather conditioner to keep them supple. Avoid getting the leather very wet. If it does get soaked, let it dry naturally away from heat, then condition once dry.
Quick Reference
Do
- ✓Hand wash in cool water
- ✓Use a gentle liquid soap
- ✓Reshape while damp
- ✓Lay flat to dry
- ✓Stuff with tissue for storage
- ✓Spot-clean small marks promptly
Don't
- ×Machine wash or tumble dry
- ×Wring or scrub the yarn
- ×Hang to dry when wet
- ×Store in plastic
- ×Leave in direct sunlight for long
- ×Iron directly on the crochet
More on how these bags are made
Read the blog →