Yarn stories
How to wash a crochet bag made with t-shirt yarn
By hand, in cold or lukewarm water, without wringing it, dried flat: how to wash and store a t-shirt yarn bag so that it stays beautiful for a long time.
SIVICA · intrecci
A t-shirt yarn bag doesn't need much looking after: most of the time it's enough to deal with a stain as soon as you see it. When it really needs a wash, there's just one rule: treat it like a delicate jumper.
First of all: what it's made of
T-shirt yarn isn't all the same: some is cotton, some is a blend with a little elastane or other fibres. If the bag is one of mine and you'd like to know what yours is made of, just ask me. And if it has metal parts, like a chain or a clasp frame, bear that in mind: metal doesn't like water.
Stains
- Dab, don't rub. With a damp cloth, straight away: rubbing pushes the dirt into the stitches and the jersey starts to pill.
- For stubborn marks, a drop of mild soap dissolved in water, then a clean, barely damp cloth to take the soap off.
Washing by hand
- Empty the bag. Take off any metal parts if they come off; if they don't, it's better to stick to cleaning stains.
- Fill a basin with cold or barely lukewarm water, no more than 30 degrees, and a detergent for delicates.
- Put the bag in for a few minutes and move it gently with your hands, without rubbing.
- Rinse in clean water at the same temperature until there are no more bubbles.
- Don't wring or twist it. Press it between your hands, then roll it up in a dry towel and press again: the towel soaks up the water.
What about the washing machine?
Some t-shirt yarns, according to their labels, can take a delicate cycle in the machine. But a tightly worked bag is thick, soaks up a lot of water and can lose its shape in the spin. If you can, wash it by hand.
Drying
- Flat, on a dry towel, in the shade and away from radiators and stoves. Direct sun can fade the colours.
- Reshape it while it's damp: fill it with white paper (not newspaper, which can run) or a rolled-up towel, and set the rim and handles straight.
- No tumble dryer, and a little patience: a tightly worked bag can take more than a day to dry completely.
- No iron on the stitches: it would flatten the fabric.
When you're not using it
- Fill it with tissue paper or a cloth bag, so it keeps its shape.
- Store it in a cotton bag or a box, away from dust and light. Better not to seal it in plastic, which traps damp.
- Don't leave it hanging by the handles for months: with its own weight, over time, the jersey stretches.
That's it: your bag is ready to go out again. If you're looking for the next one, here are the ready-made bags.
