How to Stop Crochet Pieces From Stretching

Hand-crocheted items take time and care to create. Whether you're crocheting something for yourself or someone else, you want the end product to show the time and thought put into the project. Caring for a crocheted piece is just as important as the crochet process itself. When washed improperly, crocheted items have a tendency to stretch. This can result in a misshapen garment or decoration. Proper washing techniques and supplies help you maintain the shape of a crocheted piece, while keeping it clean and fresh.

Bucket
1 tsp. mild laundry soap
Towels
Sweater drying rack
Rust-proof pins
Plastic storage containers

Instructions

- 1
  Fill a bucket with 1 gallon of tepid water. Stir in 1 tsp. mild laundry detergent.
- 2
  Submerge the crochet piece in the soapy water. Hold the crochet piece from underneath while keeping it submerged in the water. This helps support the weight of the wet piece and prevents it from being stretched during the cleaning process. Gently squeeze the item to work the soap into the yarn.
- 3
  Lift the crochet piece out of the soapy water. Squeeze it lightly to get rid of some of the excess moisture. Fill the bucket with cool water and place the crochet item back into the bucket. Gently squeeze and move the crochet item around in the water to rinse out the soap. Repeat this step with fresh buckets of water until all the soap has been removed.
- 4
  
  Absorbent towels help dry your crocheted garment.
  
  Lay the item flat on a large, clean towel. Roll the towel up and press against it with your hands to absorb water out of the crochet item. Repeat this with dry towels until you've removed as much moisture as possible from the item.
- 5
  Place the item on a sweater drying rack that allows air to circulate under and over the crochet piece as it dries. Manipulate the crochet piece so it's lying flat, in the shape in which you want it to dry. Secure the item in place with rust-proof pins, then allow it to air dry completely.
- 6
  Fold and store the crochet piece in a plastic storage bin.

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