Crochet Tips--Materials You'll Need and How to Wash and Shape Crocheted Items

To make fine crocheted edgings, doilies, tablecloths, runners, bedspreads, window or wall hangings or curtains, you will need:

• steel crochet hooks
• mercerized cotton

Mercerized cotton (pearl) is treated to make cotton thread stronger and to give it a lustrous appearance. This treatment also helps the cotton to resist mildew. As well, mercerized cotton is particularly suited for fine crocheting because it has an inherent stiffness which helps finished pieces to hold their shape.

How you treat your fancy work can make a big difference to overall appearance and can add years of life to any piece.

Washing your Doilies

• Never launder crocheted items in your washing machine
• Wash by hand and avoid using hot water because the cotton will shrink
• If you want to tighten your work (if you feel your tension was on the loose side), wash in lukewarm water to shrink work

• Squeeze gently and place your crocheted pieces on a towel

Pulling out Instructions for Your Crocheted Pieces

Spread pieces out with your fingers, pulling gently, working with your hands to shape. Keep spreading and working out toward the edges so that pieces assume same size as prior to washing. This step is important and will transform the look of any crocheted piece. By spreading and gently pulling, you almost give your work an ironed look. The stiffness of the cotton will help the crocheted items to retain shape.

Some people opt for a doily board. This can be made from a piece of styrofoam and you follow the same procedure, then pin your work on the board to dry.

Drying Instructions for Doilies and Crocheted Items

Never place items in dryer. Always allow crocheted items to air dry. Any heat would cause shrinking and crochet would lose the necessary stiffness needed for the finished appearance.

If desired, you can press your work with a warm iron but be careful when doing so to avoid scorching.

Some people opt to starch their crocheted items. This can be done after pieces are washed. Add some starch to water and stir (following starching instructions), then dip crocheted items in the mixture. Continue with pulling out and drying instructions.

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