Everyday washing
- Stuffed pieces — keychains, plushies — spot clean only. A damp cloth and a drop of mild soap does it.
- Flat pieces — coasters, pot cozies — hand wash cold, or machine wash inside a laundry bag on a gentle cycle.
- Never wring anything. Press the water out between two towels instead.
- Dry flat and out of direct sun. Reshape by hand while it is still damp.
Keeping the shape
Amigurumi loses its shape when the stuffing shifts, not when the yarn stretches. If a plushie starts looking lumpy, squeeze and roll it firmly between your palms for a minute and it will come back.
For the desk basket, stuff it with a rolled towel while it dries so the round holds. Coasters that curl at the rim can be pressed flat under a heavy book overnight.
Colour
- Hand-dyed yarn — the pink heart, for instance — can bleed if soaked. Do not soak it.
- Sage and other plant-toned greens soften about half a shade in strong sunlight over a year. This is normal and, most people find, rather nice.
- Never bleach anything. It will destroy both the colour and the fibre.
Crochet flowers
Never water them, obviously, but also never wash them — the wire cores will rust. Dust with a hairdryer on its coolest setting from about thirty centimetres away.
Petals that have flattened in transit can be reshaped between your fingers. The stems are wire, so bend them freely; they will hold whatever angle you leave them at.
Pilling and stray fuzz
Cotton pills far less than acrylic, but a well-loved keychain will fuzz slightly where it rubs against a bag. Trim the fuzz with small scissors — do not pull it, as that drags the stitch loose.
Something gone properly wrong? Send us a photo. We repair our own pieces for free in the first year, including re-stuffing and re-stitching.
Still not clear?
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