Two storage rules apply to crochet: fold it, and keep it clean. Everything else is a refinement of those two principles.

Fold, Do Not Hang

Hanging a crochet garment allows gravity to work on the interlocked loops continuously. Over time — weeks, months on a hanger — a dress will stretch along its vertical axis. The shoulder seams will drop. The hem will lengthen unevenly. The distortion is gradual and often unnoticed until the piece is worn and the fit is wrong.

Folded flat, a crochet garment has no directional load on the loops. The fabric rests under its own weight evenly. Fold along the natural lines of the piece — bodice folded over skirt, sleeves folded inward — and store flat in a drawer or on a shelf. Not stacked under heavy items.

Clean Before Storing

Store crochet pieces clean. Perspiration, body oils, and food residue left in the fibre will oxidise over time and create permanent staining. If a piece has been worn and is not visibly soiled, a light hand-wash or a spot clean at any contact points before long-term storage is sufficient. Do not store anything that has been worn heavily without washing it first.

  • Avoid direct sunlight — even folded, prolonged sun exposure through a window will fade cotton yarn.

  • Use breathable storage — a cotton bag, a linen shelf liner, or a clean drawer. Plastic bags trap moisture and create the conditions for mildew in natural fibre.

  • For long-term storage between seasons, add a sachet of cedar or lavender — not a moth ball. Moth balls leave a persistent chemical smell that cotton absorbs readily.