Care Instructions for Amigurumi
Cleaning and caring for your handmade amigurumi does not have to be hard. Crocheting amigurumi is so much fun, but as you accumulate a whole lot of it, how in the world are you supposed to keep them clean? Gently, of course.
In this post, We will go over the basic amigurumi cleaning and care tips. We will answer the questions on the following:
- How to spot clean amigurumi?
- Can you throw your amigurumi in the wash?
- And overall, how do I make my amigurumi last?
Basic Care for Amigurumi
Spot Clean Your Amigurumi Like This [if the spot is small and is fresh]:
- soak the corner of a clean hand towel in water
- press into the stain or spot you want removed until it is a little saturated from the water.
- dab - do not wipe!
- use other areas of the hand towel and continue until the stain is gone [dampen with water, press into the stain, dab, repeat]
How to Wash Your Amigurumi the Right Way:
- the same garment bag you use for delicates, like women's underwear and bras, can be used for your amigurumi.
- if your amigurumi develops a thin layer of dust, if they are shelf-bound, wash your amigurumi on gentle cycle in a garment bag
- use an extra rinse cycle to make sure all the soap is out of the fluff
How to Dry Your Amigurumi:
- you may tumble dry your amigurumi on low if you are confident in your sewing and stitch skills.
- if not so much - get a dry towel, wrap the amigurumi in the towel and roll-press the amigurumi to squeeze out any remaining water.
- on a sunny day, leave your amigurumi outside on a clean towel out of direct sunlight. [if laundering your amigurumi is common, too much sun will fade your colors]
How to Make Your Amigurumi Last
It all starts with the pattern. If the amigurumi pattern you use is washer-friendly, here is how you can tell...
What to look for in an amigurumi pattern:
- minimal pieces to sew on
- the head connects to the body without sewing
- there are no plastic/ cardboard cutouts inside the amigurumi *if you need your amigurumi to stand or stay upright, I'll teach you techniques where you don't need these.
- there are no wires
- you are confident in your sewing of the parts that need to be sewn on
24 Patterns that follow the above criteria:
- Cult Amigurumi Cult Critter Collection [8]
- Cult Amigurumi Mermaid Critter Collection [8]
- Cult Amigurumi Multi-Headed Critter Series [8]
Materials Matter
Why I recommend 100% acrylic yarn:
- it is cheap at $4 for most 3.5oz/ 100g skeins
- the right brand has a wide range of colors [mine has 89!]
- it does not warp as it gets wet and dries
- and because acrylic is petroleum-based, it will last decades.
The deal with Poly-fil stuffing:
- this particular brand is 100% recycled polyester
- it is the most popular and budget friendly stuffing on the market
- this stuffing is known for shifting in the washer and dryer, and kneading the amigurumi back into shape afterwards is recommended.
- this brand is hypo-allergenic, which means it is 'relatively unlikely to cause an allergic reaction.' [Oxford/ Google definition]
With my limited yarn budget, and passion for amigurumi and the impact it has on the environment, this is the most eco-friendly way - that I've found - of making amigurumi last without breaking the bank.
- use washer-friendly pattern designs
- use mainly yarn and stuffing that lasts
- and use simple laundering care techniques
In this sense, you can pass your work down in your family and not feel guilty about the environment. You can have keepsakes that outlast you and bring joy to your descendants.
Please leave a comment if you enjoyed this post. Thanks for stopping by. Keep Count and Stay Creative, my friends!