Save your Indulge Treasures

Save Your Treasures

The perfect pattern came in to view, a design that spoke to your heart. You have worked hard to earn the money, scoured the craft and yarn stores, or perhaps the internet to find the perfect yarn. You have worked long past tired to finish one more row, night after night. Finally, your project is complete.  A moment of pure pride.

Then, the time comes, Your beautiful creation is soiled. 

Load it up, and head to the dry cleaner?  Toss it in the washing machine?  Soak it in a pan of water?  What is the best option?

Each design, Each yarn will have special care needs.

For those precious garments, take the time to be sure you are doing right by your hard work.

Read your yarn label.  Didn't keep one?  Look it up. if the yarn is washable, then you won't need to go to the drycleaners with it.  But perhaps you don't want to toss it in the washer with your jeans or towels.

Here is my suggestion for all Machine Washable Yarn projects.

Place the item into a mesh bag, closing the top of the bag. Set your water temperature to cold, and the machine to the delicate cycle.  Depending on the type of soil, you may use a detergent like Woolite, or perhaps something like Ivory Flakes.  I prefer to use 1/2 cup of baking soda.  It removes most soils, and odors. it adds a softening agent to the water, so there is no need to deal with the coating of fabric softeners and perfumes found in the commercial products.

Don't have a mesh bag?  

I have a crochet pattern for one. 

And, it is #Forever~FREE here on my Blog. 

You may purchase a printer friendly PDF of this pattern here 

Treasures Launder Bag

Supplies needed:

1 ball Aunt Lydia's Baker's Cotton.

5.0mm crochet hook (US size 8, H)

Stitch Marker (a safety pin is a good alternative if you have misplaced your markers)

scissors

tapestry needle for weaving in the ends.

Before you begin the bag, make 2 chains of 108 sts. Set these aside to use as your drawstrings. ( Now you can relax, and work until you run out of yarn.)

To Begin:

1)  Ch 4, tr in the 4th ch from the hook, *ch 3, tr in the joint of the previous loop top.  Repeat from the * until you have 10 loops total. ( this will provide for a bag approximately 12 inches wide, and 14 inches tall. If you want to adjust, Now is the time to do it, just remember, you will need another ball of yarn if you add more loops to your foundation.) 

2)  sc in the Foundation loop you just finished, *ch 3, sc in same loop, ch 3, sc in next loop. (Place marker in first ch 3 loop made.) Repeat from star around, working both sides of the foundation eyelets. Do not join, Do not turn,

3. Work (sc, ch 3, sc) in marked loop, *ch 3, sk the next ch sp, (sc, ch 3, sc) in the next loop. Repeat from * working spiral fashion, moving marker up with each round, until you do not have enough yarn to complete another round. I had less than a yard of yarn left.

Finishing:

Using one of the drawstrings you set aside, weave each end through the small ch 3 loops across the top. when you have both ends of the first chain pulled through evenly, tie together in a knot as close to the end of the chains as possible.  Repeat with the other chain, starting on the opposite side of the bag. Be sure you catch all the loops for a good closure.  Tie the two ends into a knot.  Your knots should be directly across from each other.