Caring for Your Handmade Pieces: A Complete Guide to Washing and Storage

The artisans who make CHAÏA pieces invest extraordinary time and skill in each garment and bag. The most important thing you can do to honor that investment — and protect yours — is learn how to care for handmade pieces properly. This guide covers everything: washing, drying, storing, and handling minor repairs for both our crochet clothing and beaded bags.

Caring for Crochet Clothing

Washing

Hand washing is always the safest choice for hand-crocheted pieces. Use cool or lukewarm water — never hot — with a gentle detergent or dedicated wool/delicate wash. Submerge the piece, gently squeeze (do not wring or twist), and rinse thoroughly.

If you prefer machine washing, use the delicate or hand-wash cycle with cold water. Place the garment in a mesh laundry bag first. This prevents the piece from catching on other items or stretching under the agitation of the drum.

Avoid bleach entirely. Avoid fabric softeners — they can break down the fiber structure over time. For pieces that develop odors without visible dirt, airing them outside in indirect light often handles the problem without any washing required.

Drying

Never put crochet in a tumble dryer. The heat and mechanical action will distort the structure, shrink the fibers, and potentially damage the hand-knot tension that holds the piece together.

Lay flat to dry on a clean towel, reshaping the piece gently to its original dimensions while still damp. Keep away from direct sunlight during drying — UV exposure fades color and weakens natural fibers.

Hanging crochet while wet causes it to stretch under its own weight. Always flat-dry.

Storing

Fold crochet pieces loosely and store flat, ideally wrapped in acid-free tissue paper if you are storing for a season. Never store compressed — in a vacuum bag, under heavy items, or tightly packed in a drawer. The structure of crochet depends on air and dimension; compression can permanently distort the weave.

Keep away from direct sunlight and away from damp. Cedar blocks near stored crochet deter moths without the chemical smell of mothballs.

Caring for Beaded Bags

Handling

The most important rule for beaded bags: do not overfill them. The structure is designed for a specific weight and volume — your phone, keys, cards, and a lipstick. When a beaded bag is overfilled, the weight strains the seams and the bead-attachment points. Over time, this causes beads to loosen and fabric to stress.

Avoid setting beaded bags on rough surfaces. The underside of most of our bags is fabric or leather, but dragging them across textured stone or wood can snag threads and pull beads.

Cleaning

Do not submerge a beaded bag in water. The embroidery threads and bead attachments are not designed for wet cleaning. For surface dust, use a very soft, barely damp cloth and blot gently. For the interior, use a lint roller or dry brush.

If you spill something on a beaded bag, blot immediately with a clean dry cloth. Do not rub. Then let it dry completely before assessing whether further spot cleaning is needed.

Storage

Store beaded bags in their dust bag (included with every CHAÏA bag) away from direct sunlight. Keep them away from other bags that could snag on the beadwork — especially items with zippers or clasps that catch.

Do not hang beaded bags by their handles for long-term storage. The weight of the beads pulls downward, and extended hanging can distort the handle attachment points. Lay flat or store upright in a soft-sided container.

Minor Repairs

If beads loosen on a CHAÏA bag, do not panic. Most beaded pieces can be repaired by a skilled tailor or alterations specialist. If you are in Los Angeles, contact us at chaya@chaiaofficial.com and we can advise on local repair resources.

For crochet garments with pulled threads, resist the urge to cut the thread. Use a crochet hook or blunt needle to work the thread back into the structure from the inside. Most pulls can be resolved without any visible trace.

These pieces are made to last. With the right care, your CHAÏA garments and bags will look extraordinary for years — and some will become the kind of things you pass down.