I do lots of, "free-form" crocheting to relax.  When you buy an item that someone has crocheted, be sure to ask them...

1.  What type of yarns they have used: wool/Wintuk/angora etc.

2.  How they suggest you wash the item when necessary.

3.  How they suggest you dry the item after washing.

4.  When you get your hand-crocheted item, make sure the, "ends" are securely worked into the item.  For the most part... or maybe in my opinion... the front & back shouldn't look too much different. 

5.  If/when and end does work out on it's own... due to wearing, just take a toothpick or small hook and carefully pull the loose yarn through to hide it.  Don't cut!

6.  If you get an item that really comes apart... ask the maker to fix it.  There is, "normal wear" if kept up and there is disaster from being made and or treated badly.  It's usually the latter... because people don't know how to take care of hand-made items.

7. Like:  Don't hang it!  You can clip it or drape it but if you hang it, the item will sag and look bad after awhile and it's your fault, not the maker's.

Ok... any questions?

I'd be more than glad to help if I can.

Buy that wearable art!

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