Yarn crafters...HELP!

[*Z*]

My husband had an afghan that his Grandmother crocheted for him YEARS ago. She has been dead for about 36 years now. ANYWAY, it got partially burned in the fire that destroyed his parents' house on Thursday. Someone found it and he wants to try to clean it and fix it. I don't know what to do to fix it. It has about a fist sized hole burned in part of it and a few smaller holes and it is got all kinds of soot on it with a horrible burned smell in it. I know I will never be able to match the colors from that long ago but I would like to know if it's even possible to make it ok again. His Grandma had crocheted each of the kids (6 of them) an afghan but his was the only one left. He is pretty upset over it. Does anyone know what I can do??

edited b/c I just realized I spelled "yarn" wrong!

[Molly53]

*Z* wrote:
My husband had an afghan that his Grandmother crocheted for him YEARS ago. She has been dead for about 36 years now. ANYWAY, it got partially burned in the fire that destroyed his parents' house on Thursday. Someone found it and he wants to try to clean it and fix it. I don't know what to do to fix it. It has about a fist sized hole burned in part of it and a few smaller holes and it is got all kinds of soot on it with a horrible burned smell in it. I know I will never be able to match the colors from that long ago but I would like to know if it's even possible to make it ok again. His Grandma had crocheted each of the kids (6 of them) an afghan but his was the only one left. He is pretty upset over it. Does anyone know what I can do??

I think the smell/soot can be taken care of in the washing machine/Tide or Gain, but the other depends upon where the damage is located.

If it's an easy pattern, it might just be easier to unravel the yarn and discard the scorched bits, then re-crocheting the whole thing.

[*Z*]

It is an easy pattern-it's just wide stripes in a single (I think) crochet. I'm a little concerned about handling it before washing it but I can't wash it with the holes in it. I would hate to put all the effort into it if I can't get the smell out. Any tips on removing burned house smell? My SIL has been trying to wash a little bit of clothing that survived and she has tried everything to get the smell out and it just won't come out!
Maybe I could hand wash it to try to get some of the soot and smell out and not unravel it until I wanted to.
Hmmmmm
I will have to run this idea by him and see what he thinks.
Thanks!

[Molly53]

http://extension.missouri.edu/p/GH145

If I were in your shoes, I might try using Homemade 'Oxygen' Cleaner


HTH

[*Z*]

Thanks! I'm not sure when I will have time to try it but I will be trying it.

[*Z*]

OK I am on round 3 of using the homemade oxygen cleaner and there is STILL brown/black crap washing out of this poor afghan!! I put some dish soap in it this time and really agitated it. (It's in a plastic tote by the sink I was afraid the soot would wreak my washer) I don't think it's going to unravel when I eventually DO put it in the washer but I don't know how long it's going to take to get most of the crap out of it. I managed to peel/pick most of the burned on other crap off but where it is singed I don't think I going to be able to do anything with it. I'm not even sure I will be able to undo to re crochet it. I might just end up getting it as clean as I can and then folding it so you can't see the burned parts.
It's just a simple double crochet but she must have used a really small hook. If I do manage to get it un done it's going to take some trying to get the same gauge.

[Molly53]

That's too bad.

Are the yarn colors reproducible? Would it be possible to make him a new one that looks like the damaged one?

[*Z*]

I don't know if I could ever find the colors. It is red and brown and green and yellow. He knows that it's not looking too good to fix it but I'm going to give it my best shot. The afghan is over 30 years old so I am doubting I could find yarn like it. They are 70's citrus-y colors.
I think I may have gotten enough soot out of it to try putting in the washer on gentle but I am going to wait until all of the other laundry is done first. I can always wash cleaning rags after if i need to clean out the washer.

[Catnip46]

I found this link which might help: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070423080123AAQUJdO

Here is one ans. from that site.
I am a firefighter, trust me this works on all my uniforms.

Use either one cup of Vinegar or two cups of Vodka in your wash cycle, along with your usual detergent.

There are products that are made to remove the smell, I've tried them all, most of them leave your clothes smelling like air freshener and smoke. The above was discovered by an accident. I'd stained one of my shirts and washed it with Vodka and wow the smoke was gone (so was the stain)!!