Keeping Little Ones Safe: A Crochet Maker’s Guide to UKCA toy and product testing

UKCA Testing & Labelling for Crochet Makers (England, 2025)

Grab a brew and your blanket because we are going to have a look at the complex world of UKCA testing and labelling.

I have written this for makers who may be new to making and selling, and for those who care about what they sell and want to ensure their work is safe, compliant and made with integrity.

Before we start I want you to keep this in mind... You don’t know what you don’t know!

There’s no shame in learning. None of this is taught when you first pick up a hook, and many amigurumi UK pattern books never mention product compliance and testing.

So let’s take it step by step.

 

Who Needs to Complete UKCA Testing?

If you are a maker or a seller of crochet items that could be classed as toys, you are legally responsible for making sure they meet The Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011 and carry the UKCA mark (Conformity Assessment for Great Britain).

It doesn’t matter where you sell: a craft fair, local market, Etsy, your own website, church hall or pop-up shop. If money changes hands, it becomes a legal sale and you’re promising the item is safe and compliant.

 

Roles & Responsibilities

This section will tell you the current 2025 regulations depending on your title.

1. Maker / Manufacturer: This is you if you crochet and sell the item within Great Britain.

You must:

Ensure the product design and materials are safe

Complete and document testing (EN 71 series)

Keep a Technical File and Declaration of Conformity (DoC)

Add the correct UKCA mark and required labels

 

2. Importer:  This is you if you import crochet toys from outside the UK.

You must:

Ensure that the original maker has done UKCA/CE testing

The paperwork and mark are valid for Great Britain

Hold a copy of their Declaration of Conformity

 

3. Retailer / Distributor: This is you if you didn’t make the item but you sell it

You must:

Only sell items that are correctly labelled and appear safe

Keep supplier and batch records

Be ready to provide paperwork if requested by Trading Standards

 

It is important to know that importing toys from countries without equivalent safety regulations means they’re very unlikely to meet UKCA standards which could put children at risk and your business.

You have two options for testing:

1. Self-certify by doing your own testing following the EN 71 standards
2. Use a third-party testing laboratory to certify your products

 

Enforcement In England 

The people enforcing toy safety and compliance are calling Trading Standards and the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). They can inspect your products, request your technical files and remove unsafe items from sale.

Their purpose is not to “catch” handmade makers, but to keep the public safe and help small businesses stay compliant. When I was visited by Trading Standards during a pop-up in Darlington, they checked my paperwork, gave advice, and passed my business as safe. It was actually reassuring and supportive.

 

What Counts as a “Toy”? 

Under The Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011, a toy is defined as: anything designed or intended (even partly) for play by children under 14.

Even if you label something as a “fidget,” “comfort plush” or “mindful friend,” if a child is likely to play with it, it’s legally a toy.

The deciding factor is how a reasonable person expects the item to be used.

For example:

A plain crochet blanket = not a toy 

A blanket with a bear face or limbs = toy

A pillow that is plain = not a toy

A pillow that looks like an animal = toy

If in doubt, treat it as a toy, it’s the safest legal route.

 

What Doesn’t Count as a Toy

Items that are purely decorative or clearly intended for adults are not toys.

This includes:

Wall art and home décor

Garments

Blankets and cushions used functionally 

Items marketed only for adults (for example “adult mindfulness fidgets” when they’re not accessible to children) 

Adding a “not a toy” label does not exempt a product from testing. If it looks or feels like a toy, Trading Standards will treat it as one. 

 

To stay compliant:

Consider how and where it’s sold

Label clearly (“Mindfulness Aid Not suitable for children”)

Avoid toy-like features (faces, bright primary colours, rattles) if it’s not intended for play.

 

What are the required tests (EN 71 Standards)

Crochet toys must meet the following EN 71 standards:

EN 71-1: Mechanical & Physical Properties

This is the test for small parts, seam strength and choking hazards

EN 71-2: Flammability

This ensures the materials won’t ignite too quickly

EN 71-3: Migration of Certain Elements (Chemicals)

This is the test for toxic chemicals or dyes in yarns, stuffing or decorations. If your product includes coatings, glues or fragrances then EN 71-9/10/11 may also apply.

 

Put into Practice: How to Test an Amigurumi Octopus

This is not an exhaustive list but a good example of what to look for, there are tesing kits available online which will show you exactly what weights to use and how to complete the tests fully.

Identify Your Materials

List every material used (e.g. King Cole Yummy yarn, polyester stuffing, safety eyes, embroidery thread).
Record where each material was made and the supplier’s details (for example, King Cole Ltd, Keighley, UK).
Check the packaging for EN 71-3 certification if not available, the item must be tested in a lab.
Keep all packaging and receipts as evidence.

Step 2 – Check Small Parts

Pull firmly on safety eyes, sewn or glued features they must not come loose.
Use the weight test supplied in your testing kit to check strength and choking risk.
If anything detaches, redesign or reinforce before retesting.

Step 3 – Test Seams and Stuffing (EN 71-1)

Gently but firmly pull seams and limbs (or tentacles and head in this case!) to test strength.
Tug the stuffing area to make sure nothing leaks or pulls apart.
Record your results with photos.

Step 4 – Flammability Test (EN 71-2)

Wash and dry your toy before testing.
Follow the test method in your pack to measure how quickly it burns, yes, this part feels brutal, but it’s vital for safety.
Keep detailed notes of your process and results.

Step 5 – Chemical Safety (EN 71-3)

Check your yarn and materials for MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets).
Avoid unknown or unlabelled yarns and dyes.
Keep printed copies of your safety data and correspondence with suppliers.

Step 6 – Labelling

Add a UKCA mark
Include the following on a swing tag or leaflet:

• Maker’s name or trading name

• UK contact address

• Product or batch code

• Safety warnings (e.g. “Not suitable for under 36 months small parts”)

• Care instructions (wash at 30 or handwash only)

Until 31 December 2027, the UKCA marking may be affixed to a label affixed to the toy or a document accompanying the toy, rather than being affixed to the toy itself.

Step 7 – Keep Records

Create a Technical File containing:

• Photos of the finished item

• Materials list

• Test results

• Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
  Store this file safely for 10 years.

Step 8 – Final Review

Double-check that all steps are complete.
Confirm that your toy meets The Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011.

DONE!

This might feel overwhelming at first, but every test is part of your growth as a maker. You’re building trust, learning skills that most people never even hear about, and protecting the people who love your creations. That’s something truly worth being proud of.

By working through this example, you can see how even a simple toy needs careful consideration. 

 

Crochet Garments, Blankets & Accessories

These items are generally not toys.

They fall under textile labelling and product safety regulations, specifically:

You must state the fibre composition (e.g. “100% acrylic”).

Provide care instructions in English.

Ensure products are safe for intended use (for example no loose cords on children’s hats).

Add your trading name and address on a tag or packaging.

 

Compliance with UKCA testing and labelling might seem daunting, but once you understand the process it becomes a natural part of responsible selling. Doing this correctly shows you care, not just about your craft, but about the people who buy and love your work. In the world of handmade, integrity, safety and pride matter just as much as creativity.

 

If you’d like help, advice or even just a friendly chat about toy-testing feel free to get in touch. I am considering offering testing as a service.