It's a beautiful piece of handiwork, can see why it called to you. If you find something like that in the future, and are queazy at using bleach, fill the washer with water, and pour in a cup of 20 Mule Team Borax. Swish it to get it somewhat dissolved and do it a number of times over a few hours. Then put soap in and wash it. I've saved many an article with the borax, not hard on your hands or damaging to the 'old' crochet cotton. Our son has a Tshirt made of, all things, 100% polyester, white with blue motif. Every year when he comes home, I 'whiten' it for him, with Borax and he is tickled he can wear it again. Men sometime toss everything together, this picks up the water being pulled through the washer holes, and has circles all over it. Plus it yellows terribly. He just took it home, white again.