Stiffening Filet Crochet Pieces

Hi.

I’d like to crochet snowflakes for the Christmas market.
And I’d like to stiffen them so they’re really firm.

I usually use spray starch, but the result isn’t firm enough for ornaments.

What do you use to stiffen your projects? And have you had good results with it? (In terms of the crocheted piece not yellowing, etc.)

And since I’d like to sell them, the result needs to be long-lasting.

Best regards

I once heard that people used to starch items like this with sugar water.

Good luck!

Thanks for the reply.
I’ve heard about using sugar water before, too. My grandma used to do that as well.
I’m just worried that if I sell them and they get damp or wet at the customer’s place… they’ll stick together and become soft again…

Maybe you could offer some advice on this.

Hi,

try using gelatin. Just dissolve the gelatin in water according to the package instructions. Dip the piece in, stretch it out, and let it dry. I got this tip at a craft store once, and it works well. It does wash out, though.

Best regards, Rita

Rice starch works for that too; I used to always use it, on my grandma’s recommendation, whenever I wanted to stiffen something without using chemicals.

Best regards, Inge

Sugar water works well; it makes it hard as a board.
Mix sugar with a little water, then place the piece in it, let it soak up, smooth it flat to dry and leave it to dry—done.

Doesn’t the sugar water attract insects? Ants? 

For white knitted or crocheted blankets, I make a starch solution from potato flour—the thicker the mixture, the stiffer the finished piece becomes. I boil water and simply stir in the mixed starch (potato flour or cornstarch). Once it’s cooled, I dilute it with water (or leave it undiluted) and then stretch out the piece.