I received some crocheted angels and snowflakes as gifts over 20 years ago. The lady starched them with a glue mixture and that's how she always did it. So far there has been no yellowing and the stiffness is still just as good as when I received them. Just thought I'd share my two cents with everyone!
I've used watered down Elmer's glue & was satisfied with the stiffness, but it left the Elmer's glue scent. So as I was searching for an unscented glue, I came across this video. I will try Arleen's Tacky glue. Have you worked with the Mod Podge? Is it unscented? A quick way to dry is to leave it in a hot car. That works for me. Thank you kindly for your share. Looking forward to your reply.
Many years ago I was given the cutest handmade wheelchair ornament made of toothpicks that was held together with sugar glue for graduation from nursing school. It was out displayed on a high shelf. We lived in an old farmhouse and I guess it took a hungry mouse about a year to find it. (Brave little creature it must have been. We had several cats and they were excellent mousers!) In one night my ornament was almost completely nibbled apart. All the sugar glue was gone, leaving only splintered toothpicks. Because of this I wouldn't recommend using sugar compounds for either starching or gluing. Thank you for the video! Great advice!
Yes, definitely something to consider when choosing a method! Fortunately, my cats do a pretty good job keeping critters away from the house. But all it takes is one hungry animal!
I have heard many tatters and crocheters say that if you want pieces to last a LONG time, NEVER use sugar, starch or other "edible" items as a starch because even mites and other insects will chew into them and ruin them.
White glue is archival and water resistant when dry. It wont discolour, attract moisture or insects. It also holds up to repeated handling. Sugar works well BUT its hydroscopic, which means itll absorb moisture from the air, AND it can attract insects. Same can go for stiffening using a starch, which can also mould. Tbh for 3D items like baubles, pva works the best by far. AND you dont have to be too particular about proportions...you want thin enough to soak your piece. It will be waterproof when dry, and stable unlike many other options.
I've used Staysoft starch. It works super well and dried quickly. I put it in a spray bottle for yarn over a balloon. For my smaller items I poured it in a bowl squeezed out excess and formed it. Works well.
I used regular liquid starch to make corker bows for my daughter 14 yrs ago. I just popped the starch into a spray bottle and sprayed it on the ribbons. And they held their shape and stiffness. I went with liquid starch over spray because it is thicker.
Thanks for the info! I'll have to do a test someday comparing the ready made starches to see how they compare with the recipes I used for these ornaments.
I used Elmer’s glue with a touch of water. My snowflakes all have a yellowed tinge. Not liking them. My mother crocheted me an Angel for the top of Christmas tree perhaps in 1970. It is white and as beautiful as the day she gave it to me. I am frustrated with the glue option. Also tried another glue stiffening that was told to use. That is worse than Elmers. Back to the crochet hook!
I used liquid spray starch on my snowflakes last year. I heavily sprayed and then ironed them lightly thinking of shirts and curtains. My first 2 came out too flat and ironed looking and had alittle yellow cast to them but the rest were fine with alittle less heat. They didn't stay as sturdy as I'd like them to but it worked. I'll have to try one of your options next time.
70 years old here my aunt used to use a little jelly glass wrapped in saran wrap to put her angels and Easter baskets on to dry. I remember she had to prop something for the handle of the Easter baskets so 3-D crochet might be a little harder to use, but she used the sugar, she made it quite strong sugar mix she said because it needed to be very stiff. My mother always messed up cornstarch because we starched our sheets in those days. I’ve used both of those methods and like them equally well salt are usually hung in a jar of the mixture and allow the crystals to grow then instead of picking the crystals off, you carefully pin it out, and a very sparkly snowflake the Aline’s was my go to starch back in the 80s for ghost. I just simply blew up a balloon tied gauze or fabric with a ballon in the center. And draped it over a dish liquid bottle covered in saran wrap you have to stick some saran wrap in for the arms or sleeves. This works well for both. ghost or angels. It was my favorite one to use when I lived in a humid rainy area. We moved a lot, and I found that when I put the ornaments away, putting them in a box with foam peanuts it kept the three dimensional objects, imperfect shape understand my husband was in the Air Force and we moved all the time so this was important for me there are no real peanuts in this type of Styrofoam. It was just what they called it and those days.
I love hearing about all the crafts you've done! I starched a doily into a bowl using the sugar starch method for the same reason as your aunt, it's so strong! The ghosts sound so fun. I bet it was challenging moving a lot, but that's great you were able to find ways to keep your projects safe during travel! Growing up, we always called them packing peanuts. I liked the sound they would make when I would snap them in half. Made a mess though! Thanks for sharing. :)
I've found another drawback to the sugar method is that over time, the heat of the Christmas lights (yes, they get hot!) breaks down the sugar. I had to re-stiffen a tree topper I made for a friend after a few years using glue, and it's held up much better.
For making hats, I want them to be a little less stiff, so the Elmer's Glue sounds pretty good! I could try the corn starch? But, I will try the Elmer's first. Thanks!
I'd love to know how it works out for you! I've made crocheted some sun hats, and I've thought about starching the brim with glue. So if you get good results, I might have to try it myself!
@@emli-v9o I recommend something else. It did not hold up. I now make brims using two strands of yarn and making very tight stitches, as well as some alternate types of stiches that pull the edges upward.. Even that is a not perfect, but better than the alternatives that you can't even wash.
Be careful on how heavily your starch your crochet project. To heavy on starch and the tread can crack and break if bent. That is why the directions say to wet first.
I can't really see the thread breaking. Cotton crochet thread is very strong, and there's no reason being soaked in sugar would alter the strength of the threads. The coating of starch(sugar) that's left on the threads if overstarched may become brittle and shatter off but it's the starch, not the thread. With ANY starch method it's important to ensure that the starch is absorbed into the work.
I haven't tested this yet, but maybe someone else in the comments could give feedback? I would think the cornstarch method would leave a bit of a white cast on non-white yarn based on using flour paste on yarn for other projects. I think the tacky glue and the sugar methods would have the best odds of drying completely clear? But again, this is conjecture because I've yet to try it myself. 😄
I really should've picked up a pack before starting this project! Some of my pins ended up being stainless steel, but the ones that weren't discolored my projects in some small spots. Oh well, I'll be sure to do better next time! haha
Thank you! They are not my patterns. My great grandmother gave me her crochet supplies when she was no longer able to crochet, and one of the things she gave me was a booklet of snowflake patterns. I found a copy of it on Ebay if you are interested in making these specific snowflakes - www.ebay.com/itm/204524066251?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=204524066251&targetid=1529493987262&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1015254&poi=&campaignid=20385088682&mkgroupid=160005936668&rlsatarget=pla-1529493987262&abcId=9316497&merchantid=118831938&gclid=CjwKCAiA6byqBhAWEiwAnGCA4CiYF3fjUwPNrwYV7jIj0APPsAiXuXjYyxi8w3HFxUORQ6NFPfQgYRoC5PIQAvD_BwE The patterns are really great, and everyone of them turns out beautifully!
Hmmm I would think not particularly well. I've used flour to starch some items, and accidentally got some of the paste on an outdoor porch. It took a long long time (over a year) for the rain and me hosing it off to wash it away fully. But it did eventually all wash away. So perhaps if it were sitting under a porch where it would only absorb moisture from the air and not get direct rainfall on it, they might last for a bit and then need to be re-starched. But I don't think I would consider any of them truly waterproof.
Haha, no shame in being a lazy crafter! I'm a super lazy crafter when it comes to painting, so I can relate lol Does the spray starch seem to hold up well?
I haven't personally tested it, but I would think as long as enough of the glue absorbs into the acrylic it could work! I have found acrylic tends to be a little resistant to absorbing liquids initially, so it would be important to work it into the fiber thoroughly so everywhere gets stiffened. If you give it a try, I'd love to hear how it goes!
Yes the Elmer's works on acrylic. Just make sure to use the clear otherwise when it dries you can get some white areas if you haven't squeezed out your project thoroughly. I'll be doing this tonight with some small stars that I've made for little gifts to give out.
So we have a number of starched ornaments my great grandmother made. From at least the 90s, maybe going back as far as the 70s? Anyways, they stayed perfectly white until about three years ago. I think what caused them to yellow was the attic space where we store Christmas decor got too hot or the container wasn't sealed all the way? I don't know for sure which starch method she used, but I would guess she used a tacky glue and water solution. I can't personally say how long any of the methods I show in the video will remain white. So far there's been no change in color. But they're only a few years old so I can't say for sure how long they will stay white. It's certainly possible for starched items to stay white for several decades based on my great grandmother's projects though!
Hey thanks for the tip. I just starched my first lace project ever! But I've got a lot of leftover starch (I used cornstarch method) is there anything I can do with this? I know it will probably go bad soon enough...
I think you *might* be able to store it in the fridge for a little while? Not sure how long though. Besides using it to starch future projects, the only other use I'm coming up with for the leftovers is to add it to a soup to thicken the broth. But if you dipped the lace project you starched directly into the starch mixture, it's probably not the best idea to consume the leftovers 😆
Love the video showing all methods, just wish I had watched to the end before starting the sugar water method. I need them dry within 3 days, so wish I had used glue or another method
Oh no! lol If you have a fan you could place nearby, that might help speed up the drying time. A hairdryer on a cool setting could also help. I wouldn't use the blow dryer on a warm setting though. I feel like there would be a chance it would "cook" the sugar and turn it more caramel color versus staying clear. Here's hoping they dry in time!
@@CraftersAutonomous No worries, I just washed them all good, semi dried them and started over with Tacky Glue method.....will let you know how they turn out :)
@@CraftersAutonomous my great grandma's crocheted doilies. Couldn't think what to do with them all, so THANK YOU for your videos! I'm also cutting circles from an old quilt top (sewn by grandma, never quilted), and sewing round doilies to the material, and adding some stuffing to make plush ornaments.
@@claresmith599 Oh I love that so much! I have some of my great grandmother's doilies too, and I'm planning to starch several of them as well. The ornaments using the quilts and doilies sounds AMAZING!! I bet they will look so pretty. Always glad to help, and thank you for watching!
I've been meaning to test this out actually! I would imagine most of them would create a white cast. I've used a flour and water mixture to starch bright multicolored yarn. The bright colors were still visible, but it made it a little cloudy so to speak. Here is a video clip showing that - ua-cam.com/video/7N03Z0C768o/v-deo.htmlsi=1rSOG_WjYLQdHpgo I would imagine the salt and corn starch methods would create a white cast similar to the flour starch in that Halloween costume video. With the tacky glue, I've found it creates a cloudy/milky cast. I've been playing around with starching the brim of a cotton sunhat using diluted tacky glue. The yarn is white with soft flecks of color. It's not noticeable on the white, but on the colorful spots it's a little cloudy. I don't have footage of this. Lastly, the sugar water method might work out a little clearer. But that's just a gut feeling, I have no actual evidence of this haha Hope this at least gives you a direction of knowing which method to try!
I don't see why you couldn't! It would likely take longer to dry. I'd also make sure to stuff it extra firmly. When the stuffing gets weight from the starch, it would likely weigh the fluff down. This could make the head "sag in" a little bit. Another option is to skip stuffing the head entirely and then starch it to hold the shape. The tricky part here would be ensuring the head maintains the desired shape while the starch dries. Hope this helps!
curious if modgepodge works? and if so if itd need to be diluted? im more likely to have that on hand than other glues and would rather not buy new product if i dont need to ! Thank you for breaking down all the variety of ways! im very new to crochet :) i made a witch hat whose brim id prefer stiff!
I think Mod Podge would work, but I'm not sure how strong of a bond it would create. From my understanding (which may be wrong haha), Mod Podge is a pva type glue, just much thinner than a pva tacky glue. However, some stuff I just googled made it sound like Mod Podge has additional ingredients that make it stronger than watered down tacky glue? All that to say, I don't think it would hurt to try. I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work and create similar results to what I showed in the video. I totally get wanting to use items you already have on hand instead of going out to buy something new! haha
I'm looking to reshape an angel that my grandmother starched years ago. What are your opinions on how to do this? I don't know for sure, but I think she used glue.
Personally, I would opt for the glue method. The other mixtures really need to soak in to the thread to give it proper stiffness. But since the project has already been starched in the past, the previous starch might be coating the fabric, thus preventing the starch solution from absorbing in. The glue would probably still be strong enough even if it was only "coating" the project vs absorbing in. If it were me, I'd put the ornament on some kind of frame (you can diy a cone like I did or buy a styrofoam cone), and then use a paint brush to "paint" on the water and glue mixture. Can't say for sure this would work because I haven't personally tried it, but it's how I would go about trying to reshape a project. :)
I think it would depend on the type of starch used. For the corn starch and sugar, I would imagine it would dissolve the bonds and undo the starch essentially. I'm not sure if Aleene's tacky glue is washer safe. I haven't had a need to wash any of my starched projects, but I suppose if you absolutely had to wash a starched project and it softened back up you could always just starch it again!
The patterns for the snowflakes and angels came from a Leisure Arts Leaflet called "Crocheted Snowflakes & Angels - 12 Snowflakes & 4 Angel Designs" by Wilma Stash. I don't think this booklet is in production anymore, but I did find some used copies available on Ebay. Here's one if you want to see what the booklet looks like - www.ebay.com/itm/224529806498?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=224529806498&targetid=1262779894769&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=9010645&poi=&campaignid=14859008593&mkgroupid=130497710760&rlsatarget=pla-1262779894769&abcId=9300678&merchantid=6296724&gclid=CjwKCAiAiKuOBhBQEiwAId_sK3lHq6IpJxGmsKmd8tpoCQRkUR-xsRegLh-scRLXeVTR2dDJuasBLhoCDd0QAvD_BwE
Hmmm so I haven't personally done this before so I can't say for sure... but thinking off the top of my head, you'd probably want to go with a method that allows for maximum detail of the stitching to show. So for instance, the glue gives a really strong hold, but sometimes it can get a bit thick in places and hide some of the stitching detail a tiny bit. Of the methods I showed in this video, I would learn towards either the corn starch method or the sugar starch method. But you might also find that buying a ready made starch spray product would work well. I don't think you would need it to be super stiff, but still stiff enough so it doesn't sag in the frame. Not sure if any of this is helpful, but hopefully it gives you a direction to try!
I am about to use the Alene’s glue for snowflakes. Directions say nothing about adding water, should I? Saw another video where glue is put in sandwich bags and just squish item around to apply glue, squeeze item when removing from bake to take off excess the can put in paper towel to remove more. Less mess on hands.
Adding water is totally optional! If you dilute the glue, it won't be quite as strong of a hold, but it will be easier for the fabric to absorb the glue. And the glue will be less likely to gunk up and hide stitching details. But just plain glue works too.
So far, none of the methods shown in the video have yellowed! There's a big caveat though - they're only a few years old at this point. The ones from my great grandmother are several decades old, and did not start to yellow until the last few years. Unfortunately, I don't know for sure which method she used to starch those projects. Sorry I can't give a better answer than that!
I haven't tried it with velvet yarn, so I'm not sure! I think it would work if the velvet yarn could absorb enough of whatever mixture you chose to use. If you give it a try, I'd love to hear how your experience goes!
Thank you so much! I just bought several pattern books of angel and snowflake ornaments, and I'll be wanting to stiffen them. I wonder if I can get that Aleen's Tacky Glue in Canada?
I'm not sure if it's available in Canada, but if you can't find Alene's brand specifically, look for pva glue. That's the broad category of glue that the Alene's tacky glue falls under.
Hmm I'm not 100% certain either way. I think a lot of it would come down to how diluted the corn starch is and what color the project is. It might look a little cloudy on a colorful item, and not completely clear.
The Aleene's original tacky glue that I used does claim to dry clear, but sometimes it's a little bit cloudy almost? When I've used this glue for non-crochet projects, I've never had it dry so badly/obviously/unclear that it made my project look bad. Those situations are more like gluing two things together and a little bit of glue oozes onto the project vs covering an entire item with the glue though. So I'm not sure if it would dry as nicely on colored thread.
Stiffy spray is not stuff enough for me ....for angles. I have used Elmers with just a little water. Stiffy is just to much money. I make like 100 angles every year. I give them in threes Father, son, and holy Spirit... My Great aunt use to do sugar and had ants. So i have never done the sugar. Thank you for doing all the different ones to give me ideas.
Great info! That's so fun about making dozens of angels every year. I've starched a bowl with sugar, and so far the ants haven't found it, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed! Haha
I received some crocheted angels and snowflakes as gifts over 20 years ago. The lady starched them with a glue mixture and that's how she always did it. So far there has been no yellowing and the stiffness is still just as good as when I received them. Just thought I'd share my two cents with everyone!
Instead of the metal pins i use toothpicks.
This is such a smart idea! Thanks for sharing with me.
@@CraftersAutonomous you re welcome!
I've used watered down Elmer's glue & was satisfied with the stiffness, but it left the Elmer's glue scent. So as I was searching for an unscented glue, I came across this video. I will try Arleen's Tacky glue. Have you worked with the Mod Podge? Is it unscented?
A quick way to dry is to leave it in a hot car. That works for me.
Thank you kindly for your share. Looking forward to your reply.
That's what I was thinking too!
Many years ago I was given the cutest handmade wheelchair ornament made of toothpicks that was held together with sugar glue for graduation from nursing school.
It was out displayed on a high shelf. We lived in an old farmhouse and I guess it took a hungry mouse about a year to find it. (Brave little creature it must have been. We had several cats and they were excellent mousers!)
In one night my ornament was almost completely nibbled apart. All the sugar glue was gone, leaving only splintered toothpicks.
Because of this I wouldn't recommend using sugar compounds for either starching or gluing.
Thank you for the video! Great advice!
Yes, definitely something to consider when choosing a method! Fortunately, my cats do a pretty good job keeping critters away from the house. But all it takes is one hungry animal!
I have heard many tatters and crocheters say that if you want pieces to last a LONG time, NEVER use sugar, starch or other "edible" items as a starch because even mites and other insects will chew into them and ruin them.
White glue is archival and water resistant when dry. It wont discolour, attract moisture or insects. It also holds up to repeated handling. Sugar works well BUT its hydroscopic, which means itll absorb moisture from the air, AND it can attract insects. Same can go for stiffening using a starch, which can also mould.
Tbh for 3D items like baubles, pva works the best by far. AND you dont have to be too particular about proportions...you want thin enough to soak your piece. It will be waterproof when dry, and stable unlike many other options.
Great info! Thanks for sharing.
This was so helpful. Thank you.
I've used Staysoft starch. It works super well and dried quickly. I put it in a spray bottle for yarn over a balloon. For my smaller items I poured it in a bowl squeezed out excess and formed it. Works well.
Good to know! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for showing how many different ways to starch the snow flakes and angels decorations
You're very welcome!
I used regular liquid starch to make corker bows for my daughter 14 yrs ago. I just popped the starch into a spray bottle and sprayed it on the ribbons. And they held their shape and stiffness. I went with liquid starch over spray because it is thicker.
Thanks for the info! I'll have to do a test someday comparing the ready made starches to see how they compare with the recipes I used for these ornaments.
@@CraftersAutonomous I baked them till dry at like 225. I think it was around 20 mins. But those things were super stiff.
@@RandeT73 Ooh, I like the idea of baking them for extra stiffness!
I used Elmer's clear glue works well leaves no residue . The liquid starch if not mixed right leaves flakes behind
Good to know!
I used Elmer’s glue with a touch of water. My snowflakes all have a yellowed tinge. Not liking them.
My mother crocheted me an Angel for the top of Christmas tree perhaps in 1970. It is white and as beautiful as the day she gave it to me. I am frustrated with the glue option. Also tried another glue stiffening that was told to use. That is worse than Elmers.
Back to the crochet hook!
My mom crocheted a big white swan & starched it. Was beautiful. Have been looking around for a pattern so I could make one too
That sounds like such a neat project!
I used liquid spray starch on my snowflakes last year. I heavily sprayed and then ironed them lightly thinking of shirts and curtains. My first 2 came out too flat and ironed looking and had alittle yellow cast to them but the rest were fine with alittle less heat. They didn't stay as sturdy as I'd like them to but it worked. I'll have to try one of your options next time.
Thanks for sharing your experience! If you give one of these methods a try, I'd love to hear how you think the two compare.
70 years old here my aunt used to use a little jelly glass wrapped in saran wrap to put her angels and Easter baskets on to dry. I remember she had to prop something for the handle of the Easter baskets so 3-D crochet might be a little harder to use, but she used the sugar, she made it quite strong sugar mix she said because it needed to be very stiff. My mother always messed up cornstarch because we starched our sheets in those days. I’ve used both of those methods and like them equally well salt are usually hung in a jar of the mixture and allow the crystals to grow then instead of picking the crystals off, you carefully pin it out, and a very sparkly snowflake the Aline’s was my go to starch back in the 80s for ghost. I just simply blew up a balloon tied gauze or fabric with a ballon in the center. And draped it over a dish liquid bottle covered in saran wrap you have to stick some saran wrap in for the arms or sleeves. This works well for both. ghost or angels. It was my favorite one to use when I lived in a humid rainy area. We moved a lot, and I found that when I put the ornaments away, putting them in a box with foam peanuts it kept the three dimensional objects, imperfect shape understand my husband was in the Air Force and we moved all the time so this was important for me there are no real peanuts in this type of Styrofoam. It was just what they called it and those days.
I love hearing about all the crafts you've done! I starched a doily into a bowl using the sugar starch method for the same reason as your aunt, it's so strong! The ghosts sound so fun. I bet it was challenging moving a lot, but that's great you were able to find ways to keep your projects safe during travel! Growing up, we always called them packing peanuts. I liked the sound they would make when I would snap them in half. Made a mess though! Thanks for sharing. :)
This is so thorough, and you answered all of my questions! Thank you!
So glad you found this helpful! Thanks for watching.
This is the exact video I needed today! Thanks for great content.
You are so welcome! Thanks for watching.
This was so helpful, thanks!
I've found another drawback to the sugar method is that over time, the heat of the Christmas lights (yes, they get hot!) breaks down the sugar. I had to re-stiffen a tree topper I made for a friend after a few years using glue, and it's held up much better.
Thanks for the info!
Straight to the point thank you 🙏❤️
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. My crochet cross came out great with the glue method.
I get great results with Elmer's glue
Great review! I didn't know about the Aleens, I'll be trying it. 🧶Namaste 🐞✌️🕉️
Glad that you enjoyed the video and that I was able to share something new with you!
super helpful, thanks!
For making hats, I want them to be a little less stiff, so the Elmer's Glue sounds pretty good! I could try the corn starch? But, I will try the Elmer's first. Thanks!
I'd love to know how it works out for you! I've made crocheted some sun hats, and I've thought about starching the brim with glue. So if you get good results, I might have to try it myself!
@@CraftersAutonomous I've got my first one drying right now. I'll let you know how it goes.
@@FlourishingLove did the glue method work for the brim?😊 or would you recommend something else
@@emli-v9o I recommend something else. It did not hold up. I now make brims using two strands of yarn and making very tight stitches, as well as some alternate types of stiches that pull the edges upward.. Even that is a not perfect, but better than the alternatives that you can't even wash.
What about Paper Mache Art Paste or regular laundry starch? Seems much easier.
Those would be fun to try! I've thought about making another starch testing video for next year, so maybe I'll give these a try.
Be careful on how heavily your starch your crochet project. To heavy on starch and the tread can crack and break if bent. That is why the directions say to wet first.
Thanks for the info! I didn't know that.
I can't really see the thread breaking. Cotton crochet thread is very strong, and there's no reason being soaked in sugar would alter the strength of the threads. The coating of starch(sugar) that's left on the threads if overstarched may become brittle and shatter off but it's the starch, not the thread. With ANY starch method it's important to ensure that the starch is absorbed into the work.
@@catzkeet4860maybe the recipe was for way more intricate things like lace work?
Very informative! Would any of these methods leave a film/discoloration to brightly colored yarn?
I haven't tested this yet, but maybe someone else in the comments could give feedback? I would think the cornstarch method would leave a bit of a white cast on non-white yarn based on using flour paste on yarn for other projects. I think the tacky glue and the sugar methods would have the best odds of drying completely clear? But again, this is conjecture because I've yet to try it myself. 😄
Thanks for this tutorial ⭐
You're welcome! Thanks for watching.
Thank you for this, very useful x
I also use stainless steel straight pins.
I really should've picked up a pack before starting this project! Some of my pins ended up being stainless steel, but the ones that weren't discolored my projects in some small spots. Oh well, I'll be sure to do better next time! haha
I love your snowflakes! Are they your patterns?
Thank you! They are not my patterns. My great grandmother gave me her crochet supplies when she was no longer able to crochet, and one of the things she gave me was a booklet of snowflake patterns. I found a copy of it on Ebay if you are interested in making these specific snowflakes - www.ebay.com/itm/204524066251?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=204524066251&targetid=1529493987262&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1015254&poi=&campaignid=20385088682&mkgroupid=160005936668&rlsatarget=pla-1529493987262&abcId=9316497&merchantid=118831938&gclid=CjwKCAiA6byqBhAWEiwAnGCA4CiYF3fjUwPNrwYV7jIj0APPsAiXuXjYyxi8w3HFxUORQ6NFPfQgYRoC5PIQAvD_BwE
The patterns are really great, and everyone of them turns out beautifully!
Thank you.
Are any of these waterproof? My creations are used outside, and some need to be stiffened.
Thanks
Hmmm I would think not particularly well. I've used flour to starch some items, and accidentally got some of the paste on an outdoor porch. It took a long long time (over a year) for the rain and me hosing it off to wash it away fully. But it did eventually all wash away. So perhaps if it were sitting under a porch where it would only absorb moisture from the air and not get direct rainfall on it, they might last for a bit and then need to be re-starched. But I don't think I would consider any of them truly waterproof.
Try brushing the glue solution on with a small paint brush.
Thanks for the idea!
So far I'm a lazy starcher and use spray starch. Lol Thank you for the review.
Haha, no shame in being a lazy crafter! I'm a super lazy crafter when it comes to painting, so I can relate lol Does the spray starch seem to hold up well?
Not as good as the glue. I usually have to let items dry and spray again.
@@CandysYarnCrafts Thanks for the info! That lines up with a lot of what I read online.
Does the elmers glue process work on acrylic yarn?
I haven't personally tested it, but I would think as long as enough of the glue absorbs into the acrylic it could work! I have found acrylic tends to be a little resistant to absorbing liquids initially, so it would be important to work it into the fiber thoroughly so everywhere gets stiffened. If you give it a try, I'd love to hear how it goes!
Yes the Elmer's works on acrylic. Just make sure to use the clear otherwise when it dries you can get some white areas if you haven't squeezed out your project thoroughly. I'll be doing this tonight with some small stars that I've made for little gifts to give out.
Im worried about my crochet ornaments turning yellow. Will the straching keep it white?
So we have a number of starched ornaments my great grandmother made. From at least the 90s, maybe going back as far as the 70s? Anyways, they stayed perfectly white until about three years ago. I think what caused them to yellow was the attic space where we store Christmas decor got too hot or the container wasn't sealed all the way? I don't know for sure which starch method she used, but I would guess she used a tacky glue and water solution. I can't personally say how long any of the methods I show in the video will remain white. So far there's been no change in color. But they're only a few years old so I can't say for sure how long they will stay white. It's certainly possible for starched items to stay white for several decades based on my great grandmother's projects though!
Hey thanks for the tip. I just starched my first lace project ever! But I've got a lot of leftover starch (I used cornstarch method) is there anything I can do with this? I know it will probably go bad soon enough...
I think you *might* be able to store it in the fridge for a little while? Not sure how long though. Besides using it to starch future projects, the only other use I'm coming up with for the leftovers is to add it to a soup to thicken the broth. But if you dipped the lace project you starched directly into the starch mixture, it's probably not the best idea to consume the leftovers 😆
Love the video showing all methods, just wish I had watched to the end before starting the sugar water method. I need them dry within 3 days, so wish I had used glue or another method
Oh no! lol If you have a fan you could place nearby, that might help speed up the drying time. A hairdryer on a cool setting could also help. I wouldn't use the blow dryer on a warm setting though. I feel like there would be a chance it would "cook" the sugar and turn it more caramel color versus staying clear. Here's hoping they dry in time!
@@CraftersAutonomous No worries, I just washed them all good, semi dried them and started over with Tacky Glue method.....will let you know how they turn out :)
@@claresmith599 Oh, smart idea! What are you starching?
@@CraftersAutonomous my great grandma's crocheted doilies. Couldn't think what to do with them all, so THANK YOU for your videos! I'm also cutting circles from an old quilt top (sewn by grandma, never quilted), and sewing round doilies to the material, and adding some stuffing to make plush ornaments.
@@claresmith599 Oh I love that so much! I have some of my great grandmother's doilies too, and I'm planning to starch several of them as well. The ornaments using the quilts and doilies sounds AMAZING!! I bet they will look so pretty. Always glad to help, and thank you for watching!
All the projects are white, do these methods work on colorful yarn without discoloration?
I've been meaning to test this out actually! I would imagine most of them would create a white cast. I've used a flour and water mixture to starch bright multicolored yarn. The bright colors were still visible, but it made it a little cloudy so to speak. Here is a video clip showing that - ua-cam.com/video/7N03Z0C768o/v-deo.htmlsi=1rSOG_WjYLQdHpgo
I would imagine the salt and corn starch methods would create a white cast similar to the flour starch in that Halloween costume video.
With the tacky glue, I've found it creates a cloudy/milky cast. I've been playing around with starching the brim of a cotton sunhat using diluted tacky glue. The yarn is white with soft flecks of color. It's not noticeable on the white, but on the colorful spots it's a little cloudy. I don't have footage of this.
Lastly, the sugar water method might work out a little clearer. But that's just a gut feeling, I have no actual evidence of this haha
Hope this at least gives you a direction of knowing which method to try!
Great video ,thanks
Can u put the stuffed part in the starch?
I don't see why you couldn't! It would likely take longer to dry. I'd also make sure to stuff it extra firmly. When the stuffing gets weight from the starch, it would likely weigh the fluff down. This could make the head "sag in" a little bit.
Another option is to skip stuffing the head entirely and then starch it to hold the shape. The tricky part here would be ensuring the head maintains the desired shape while the starch dries. Hope this helps!
curious if modgepodge works? and if so if itd need to be diluted? im more likely to have that on hand than other glues and would rather not buy new product if i dont need to ! Thank you for breaking down all the variety of ways! im very new to crochet :) i made a witch hat whose brim id prefer stiff!
I think Mod Podge would work, but I'm not sure how strong of a bond it would create. From my understanding (which may be wrong haha), Mod Podge is a pva type glue, just much thinner than a pva tacky glue. However, some stuff I just googled made it sound like Mod Podge has additional ingredients that make it stronger than watered down tacky glue?
All that to say, I don't think it would hurt to try. I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work and create similar results to what I showed in the video. I totally get wanting to use items you already have on hand instead of going out to buy something new! haha
@@CraftersAutonomous thank you so much for your thoughtful response !
@@CJ-qh8uj of course! Always glad to help.
I'm looking to reshape an angel that my grandmother starched years ago. What are your opinions on how to do this? I don't know for sure, but I think she used glue.
Personally, I would opt for the glue method. The other mixtures really need to soak in to the thread to give it proper stiffness. But since the project has already been starched in the past, the previous starch might be coating the fabric, thus preventing the starch solution from absorbing in. The glue would probably still be strong enough even if it was only "coating" the project vs absorbing in.
If it were me, I'd put the ornament on some kind of frame (you can diy a cone like I did or buy a styrofoam cone), and then use a paint brush to "paint" on the water and glue mixture. Can't say for sure this would work because I haven't personally tried it, but it's how I would go about trying to reshape a project. :)
I was wondering if you can wash projects that have been starched? Have you had to wash any of yours?
I think it would depend on the type of starch used. For the corn starch and sugar, I would imagine it would dissolve the bonds and undo the starch essentially. I'm not sure if Aleene's tacky glue is washer safe. I haven't had a need to wash any of my starched projects, but I suppose if you absolutely had to wash a starched project and it softened back up you could always just starch it again!
Now you know I need the two patterns for the snowflake and angel please
The patterns for the snowflakes and angels came from a Leisure Arts Leaflet called "Crocheted Snowflakes & Angels - 12 Snowflakes & 4 Angel Designs" by Wilma Stash. I don't think this booklet is in production anymore, but I did find some used copies available on Ebay. Here's one if you want to see what the booklet looks like - www.ebay.com/itm/224529806498?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=224529806498&targetid=1262779894769&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=9010645&poi=&campaignid=14859008593&mkgroupid=130497710760&rlsatarget=pla-1262779894769&abcId=9300678&merchantid=6296724&gclid=CjwKCAiAiKuOBhBQEiwAId_sK3lHq6IpJxGmsKmd8tpoCQRkUR-xsRegLh-scRLXeVTR2dDJuasBLhoCDd0QAvD_BwE
I want to starch a doily in a picture frame under glass to wall mount. Which method of starching is recommended?
Hmmm so I haven't personally done this before so I can't say for sure... but thinking off the top of my head, you'd probably want to go with a method that allows for maximum detail of the stitching to show. So for instance, the glue gives a really strong hold, but sometimes it can get a bit thick in places and hide some of the stitching detail a tiny bit. Of the methods I showed in this video, I would learn towards either the corn starch method or the sugar starch method. But you might also find that buying a ready made starch spray product would work well. I don't think you would need it to be super stiff, but still stiff enough so it doesn't sag in the frame. Not sure if any of this is helpful, but hopefully it gives you a direction to try!
Items you're putting behind glass in a frame won't need to be hard stiff.. I'd use something light like a spray starch if it were me
I am about to use the Alene’s glue for snowflakes. Directions say nothing about adding water, should I?
Saw another video where glue is put in sandwich bags and just squish item around to apply glue, squeeze item when removing from bake to take off excess the can put in paper towel to remove more. Less mess on hands.
Adding water is totally optional! If you dilute the glue, it won't be quite as strong of a hold, but it will be easier for the fabric to absorb the glue. And the glue will be less likely to gunk up and hide stitching details. But just plain glue works too.
I would like to know which of these options didn't yellow the product. I know that the corn starch does.
So far, none of the methods shown in the video have yellowed! There's a big caveat though - they're only a few years old at this point. The ones from my great grandmother are several decades old, and did not start to yellow until the last few years. Unfortunately, I don't know for sure which method she used to starch those projects. Sorry I can't give a better answer than that!
Does it work for velvet yarn too?
I haven't tried it with velvet yarn, so I'm not sure! I think it would work if the velvet yarn could absorb enough of whatever mixture you chose to use. If you give it a try, I'd love to hear how your experience goes!
Thank you so much! I just bought several pattern books of angel and snowflake ornaments, and I'll be wanting to stiffen them. I wonder if I can get that Aleen's Tacky Glue in Canada?
I'm not sure if it's available in Canada, but if you can't find Alene's brand specifically, look for pva glue. That's the broad category of glue that the Alene's tacky glue falls under.
Heidi M... I'm in Newfoundland. I get Aleen's tacky glue at Walmart. I have also seen it at Michaels.
Any white, waterbased glue will work, because it's almost certainly pva glue. It's often sold as "craft glue"
Would the cornstarch method work on coloured items?
Hmm I'm not 100% certain either way. I think a lot of it would come down to how diluted the corn starch is and what color the project is. It might look a little cloudy on a colorful item, and not completely clear.
I’m wondering how your tacky glue solution works on colored thread. Does it discolor the thread?
I use craft glue, wich is transparent when it dries. Tacky glue is great only with white yarns.
@@ancagavril9818 Thank you 💕
The Aleene's original tacky glue that I used does claim to dry clear, but sometimes it's a little bit cloudy almost? When I've used this glue for non-crochet projects, I've never had it dry so badly/obviously/unclear that it made my project look bad. Those situations are more like gluing two things together and a little bit of glue oozes onto the project vs covering an entire item with the glue though. So I'm not sure if it would dry as nicely on colored thread.
Stiffy spray is not stuff enough for me ....for angles.
I have used Elmers with just a little water. Stiffy is just to much money. I make like 100 angles every year. I give them in threes
Father, son, and holy Spirit... My Great aunt use to do sugar and had ants. So i have never done the sugar. Thank you for doing all the different ones to give me ideas.
Great info! That's so fun about making dozens of angels every year. I've starched a bowl with sugar, and so far the ants haven't found it, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed! Haha
What about liquid starch
I haven't personally used liquid starch on a crochet project, but I'm pretty sure that works too!
❤
😂need CC for Deaf people to read
UA-cam used to auto fill them, but they changed the system and I can't figure it out 😥
Yup, or for those with a sleeping baby next to them 😂