In the traditional style of interior design, knitted details are often used (“snowflakes”, napkins for a vase, flowerpots, etc.). These lace elements add coziness and warmth to the atmosphere of your home. However, such products do not retain their shape well and look untidy. To solve this problem, you need to familiarize yourself with how to starch a napkin, crocheted, starch.
Why starch napkins?
Napkins are made from cotton threads, which can have different thicknesses. Additionally, they may contain lurex, silk or viscose fibers. Products made from mercerized cotton look attractive. This material undergoes special processing, as a result of which it becomes more durable and shiny.
Regardless of the material, the product may wrinkle when knitting. However, it does not hold its shape well. If you starch an item, a film forms on its surface. Due to her:
- the material is bleached;
- elasticity and density of threads increases;
- the fibers of the material are protected from the penetration of moisture and dust.
To starch a knitted napkin, you can use PVA glue, sugar, gelatin and starch.
Experts do not recommend subjecting products made of wool, silk and synthetics to such treatment, otherwise the material may deteriorate. In addition, it is undesirable to subject dark knitted items to such treatment, because... They often leave white stains on them that are difficult to remove.
Traditional recipe with starch
You can starch a napkin different ways. The classic mixture is made from starch and water. In most cases, a potato product is used for this, because it is affordable and gives the paste an optimal consistency. In addition, this substance has a slight whitening effect. However, it can be replaced with corn or rice starch.
To give the product suitable rigidity, you can use the following options:
- Hard. To 1 liter of water you need to add 2 tbsp. starch. This mixture will give the napkin clear outlines and hardness. It is more suitable for miniature items made from lace.
- Average. In 1 liter of water you need to pour 1 tbsp. starch. Most often, this mixture is used to process napkins, collars, etc.
- Soft. Add 1 tsp to 1000 ml of water. starch. The solution is used to increase the elasticity of napkins and other products with hanging ends (curtains, tablecloths, etc.).
The process of preparing the working composition involves several stages. Among them:
- First you need to dilute the starch with cool water. The texture of the finished mixture should be extremely thick.
- Then the remaining water must be boiled. After this, the starch mixture is placed in it. The solution is brought to a boil and left to cool. You can start processing when it has cooled to a temperature of +30…+35°C.
If there are excess impurities in the starch, add water and stir. After this, you need to drain the contaminated liquid. The manipulation must be repeated until the solution is completely cleaned.
To starch a napkin with starch, you need to follow the following procedure:
- The cooled mixture should be poured into a large basin.
- Then you need to lower the cleaned product into it. It is prohibited to wash such items in a washing machine, otherwise their structure may be destroyed.
- After this you need to wait. The duration of impregnation of thick threads is 15 minutes, medium ones - 10 minutes, thin threads - no more than 5-7 minutes.
- Then the product is removed from the solution and gently wrung out.
After the procedure, the item must be dried naturally. During drying, it should not be exposed to direct sunlight, otherwise the material will turn yellow.
Other recipes with starch
Starching knitted items can be done by different means. They are affordable and easy to use.
Salt
Salt crystals give the threads elasticity and shine. To obtain a working mixture you need:
- Prepare the paste according to the traditional recipe.
- While the mixture has not cooled, add 2 tsp. salt.
After this, the solution must be stirred. It is used in the same way as starch paste.
Milk
This product makes the surface of knitted items matte and also increases the fiber of the threads. The solution is prepared from 1000 ml of low-fat milk and 1 tbsp. rice starch.
First you need to mix half a glass of milk with a starch product. The mixture should be thick.
Then the remaining milk must be boiled and the starch composition added to it. After the product boils, the fire must be turned off. After this, the composition is cooled to a temperature of +30...+35°C, and a napkin is placed in it.
Sugar
If you starch a napkin with sugar, it will become tougher and more durable. To do this you need to take 3 tbsp. sugar, 1 tbsp. any starch product and 1000 ml of clean water. Main processing steps:
- First you need to heat 250 ml of water and dilute granulated sugar in it.
- Then you need to add 250 ml of cool water to the starch product and mix.
- The remaining water should be boiled and the starch and sugar mixture added to it. The solution is brought to a boil and cooled.
Another option for using sugar to shape a napkin involves the following steps:
- 600-700 g of sugar must be poured into 350-400 ml of water;
- the components are thoroughly mixed and cooked until the sugar crystals dissolve;
- A textile item is dipped into the finished syrup for 5-7 minutes;
- then the napkin is removed and dried.
Gloss-starch
This method allows you to make the napkin more shiny and beautiful. To prepare the product you need the following ingredients:
- 5 tbsp. rice starch;
- 3 tbsp. talc;
- 1 tbsp. borax powder;
- cool water.
First you need to mix all the ingredients. Then it is added to the mixture a large number of water until a thick consistency is obtained.
In the prepared solution, you need to moisten a piece of fabric or a brush and treat the napkin. Immediately after the procedure, the product must be carefully ironed with a slightly heated iron, placing several layers of gauze under it. At the final stage, the item is dried naturally.
Dry method
You can starch a napkin without boiling the paste. To do this you need to use the following instructions:
- To start knitted product need to be laid out on a thick paper sheet. It is recommended to immediately secure its edges with pins.
- Then you need to evenly sprinkle a little starch powder onto the napkin.
- After this, the surface must be moistened with a sprayer and covered with paper.
- Then the paper sheet must be ironed with a warm iron and wait 2-3 hours until the napkin dries.
Nowadays you can buy a special starch-containing aerosol in stores. The product is simply sprayed onto a damp knitted item and ironed. However, the disadvantage of this method is the short-term effect. In addition, such compositions are more expensive than gelatin, sugar, PVA glue or starch.
Recipes without starch
To give shape to a knitted napkin, you don’t have to use starch. For this, gelatin or glue is used.
How to starch a napkin using glue?
The adhesive composition must be diluted with water in equal proportions. The mixture is mixed, after which the product is lowered into it. This method is excellent for hard starching of products that will not come into contact with skin or food.
Starching napkins with gelatin
For this treatment you need to pour 1 tbsp. gelatin in 100 ml a little warmed water. The mixture should be thoroughly mixed and left for 5-15 minutes. Then it should be heated in a water bath so that the gelatin grains are completely dissolved. 250 ml of water is added to the finished solution, after which it is brought to a boil and cooled. It is necessary to soak the product in the mixture and dry it.
Gelatin does not crumble, so it is more convenient and faster for them to process products of large sizes and volumes. This is its advantage over starch.
After the napkin is saturated with the working solution (starch, glue, gelatin, etc.), it must be carefully placed on a flat surface. To do this, you can use an ironing board, first covering it with a soft towel. If an adhesive composition was used to give the shape, then the material must be additionally covered with polyethylene.
To prevent the knitted product from falling off, it is recommended to securely fix its edges with needles or pins. In addition, this will prevent the napkin from deforming during drying. The ornaments of the product should be straightened out immediately and also secured while it is still wet. If there is fringe on the napkin, it is advisable to carefully comb it and lay it evenly.
You need to dry the starched product not in the open sun, but in a well-ventilated area. A slightly wet napkin should be ironed with a warm iron, placing 2-3 layers of gauze on it. It is necessary to iron the item quickly, but as carefully as possible, otherwise its edges will wrinkle and they will have to be additionally moistened. If the iron is too hot, the threads of the product will turn yellow and become less attractive.
If you need to make a decorative plate or vase from a knitted item, you should use a base in the form of a bottle, mug or bowl to give the shape. To begin with, the object is wrapped in a piece of polyethylene. Then you need to pull a moistened and starched napkin over it. After this, the product must be left to dry. This process lasts about a day.
Interior elements made from knitted napkins are an excellent decoration. When making such things, craftswomen spend a lot of effort and time. Starching is an important final stage. With its help, a textile item can be given attractiveness and the desired shape. After washing, the item requires re-starching.
Home comfort is the dream of every housewife. A crocheted napkin will be a lovely addition to the interior. This is an airy product; starch will give it neatness. If you know how to starch correctly, taking into account all the features of this procedure, the napkins will retain their shape and impeccable appearance for a long time.
Starched napkins look much better on the table.
A tablecloth and napkin are products that can easily get dirty, but if you starch them, it will be much easier to wash off accidentally placed stains. Starch creates an invisible film on top of the fabric, which protects the product from difficult-to-remove stains: it prevents dust from penetrating deep into the fabric. Special whiteness, beautiful shape and elegance: another reason to starch festive napkin. Decorative plates and flowers and vases are also created using this technology.
Crocheted napkins without such treatment simply look wrinkled.
It will take very little time to starch a napkin.
Traditional method: starch
Using starch is an effective and proven method for years. To process the product at home, you can take the following type of starch: potato, wheat, rice or corn.
If you need to starch the product heavily, take 2 tablespoons of starch; for medium processing, 1.5 tablespoons is enough.
Note! The choice of starch will determine its proportion for preparing the mixture. Corn starch consumption is twice as much as potato starch. Rice and potato starch have approximately the same consistency.
The concentration of the paste will depend on the degree to which you want to starch the prepared napkins. In total, three degrees can be distinguished: light, medium and strong. It is enough to treat the napkins and tablecloth to a medium degree. They are prepared as follows: light - one teaspoon per liter of water; medium - one tablespoon per liter of water; strong - two tablespoons per liter of water.
Take a napkin and immerse it all in the solution, wait until the paste is absorbed into the napkin.
Before starching, wash and bleach the product, then dry the napkin thoroughly. The preparation of a classic mixture using starch can be divided into several stages.
- Dilute the starch raw material in cold water, make sure there are no lumps, mix thoroughly.
- Prepare a pot of water. Place it on the fire and wait until it heats up to 100 degrees.
- When the water boils, slowly pour in the prepared solution, stirring gently, you can add a pinch of salt for shine.
- After the mass turns into a homogeneous paste, remove the pan from the heat and cool the mixture.
- Before starching, moisten the napkin with water.
- Dip the product into the paste for 10 - 20 minutes, depending on the desired degree of hardness.
- Remove and remove excess paste from the napkin. After processing, it is better to lay out the product on a flat surface rather than hang it out.
- When the napkin is dry, iron it through the gauze to avoid yellow streaks.
After drying, the napkin must be steamed with an iron.
Attention! It is very important to take pure starch, without garbage. If you notice small particles in the starch, fill it with water for several hours, let it sit, the debris will float to the surface.
Other recipes with starch: creating a glossy surface
Knowing how to starch a napkin and make its surface glossy, you can give the item being treated a special gift. beautiful view, because, at first glance, it is difficult to carefully soak a crocheted item with starch, especially at home.
It is allowed to starch napkins crocheted from cotton threads, including those mixed with other materials - viscose, acrylic and even silk.
The glossy effect method is simple, you need to prepare a paste: 5-6 tablespoons of rice starch, 1 spoon boric acid and 3 talc. The mixture should be free of lumps: it should be mixed thoroughly. Take a cotton pad or a piece of sponge, lightly moisten it in the paste and treat the surface of the napkin. After you have managed to starch and dry the knitted napkin, take an iron and gently iron it through the gauze.
The starch film prevents particles of dust and dirt from penetrating deep into the fibers.
Attention! You can't starch things dark colors, untidy stains and stains will be visible on them.
Other ways: creating a matte effect
To create a matte effect, the solution must be prepared in milk, as a result the item acquires volume and a special pleasant shade.
The recipe for making such a paste is no more complicated than the classic one.
- Before preparing the solution and starting to starch, thoroughly clean the crocheted napkin or tablecloth with soap and water and dry it.
- Pour 1 tablespoon of rice starch (or 2 tablespoons of corn starch) into a glass of cold milk and mix.
- We eliminate all the formed lumps. For an ideal result, the mixture can be passed through cheesecloth or a sieve.
- Take 1 liter of milk with 1.5% fat content, bring it to a boil and pour the starch mixture into it.
- Cool the finished paste to room temperature.
Products look especially impressive after starching white, acquiring a pure snow-white hue.
Use of sugar
Sugar is always at hand and can also be used in addition to starch. The sugar product for processing the product is very simple to prepare: dissolve granulated sugar (5-6 tablespoons) in a glass of water. Heat the resulting mixture over fire and add starch (1 tablespoon). The mixture should be homogeneous. Immerse the product for 10 minutes, squeeze lightly and iron.
Treated wipes will become more rigid.
Attention! Napkins and tablecloths treated with starch and added sugar attract insects. This method is preferably not used for outdoor products.
PVA glue
A long-term result is one of the advantages of this method, but it is worth remembering that such a solution creates a high degree of hardness and cannot be used for underwear and bed linen.
Napkins properly treated with PVA glue will become elastic and rigid.
It is necessary to prepare a solution in the following ratio: a glass of water and half a glass of glue. This method is relevant when it is necessary to give a clear shape. To do this, load crocheted napkin into the mixture, wring it out and, if necessary, pull it into the desired shape.
This way you can create a napkin vase.
Gelatin treatment
A good alternative to regular starch is gelatin. It must be immersed in cold water and allowed to brew a little. On average, one tablespoon of gelatin will require a glass of water. Heat the infused mixture in a water bath, pouring an additional 200 grams of water into it. Mix the solution well. After the solution has cooled, you can starch the knitted napkin to a medium-hard state.
This method is good because the mixture remains on the product for a long time and does not crumble.
Gelatin does not crumble, so it is more convenient and faster for them to process products of large sizes and volumes.
Aerosol
The most modern and fastest method is an aerosol. You can simply and effectively starch a small item in a short time; just spray the contents of the can evenly onto a crocheted napkin. Rules for spraying the aerosol: shake the can well and tilt it slightly, apply evenly to the product at a distance of 25-30 cm.
Unlike other methods, aerosol can be used on many types of fabric.
The product is simply sprayed onto a damp knitted item and ironed.
Dry method
You can starch a tablecloth and napkin without preparing the mixture.
This method is simpler, but after dry processing the product quickly loses its rigidity and wrinkles.
- Place the item on a cloth or sheet of paper and straighten it thoroughly.
- Apply starch powder on top in a thin “powdery” layer.
- Spray the product with water, it is convenient to use a spray bottle, leave to dry, covered with a cloth or paper.
The product must be covered with starch as evenly as possible so that all its areas subsequently acquire the same elasticity.
This processing method is not long-term; after a short time, the procedure will have to be repeated.
Advice. If the hardness of the product after drying is insufficient, the procedure can be carried out until the desired result is achieved.
The final stage in the starching procedure is drying and ironing, which will fix the result well. There are a few useful tips, which are worth considering.
To give a perfectly smooth surface to a starched napkin, lay it out on the table.
- You should not dry it in a room where the sun's rays directly hit the product, there is a risk that it will turn yellow and stains will form on it.
- Spread the treated item on a smooth and flat surface covered with a towel or piece of thick paper.
- Drying should be done in a room with open windows and naturally.
- Use pins and bobby pins to secure the napkin. This is necessary to ensure that the item dries correctly and takes on the desired shape.
- Ironing a napkin low temperatures, using damp gauze.
- When ironing a product treated with starch, do not use hot steam; it will destroy the starch.
Fold dry starched napkins so that their shape is maintained.
Attention! Deformed fringe on the product can be easily tidied up with steam.
All methods presented in the material involve the use of exclusively natural ingredients. Try each of them, choose your best option.
When you plan to get openwork balls or a convex part in the middle of the napkin, combine lining items with this shape.
If we make a vase from the product, then smooth the soaked napkin onto an object of suitable volume, and leave it in this form to dry.
The starched napkin has a solemn appearance, the product looks neat and cozy. Regardless of the method and substance chosen for starching: any crocheted item, tablecloth or napkin can be put in order in an accessible way at home.
Knit your first napkin if you've never done it before. Starch it and decorate the coffee table.
VIDEO: How to starch a knitted napkin.
Over the long period of its existence, crocheted lace has become a decorative classic, and there have been many methods for starching a crocheted napkin.
Traditional method: starch
The method, proven over the years, of how to starch a crocheted napkin with starch, will help you achieve an ideal result if you follow all the nuances of the process.
- Starching a knitted product begins with preparing a two-component solution (edible starch and water). In this case, you can use not only potato, but also rice and corn types of starch. Add a tablespoon of powder to a container with a liter of cold water and stir thoroughly. To obtain a homogeneous mass, gradually pour in boiling water (1 liter) and continue stirring the solution.
- Place the container on low heat and bring to a boil. If you did everything correctly, then after five minutes you will get a cloudy paste without lumps.
The solution with starch is ready and appears main question, to what degree of hardness you would like to starch the napkin. For material made from thin threads, 15 minutes is enough to obtain a high level of output hardness. The same period of time for thick threads will result in a smooth, textured napkin that does not hold its given shape. For thin threads the range with gradation of hardness will be: 5; 10 and 15 minutes. For threads of medium thickness: 10; 15 and 20 minutes. For thick thread – 15; 25 and 35 minutes.
- We dip the napkin, washed and bleached in advance, into the paste and wait the required amount of time, taking into account the thickness of the threads and the desired rigidity of the product at the exit.
- After the material has absorbed the starch, it is necessary to straighten the napkin on a horizontal surface and, without waiting for complete drying, iron it, securing the result for a long time. If you planned to use a knitted product in the form of an original vase or openwork bowl, then at this stage it is necessary to form and fix the desired shape of the accessory. Convenient to use balloon for round shapes or glass bowls for spheres.
Warning!
A hot iron will damage the lace product, leaving scorch marks. Iron the material only through a thin gauze cloth, placing a thick sheet of paper under the napkin in the ironing mode for delicate materials (Silk or minimum temperature setting).
Dry starching method for knitted napkins
If you don’t have time, you can use an easy, quick starching method, which results in only a non-volumetric flat figure.
- Spread the product on a white piece of paper and spray it with cold water from a spray bottle.
- Sprinkle dry starch thickly onto the wet lace and gently rub the mixture into the threads.
- Cover the treated napkin with a gauze cloth and iron it with an iron (at medium temperature).
To give the material greater hardness, the procedure is repeated several times.
Video: how to starch crocheted items
Alternative methods: sugar, milk, gelatin, PVA
The ingredients for recipes for other methods, how to starch a knitted napkin, can be any form-forming products during drying: from sugar to PVA glue.
- How to starch knitted napkinssugar: hot boiling syrup (50 g of sugar per half glass of water) is poured into the container of the prepared boiling starch solution.
Thin shiny threads may lose their original shine after the starching procedure. How and with what to starch crocheted napkins to preserve and enhance shine? In the classic recipe for preparing a solution at the boiling stage, you need to add a tablespoon of table salt.
- Gelatin for creating three-dimensional figures: gelatin in the amount of 20 g is diluted in cold water, wait until it swells, then add hot water and bring until complete dissolution. The gelatin solution, by analogy with sugar syrup, is added to the finished boiling starch mixture.
- Milk for white napkins: Rice starch is diluted in milk (1:3) separately. Meanwhile, 0.5 liters of milk is heated and the prepared mixture is added at the moment of boiling.
- PVA glue as a complete starch substitute: dilute 0.5 liters of PVA in a liter of cool water and soak the napkin.
Advantages and disadvantages of starch additives
Experienced needlewomen believe that nothing can be better and more effective than the classic recipe for preparing a solution, how to properly starch a napkin. What kind of lace will be the result of processing if you use the proposed alternative methods?
- Gelatin
Since gelatin acts as an auxiliary fixing substance, it can be used to starch napkins for subsequent molding of volumetric accessories.
- Milk
Thanks to the use skim milk you can get a textured, matte napkin in a pleasant shade.
- Sugar
Sugar lace (as well as products fixed with milk or gelatin) attracts insects.
- PVA glue
A product processed in this way retains the result for a long time, so if something is done incorrectly, it will not be possible to correct the situation. The adhesive base is toxic when heated, so it is better to use such wipes away from heating devices.
Of all the proposed alternatives, only gelatin fixation has a clear advantage. Because, unlike gelatin, by adding other components it is virtually impossible to create a high-quality solution suitable for the formation of original rigid volumetric structures.
Warning!
Napkins made from threads of black or any other dark color are not starched in order to avoid damage to the quality characteristics of the product. Traces of starch will be visible on dark threads.
Unlike napkins untreated with starch, starched crocheted lace products look modern and impressive, representing beautiful completed elements of interior decor.
Handmade, openwork weaving from natural threads is a type of applied art. Every woman can learn it. Such products serve as interior decoration and give it a unique charm. They have a significant drawback: they get dirty from dust, wrinkle, and lose their shape. How to deal with it has long been known. To do this, they are impregnated with a protective composition of starch. How to starch a napkin correctly?
Crocheted napkins have an openwork weave. For this purpose, cotton threads of different thicknesses are used. During weaving, products become wrinkled and dirty from hands. The difference between pure cotton napkins is that they do not hold their shape. Threads twisted with artificial, synthetic fibers are stiffer, do not wrinkle, and wash well. Silk threads and floss are similar to cotton threads in their ability to retain their shape. But they do not absorb water well and therefore are not starched. Woolen products with an openwork pattern are not subjected to the procedure.
The starching process consists of creating a protective shell for openwork fabric, giving and maintaining shape.
Properties of starch solution:
- invisible;
- not hygroscopic;
- moisture resistant.
Do not starch dark openwork items made from cotton threads: impregnation in the form of a white film will be noticeable on them. Potato and rice starch are used. As a replacement, you can use sugar syrup and PVA glue.
Advantages and disadvantages
Starched, knitted items do not get dirty longer and are washed faster and with better quality. Crocheting allows you to create the finest patterns, which can be seen and appreciated when the item retains its shape upon contact with it. Starching of such products is necessary.
The disadvantage of starch impregnation is that it is labor intensive. The process has technological features, without which the result will be unsatisfactory.
Preparation for the procedure
Starching consists of several stages:
- Preparing an openwork item.
- Preparation of impregnation.
- Starching.
- Drying.
- Ironing.
Each period requires strict adherence to conditions.
How to prepare the product
Before starching, items are washed and, if necessary, bleached. Depending on the percentage of openwork and the thickness of the thread, they are washed manually or in an automatic machine, in a protective case. Allow the water to drain without spinning. If things are clean, then soak them in warm water for 10 minutes. Cotton fibers must be well saturated with water, otherwise the starch solution will not be able to penetrate into the fibers. As a result, openwork products will not hold their shape well.
How to prepare a composition for starch
It is necessary to distinguish a paste made from starch from jelly. Paste is a glue used for wallpaper and decorative work. When preparing it, the starch suspension is diluted with boiling water, but not brought to a boil. Kissel is jelly prepared with food additives and consumed as a drink.
The product obtained from water alone is used for starching. Jelly is made from starch and water and used to soak openwork items. The resulting mixture should have a homogeneous, lump-free consistency. Otherwise, the products will starch unevenly, and dried pieces of jelly will be visible on the patterns.
The method for producing jelly for starching is no different from preparing a food product. First, a suspension is prepared: starch is mixed with a small amount of warm water. The composition must be used immediately, since after a few minutes the starch will precipitate.
The main portion of water is brought to a boil. A suspension of starch and water is poured into it in a thin stream, with constant stirring of the liquid. Cook the jelly over medium heat, with continuous stirring, until bubbles appear. The cooking process ends with intensive stirring and removal from the stove. Kissel has a viscous, translucent consistency.
The liquid should not be allowed to boil violently and for a long time, otherwise the jelly will lose its viscosity. To prevent a film from forming on the surface during cooling, the finished composition continues to be stirred from time to time. Use the composition hot for better impregnation.
The concentration (ratio of water and starch) depends on the type of product and the purpose of starching. The amount of impregnating composition is determined by the volume and weight of the product. For napkins, 1-2 liters of ready-made jelly is enough. To starch a curtain or tablecloth, you will need 7-10 liters. It is not advisable to cook such a volume. Prepare the composition based on the proportions per 1 liter.
In addition to potato starch, corn starch is used. The dry matter content is increased by 2 times. Otherwise, the technology does not change.
Weak
The lowest concentration is required for products such as curtains, tablecloths, and napkins. The purpose of starching is minimal retention of shape and prevention of contamination. Openwork items laid out on a stationary surface or hung on a hanger do not wrinkle, and the pattern is clearly visible on them.
For napkins, jelly is prepared from the ratio of 1 tablespoon of potato starch to 1 liter of water. Pour the starch into a glass of warm water and mix well. Bring the rest of the water to a boil and add the suspension. When the first bubbles appear, remove from heat.
Impregnation for large products is prepared differently. 10 liters of water will require 10 times more liquid jelly. Take 2 liters of water from the required volume. Stir 10 tablespoons of starch in 500 milliliters and brew in the remaining 1.5 liters of water. Boiling jelly is poured in a thin stream into 7 liters of water heated to 70 degrees, stirring vigorously.
The readiness of the impregnating solution is determined by touch: the liquid should be slightly slippery and free of lumps.
Average
Medium concentration jelly is used for starching shawls, scarves, blouses, and dresses. Things are used by changing their shape. A higher percentage of starch gives the products resistance to creasing and a thicker protective layer on the patterns. Prepare the impregnation using the same technology, doubling the amount of starch.
Strong
The highest degree of impregnation is necessary if the openwork product must maintain a given shape, for example, in the form of an artificial flower or a decorative vase. To obtain the greatest rigidity, the amount of starch is increased by 3 times compared to the weak degree. The cooking method remains unchanged.
How to starch correctly
The starching process begins immediately after preparing the jelly. The higher the temperature of the liquid, the better the cotton fibers are saturated with the starch composition. After washing, a knitted napkin or a well-moistened one is immersed in a container with jelly.
The liquid should completely cover the product. If it is impossible to straighten the patterns, carefully mix the impregnation with a napkin. Leave for 5-7 minutes. Remove to dry. Thin lace is laid out on a horizontal, non-absorbent surface. Soak it with a sponge soaked in jelly and then dry it with an iron.
Bulk items are starched in basins and buckets. After soaking in the jelly solution, the openwork products are kneaded and mixed, achieving uniform soaking. Medium and strong impregnation technologies are carried out in the same sequence. You cannot keep things in the starch mixture. The cooling solution will settle unevenly on the fabric, which will worsen the appearance of the weave.
Other methods
Exist additional ways improvements appearance openwork patterns. In addition to starch, you can add strength to the shape using other means.
Adding salt for shine
Salt crystals dissolved in jelly will give the patterns a snow-white shine. To get this result, boil a teaspoon of salt in the main volume of water. Then pour in the starch suspension and bring to a boil. When the volume of water is more than 1 liter, the salt is increased proportionally.
Adding sugar for strength
Sugar syrup has a high viscosity after cooling. If you cook jelly with sugar, then, at the same concentration of starch, the openwork product will hold its shape better. Sugar is boiled in the main volume of water until completely dissolved and syrup is formed.
For 0.7 liters of water you will need 100 grams of sugar. The syrup is boiled into a thin thread. Readiness is checked by color (transparent, slightly yellow) and a drop on a cold surface (holds its shape without spreading). Pour the starch suspension into the boiling syrup in a thin stream, stirring vigorously. Stir and remove from heat. The peculiarity of the coating attracts insects: flies, bees, wasps, ants.
Adding Talc and Borax
Talc is a fine, hygroscopic powder. Insoluble in water. The addition of talc to starch gives the finished product additional rigidity.
Borax is a colorless, white powder with gray, green and yellow tints. Dissolves in water at a temperature of 60 degrees. Used to create oil films as a hardener. When starching, a solution of 1 teaspoon of borax and 50 milliliters of water is added to the finished impregnation. When dry, the product takes on a permanent shape.
Without starch, with gelatin and PVA glue
You can maintain the shape of the openwork using gelatin or PVA glue. Instant gelatin is prepared according to the instructions, increasing the volume of water. For strong fixation it is taken at 1.5, for medium – 2, for weak – 2.5 times more than indicated. It is preferable to use vegetable gelatin (agar-agar). Soak a wet napkin in the jelly for 2-3 minutes.
PVA glue is dissolved in water in a ratio of 1:2 until a homogeneous thin paste is obtained. Immerse a damp cloth in it for 30 seconds.
With milk
Milk jelly gives a more durable, whitening coating. Preparation is similar to the water method. A napkin starched in this way can arouse the cat's interest.
Dry method
Thin openwork fabrics are starched without preparing jelly. A damp cloth is spread on an ironing board and sprinkled with dry starch. Cover with gauze and iron on the “silk” setting.
Aerosol
A special product containing a starch solution. The dry product is laid out on a sheet of paper on an ironing board. Spray several times at intervals of several minutes so that the fabric has time to soak. Iron with a warm iron through gauze.
Starched items require special drying and ironing conditions so as not to spoil the shape. They should not be dried in the cold or the sun, nor should they be twisted too much after impregnation. Products soaked in jelly made from low and medium concentrations of potato starch are dried flat on a horizontal, hygroscopic surface or on a rope. In a semi-moist state, they are ironed with a hot iron through gauze until completely dry. With strong impregnation, things should dry in the form they should be, without the use of an iron.
Adding salt to starch does not change anything during the drying and ironing process. The candied products are dried while wet through gauze with a warm iron. Milk impregnation requires ironing with a warm iron through gauze.
Items soaked in gelatin and PVA glue cannot be ironed. To give and maintain their shape, they are dried at room temperature in the form they should look like. For example, a vase-shaped napkin is laid out on a base (bottle, glass). Straighten out all folds and leave for 24 hours.
Rules for caring for starched items
Lightly starched openwork items can be folded and additionally ironed with a hot iron to improve the appearance. Do not use the steam mode or spray with water. The starch crust on the patterns will collapse, which will ruin the appearance.
A higher concentration of starch creates a strong shape. Repeated ironing of such items is undesirable. The coating may crumble in places. Dresses and blouses are stored in the closet, on hangers. Starched coatings are used for decorative and household purposes. When soiled, wash and repeat starching.
Nowadays it is generally accepted that starching napkins is old-fashioned. But this opinion is wrong. After all, starched napkins look much better when used as a table setting, while crocheted napkins without such treatment simply look crumpled. It will take very little time to starch a napkin.
How to use starch
Using starch is the most popular method.
- Boil a liter of water.
- While the water is boiling, dissolve the starch. If you need to starch the product heavily, take 2 tablespoons of starch; for medium processing, 1.5 tablespoons are enough, and for weak processing, 1 spoon. Take a little water, just to dissolve the starch. Stir the starch well in cold water so that no lumps form.
- Now pour the starch solution into boiling water and stir thoroughly until small bubbles appear on the edges of the pan.
- Then cool the resulting solution.
- Take a napkin and immerse it all in the solution, wait until the paste is absorbed into the napkin.
- Wring out the napkin well and straighten it into the correct shape.
- After drying, the napkin must be steamed with an iron.
How to starch with sugar
The method of starching a knitted napkin with sugar was known to our grandmothers. Treated wipes will become more rigid.
- Take 1 liter of water and 6 tablespoons of sugar.
- Make syrup from sugar.
- While the syrup is boiling, dilute 1 teaspoon of starch in cold water.
- Pour the prepared starch into the container with the syrup, stirring all the time.
- When bubbles appear at the edges of the container, the solution for treating the napkin is ready.
- Cool the solution and dip a napkin into it.
- When the napkin is completely saturated with the solution, wring it out and straighten it to give the desired shape.
- When the napkin is completely dry, iron it with a hot iron.
