Stiffening Lace

Last time, we talked a bit about making lace bookmarks, along with a few updates about new stuff at Sew Knit Home. I mentioned how there was a small pile of finished bookmarks that hadn't been blocked or stiffened. So over the past two weeks, I decided to tackle stiffening them. I don't believe I've mentioned it before, but I like to use natural solutions whenever I can, and avoid chemicals. And it just so happens that I have enough bookmarks to try several vintage, natural stiffening methods. Read on for more info about them!
When I was looking up ways to do this, I found some great online resources. This page by Crochet Memories was easily the most comprehensive. It has information on a ton of ways to stiffen lace, including things you can make at home.
Most of the suggestions I found recommended the sugar-water method, and it seemed to be one of the preferred methods, right after white glue (one of the reviews I read on white glue stiffening said that over time the glue would yellow and effect the color of the item, so I ruled that one out of my experiments). The sugar-water method became the first thing I tried.

Sugar-Water Test: Method 1

It started out smoothly enough; I mixed equal parts sugar and water, boiled it on the stove, and let it cool. It was a lot like making hummingbird nectar. Once it was cooled, I put it into a plastic storage container, dampened the first bookmark with fresh water, and dunked it into the sugar-water. I let it soak in there for about 5 minutes, just to make sure it absorbed enough of the sugar stiffen.
And then the trouble started. Squeezing out the excess sugar-water, even trying to be careful, got everything sticky. It got on the counter and dripped down my arms. Pinning the edges resulted in a scalloped edge, which wasn't what I wanted. So I decided to try the blocking wires. But it was very difficult to get them through the stitches; the thread was sticky, and the wires themselves got sticky. It took longer to get them through than regular blocking, but eventually I got them through the stitches, and pinned them out on a towel. I put a piece of plastic wrap over the towel before I pinned the bookmark to it, so they wouldn't get stuck together.

It took about 3 days to completely dry (I removed the wires after about a day so they wouldn't get stuck to the thread), but it came out very stiff. I did read on the website listed below that pets may eat items stiffened with sugar, though, so that's something to keep in mind. Otherwise, I think this was the best method of the three.

Epsom Salts Test: Method 2

After the sugar-water, I ran another search for ways to stiffen lace. I was very close to trying spray starch when I found these pages: How to stiffen crochet snowflake and The secret of crisp curtains. Spoiler alert: they both recommend Epsom salts as a stiffener. And I just happened to have a big carton of the stuff from my gardening attempts (I spray it on pepper plants as a fertilizer). I used the same recipe as the sugar-water, equal parts salts and water. Although it had no scent once it cooled, it had a rather pleasant, powdery smell when it was boiling. I put it in a storage container and dropped the bookmark, lightly dampened with fresh water, into it and let it soak for a few minutes.

It was much easier to get the wires through the edges, because this method is not sticky at all. It also dries much faster than sugar, and is completely dry it about 24 hours. Putting two coats made the bookmark almost as stiff as the sugar method. However, it does slightly whiten the thread, so you'll notice the color of the item will get a little lighter (it's not as noticeable on lighter colored threads).

Liquid Starch Test: Method 3

This method resulted in a very soft, flexible bookmark. I used the liquid starch Sta-Flo, because it was the only one I could find that had a couple of ingredient names I recognized. It's main stiffening ingredient is cornstarch. I didn't dilute it at all for this test, just poured some into a plastic container, and let the bookmark soak it in for a few minutes, just like the prior tests. It did smell nice, although it was slightly sticky (not as sticky as the sugar water), and it dried fast.
After 24 hours, I took the bookmark off the wires, turned it upside down, and ironed it on a lower setting with a press cloth over it. It definitely held the blocked shape, still had a bit of stretch to it, and was not stiff at all. However, considering the bookmark was almost all stockinette stitch, it did not roll or curl, even after I handled it a bit and tried folding it. While I was looking for a stiffer finish (I ended up washing the bookmark out and re-stiffening it with Epsom salts), this method would definitely work well for a softer finish. I plan on using it on a lace mat I'll be making for my desk, to help it keep its shape without being scratchy on the desk, and I could definitely see a diluted solution being useful on something like a very lacy shawl.

 Conclusion

While all of these methods worked, the sugar method was my favorite. Epsom salts was a close second, however, particularly since pets may be tempted to eat items dipped in sugar water.

Here are the three bookmarks that I've stiffened so far. The white one and middle green one were stiffened with sugar, while the green one on the right was stiffened with Epsom salts. You can see there is a slight difference in color between the two green ones, although both were made with the same thread. 

I admit I've been on a bit of a bookmark kick lately; they're fun, lacy projects that finish up quickly and make nice gifts! But I'm still hoping to start a new sewing project, just as soon as I clear off my work table. . . . I started cleaning out a closet at the end of last week, and there are still a couple of piles of books that need to be sorted and packed into boxes. Until next time.

Happy crafting!