How to starch a crocheted napkin with starch, sugar, pva glue, gelatin, iron. How to starch crocheted napkins at home: best methods How to bleach and starch white napkins

The manual contains detailed and step by step instructions about how to starch a napkin, both an ordinary dinner napkin and one made with your own hands - crocheted or knitted. Why do we starch things? The essence of this operation is to impart the required rigidity to the fabric. The arsenal of substances used in the starching procedure is not limited to starch itself. Depending on the purpose of the item, the same or a similar effect can be achieved with milk, gelatin, sugar and, which may seem unexpected to some, PVA (polyvinyl acetate) glue.

Pure white starch allows you to change not only the mechanical, but also the optical properties of the fabric.

Depending on the ratio of the amounts of starch and water, they distinguish the following types starching:

hard - two tablespoons of starch are used in combination with a liter of water;
medium or semi-hard - one tablespoon of starch is required to create the composition;
soft - just one teaspoon of starch per liter of water.

In general, the process of preparing a starch solution includes the following steps:

Dilute potato starch in a small amount of water to the consistency of liquid sour cream, but the presence of lumps is unacceptable.
Add water to the container with the resulting composition to the required ratio corresponding to the type of starch.
Place the dish on the fire, stirring continuously, bring to a boil, then cool the solution to 35 degrees. The composition welded in this way is called a paste.

Before you start starching napkins, you should figure out which method is most suitable in a particular case. The main thing to remember when choosing a starching method is the fact that the more openwork the napkin, the more soft way its starch must be selected.

The hobby of knitting napkins has not lost its relevance for several centuries. They were mainly knitted and knitted from cotton thread. The difference in the products is, perhaps, only in the fact that the craftswomen of previous centuries did not have such useful achievements at their disposal chemical industry, such as viscose and lurex, used as additives to threads. And modern, so-called mercerized thread is even whiter than ordinary natural cotton, and with its use it is already easier to achieve snow-whiteness from the very beginning. A wide variety of creative results is achieved by a combination of knitting methods using threads of different thicknesses.

Handmade napkins are used both as stands for objects, for example, under a vase of flowers, and as an independent element of decoration. Used as a decorative element, they give the room a lived-in status and create an atmosphere of warmth and comfort.

Due to the fact that knitted napkins do not have a functional purpose (that is, they do not wipe the face or hands with them), the range of substances suitable for starching napkins is quite wide. And perhaps the best way PVA glue will serve to secure the shape. It would be unnecessary to suspect the polyvinyl acetate contained in this glue as unnatural or toxic. This substance belongs to the class of organic chemistry and, over more than a century of history that has passed since its discovery, has proven itself to be a safe and stable compound. However, this glue is unstable to water and ultraviolet radiation, which is part of the spectrum of sunlight, which makes their location on window sills unacceptable.

Before use, PVA glue must be diluted with clean cold water to a ratio of approximately 1:1 to 1:2, depending on its original density. As a result, the consistency of the solution should become similar to milk.

A pre-washed crocheted openwork napkin is placed in a container with diluted glue and allowed to completely soak, then taken out and wrung out without twisting, then dried.

The drying process is carried out on a flat surface, protected from glue with cling film. At the same time, to maintain symmetry, it is advisable to secure the straightened patterned product at the corners with pins.

If desired, the napkin can be given a shape other than flat: for this, drying is carried out on an object of cylindrical or truncated conical shape ( glass jar, plate, vase, basket).

Threads impregnated with such a fastening composition have the following properties:

due to the increased rigidity, the napkin stably holds the intended pattern;
the surface of the threads is smoothed due to the coating;
microscopic fibers, being immersed in the fastening composition, no longer retain dust;
the initial purity of the substances used allows you to automatically lighten the fabric product.

The most accessible household product suitable for imparting rigidity to an openwork product is regular sugar. To prepare the sugar starch composition, you need three cups of granulated sugar and one and a half cups of water. The mixture is boiled on the stove until the crystals are completely dissolved.

Before you starch knitted napkin In this way, it must be washed thoroughly, since it is impossible to change the color of the product with sugar, it is transparent, and all dirt will still remain visible after the water bound by the sugar has evaporated. The napkin is placed in the resulting syrup for a few minutes to allow it to completely soak. One of the potential disadvantages of this method is that a napkin treated in this way can become a source of increased interest from rodents, ants and cockroaches.

Another food product suitable for “starching” things is gelatin. The process of preparing the composition is similar to preparing a medium paste: to obtain it, carefully mix a spoonful of gelatin and half a glass of warm water. Add another one and a half glasses of water to a homogeneous, lump-free mass and place on low heat. The heating process is carried out until the solution boils. Before use, liquid gelatin must cool to 30-40 C. The napkin soaked in it should be dried in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.

Modifications of the classic starch recipe using rice and corn starch, milk as a liquid, and also adding table salt or sugar to the paste are still used. Milk increases fiber volume, crystallized salt gives the napkin a glossy shine, and sugar increases rigidity.

The need to starch a napkin also arises for functional, that is, dinner napkins. With their help, the task of imparting solemnity, grandeur and significance to the upcoming feast is realized. The question of how to starch such a napkin is technically no different from the procedure of how best to starch napkins, crocheted. But the composition used for the procedure is most often classic starch. The essence of this operation is to impart rigidity to the fabric, which allows it to be later formed, for example, into beautiful swans.

The procedure for starching napkins is as follows:

napkins are immersed for 10-15 minutes in the prepared starch solution;
the product should then be wrung out and dried in a straightened state;
an almost dried napkin with a slight residual moisture is subjected to the final stage - ironing, the temperature of the iron should be medium to prevent yellowing of the starch, and steaming should be turned off.

Perhaps now the question of how to properly starch a napkin has become more transparent for you.

It is somewhat more difficult to shape a tablecloth using starch substances. Not its entire area should be starched; most often it is necessary to lightly starch the ends hanging over the edges of the table. Therefore, recommendations on how to starch a knitted or dinner napkin are somewhat different from what is needed to starch a tablecloth.

The composition used for this is semi-rigid - 1 tablespoon of starch per liter of water. You should ensure that the starched tablecloth does not dry out, otherwise it will be difficult to iron.

Starching a tablecloth will be significantly simplified by using commercially available aerosol cans with a sprayed starch composition. They are used on pre-ironed fabric.

Compliance with all the rules presented above will ensure that there are no problems with starching of napkins.

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 similar problem, you need to familiarize yourself with how to starch a crocheted napkin with 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. Texture ready mixture It 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. Do not wash such items in washing machine, otherwise their structure may collapse.
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 have at an affordable price and ease of 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 items that will not come into contact with skin and food products.

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 to process products. 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.

In the modern world there are still housewives who like traditional decorations interior Crocheted napkins occupy an important place, with which you can create a cozy homely atmosphere. However, such products do not hold their shape, which is why their appearance is a little untidy. Knowing how to starch a crocheted napkin, the problem can be solved.

Starching process

For napkins, cotton threads of different thicknesses (iris, snowflake) are used. They are produced both with the addition of lurex, viscose or silk, and in their pure form. Products made from natural cotton that have undergone a mercerization process have an excellent appearance.

In any case, no matter what material the napkin is made of, it will wrinkle, because its weaves are openwork and do not hold the desired shape. Starching covers the product with a film, as a result of which the density of the product, as well as its elasticity, increases significantly.

In addition, the starching process whitens the fabric a little, and the threads do not absorb dust as much due to the film. Polyvinyl acetate glue, starch, gelatin and sugar will help you starch a crocheted product.

Traditional option

The essence of the traditional recipe is that you need to starch a napkin with starch . To do this, you need to properly prepare a solution from water. and, accordingly, starch and keep the product in it.

You can also use rice or corn starch, but their viscosity is much lower, so the consumption of such starch will increase.

If desired, the napkin can be given any strength:

To prepare the solution, you need to dilute the starch in a fifth of cold water, mix, there should be no lumps, the consistency should resemble cream. The remaining water should be boiled. Then pour the prepared solution into it. After the paste boils, remove from heat and let cool to 30 degrees. Depending on the thickness of the napkin threads, soaking lasts different time. Thin ones are immersed in a container with paste for five minutes., medium by ten, thick by 15-20. After the time has passed, the product must be squeezed out and allowed to dry.

Application of additional ingredients

To starch crocheted napkins, you can use additional components. You can use salt. With its help, textiles will acquire a glossy shine. A fifth of a teaspoon of salt is added to the prepared hot paste.

With the help of milk, the fibers of the product acquire additional volume. The solution is prepared from a liter of skim milk and a heaped spoonful of rice starch. First, all the starch is diluted in 200 ml of cold milk, the remaining 800 ml is boiled. Everything is combined and allowed to cool to 35 degrees.

Sugar makes the solution harder. You will need 90-100 g of sugar, 20 g of starch and a liter of water. First you need to heat 200 ml of water, stir sugar in it, dilute starch in 200 ml of cold water. Boil the remaining water and add the two previous solutions.

To prepare starch with a glossy effect, you will need 100 g of rice starch, 50 g of talc, a spoon of borax, and water. First, everything is mixed and diluted with water until it becomes thick, like cream. Using a brush, the solution is applied to the product and ironed through a thin cloth or gauze.

The dry method does not involve preparing a paste. The product should be placed on top of the cardboard and covered with starch. Using a spray bottle, spray water onto a napkin and let dry or iron it through clean paper. For a temporary effect, you can use a ready-made spray with starch from the store.

You can starch a knitted napkin without starch:

Napkins, as well as other knitted textiles, can decorate every interior made in classic style. But it takes a lot of time to create these small masterpieces. Starching is the final step that gives neatness and shape to the products. However, the effect lasts until the first wash. Products made of wool, dark threads, silk, and floss should not be starched.

Attention, TODAY only!

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.

Handmade, openwork weaving from natural threads is a type applied arts. 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 by hand. 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. Do not undergo the procedure woolen products with an openwork pattern.

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.

Dark ones do not starch openwork products made of cotton threads: impregnation in the form of a white film will be visible 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. Crochet allows you to create the finest patterns, which can be seen and appreciated when the thing 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 an adhesive 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. The rest of the water is brought to a boil and the suspension is added. 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 artificial flower, 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. Knitted napkin after washing or well-moistened, immerse 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

There are additional ways to improve 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 finished products 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. Wet wipe straighten on an ironing board, sprinkle 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.