Starching Take #2

[theladyrebecca]

Or maybe I should just say starching fail #2. I tried cornstarch this time, and used the 1/4 cup cornstarch to 1 quart water ratio from Natalie's blog. Just like last time, I submerged both petticoats, and then put them on spin cycle for 8 minutes. Today turned sunny, so I hung them off the porch to let them both dry in the sun. They are now dry, and I've even pressed the corded petticoat. And honestly, I don't think it's any stiffer now than it was before I tried either starching process. The regular petticoat is a little stiffer, maybe even a little bit more stiff than it was after using the liquid starch yesterday, but neither petticoat is anywhere close to being able to stand on its own. I guess it just wasn't meant to be. 

Comments

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

Well, that's weird. I've never used cornstarch, but hers do stand up. Maybe the diluted solution first DID resist or repel the second solution. :( I'm so sorry!

I read further, and she says her petticoats are stiff and rustley. Um, mine aren't. The Pimatex one in particular WHOMPS like a big sheet of posterboard. Her recipe may not be the equivalent of full strength Sta-Flo.

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

Here's another recipe:
http://mackin-art.blogspot.com/2011/02/starchy.html
It's also got pictures and how to iron.

It calls for Argo laundry starch, but I assume any grocery starch will work similarly.

Also, it's when they're taken down dry, but not ironed, that they stand up by themselves. After ironing they don't stand up.

What fabric did you use for the corded petticoat? My petticoat of cheap muslin is noticeably limper when ironed than the Pimatex one.

[theladyrebecca.livejournal.com]

Hmm, that's the same proportion of starch to water I used, though I didn't do the mixing it in just one cup thing first, or the putting it in the fridge thing, so maybe that's where the secret lies.

My corded petticoat is just muslin. The other one is something thicker, though I don't know what type of cotton, since I made it out of a bedskirt.

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

Some of the instructions I saw did seem to indicate that the right order of procedure was important. I don't know; I've never tried it myself! :)

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

And there are several on this thread, including recipes for heavy, medium, and light starch.

http://thesewingacademy.org/index.php?PHPSESSID=b2091eb66fb6e707b062c1a8937e3bbd&topic=264.0

[howlgirl.livejournal.com]

I've always dipped and hung, I'm wondering if the spin cycle is causing issues.