I have a fellow crocheter who uses white Elmer,s glue ( not the school glue)  and her projects remain stiff and handle able,too.

My mom has been making crochet snowflakes for years.  She stiffens them with a mixture of sugar and water - I love how the sugar makes the snowflakes sparkle when they're dry.  They look just like real snowflakes!

Andreamaund, that is a great idea for snowflakes! Do you happen to know what ratio she used?

Toni

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I've used the liquid (usually a blue thick) starch found in the laundry detergent section of stores. Mix with a bit less water than specified for clothing, amount of water will vary depending on the thickness of material used and degree of stiffness required. Experiment with a small amount of solution and a swatch. This is great with doilies and fine crocheted items. Some items I like a lot of body but still flexible and others with deep ruffling I could almost use as a serving tray. The blue color doesn't affect white items and those with color no fading is present. I've also used the sugar solution as well but if you're in a warmer climate ants love this and may chew the items up to get the sugar.

I've been crocheting snowflakes since the mid 1980's. I didn't have any success making them stiff.  So I chose patterns that had large intricately crocheted centers with short points. No starching necessary, The crochet snowflake was self-supporting. It works for me, Marilee G.

I've been crocheting snow flakes for years,  I use a commercial fabric stiffener.  after washing  them I pin them out while still damp on a waxed paper or plastic wrap covered board. and using a sponge applicator apply stiffener.  let dry  over night , and sometimes apply a second time , especially to the points.  at this point I might add a bit of glitter, remove pins and leaving them on the board, let them dry completely before removing. Long process but my family & friends love them, so it's worth it.

I love thread crochet and agree that stiffening is really worth the time.  I have a blog post that shows you how I do it. I was afraid that it would be messy, but it really is simpler than I thought.

crochetnirvana.weebly.com/.../friday-show-tell-how-i-stiffen-lace-with-glue.html

PS I love the images of your pre-blocked jelly fish and neurons!  I might add amoeba to the list!!

Do this kind of thing in Fiber Artists Northwest!  

Press them first.  Soak in dissolved solvy or the liquid studs Nancy's Notions sells.  Press them again (low heat!) and 'voila'. Perfect snowflakes

Do this kind of thing in Fiber Artists Northwest!  

Press them first.  Soak in dissolved solvy or the liquid studs Nancy's Notions sells.  Press them again (low heat!) and 'voila'. Perfect snowflakes

Should say liquid stuff and use a press cloth

Should say liquid stuff and you should use a press cloth in final press

Cornstarch!   I was doing a lot of stars, ornaments, and mobils about 20 years ago and started using some old boiling starch that my mother-in-law had left in the cupboards, probably from the 1940s.  It was getting low when a friend, who was also doing lace, found us several more box's of it in Chinatown, San Francisco.  When a 3rd friend became interested in what we were doing she called someone at Argo and asked them what the difference was between their laundry starch and food grade starch.  The short answer was "the color of the box"!

You can experiment with the thickness, I usually went about 1/2 strength of what a lemon pie would be.  Have it fairly hot, put in your crochet, and squeeze/work the starch into it well.  Pin and let dry.

I worry about the chemicals in glue abrading the fiber over time, and yes, bugs are attracted to sugar.  I still have some of those early pieces that are still crisp and fresh looking.

I would like to add to my comment on 11-29-12.  I wash my snowflakes in water with a drop of dish soap, rinse, pat out points on a bath towel. The next day they are dried and ready-to-go.  Marilee G

These look pretty easy. Way back in prehistoric times, we just mixed up some really thick starch, soaked them in that for a few min, and pinned them to dry. Starch is still sold in grocery stores.

Not sure how "Mary Ellen's Best Press" ...clear starch alternative spray would work.

I soak mine in sugar water (quarter sugar to water ratio) - let the sugar dissolve in the water overnight but do cover the bowl with clingfilm to prevent contamination.  After they are thoroughly soaked (about 10 minutes), I then block and allow to dry naturally - the ironing board is wonderful for this.  Doing it this way is brilliant if you use the snowflakes as a 'lid' for a handmade box for chocolates or other foodstuffs.

I went snowflake crazy this Christmas and made about 40.  I used the simplest method I could in order to stiffen them. I mixed some Elmer's School Glue with water and "painted" the snowflakes that had been pinned. They are perfect! No soaking, no wringing, no stretching. I LOVE EASY!!