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How to Make Super Heavy Starch for Crafting

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July 7, 2017 Ashlea 49 Comments

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So you love crisp, clean shirts? Shirts that don’t move when you do? Jeans so stiff they can walk themselves to the laundry room?  Sure, there’s something to be said for laundry starch, but there is also something to be said for strong starch when crafting, specifically with knitting and crochet.  So here’s How to Make Super Heavy Starch for crafting at home.

Making Super Heavy Starch for Crafting at Home

How to Make Super Heavy Starch for Crafting

This super heavy homemade starch is one that I use specifically when crafting with yarn or crochet thread. I wouldn’t use this on my clothing (but you could if you watered it down significantly). In my quest for finding the perfect way to SUPER starch my newest crochet pattern (that’s a secret until later today!), I decided that store bought aerosol starch just wasn’t cutting it. It wasn’t stiff enough, I didn’t like the way it left white spots when used on dark fabric, and I wanted to be able to control the amount of stiffness of said starch.

This heavy starch uses just a two household ingredients: water and corn starch. It sounds so easy doesn’t it? That’s because it is.

Homemade Starch for Use When Crafting

Tip: The more starch you use in relation to the water, the stiffer your finished product will be.

Tip #2: Stirring together BEFORE boiling keeps it less lumpy.

Ingredients:

Water
Corn starch

Super Heavy Starch Directions:

1. Mix 1 cup cold water with 1 tbsp corn starch until clumps disappear.

Corn Starch for Fabric Stiffener

2. Boil mixture until thick. (boiling helps to eliminate flakes or white spots when the starch dries)

3. Remove from heat and let cool.

How to Make Homemade Super Heavy Starch for Use When Crafting

4. Mix in about 1/2 cup cold water. (the less water added now, the stronger the starch)

5. Soak the yarn/crochet thread/fabric in the liquid.

6. Carefully squeeze extra liquid out and position item in EXACTLY the shape you wish it to dry.

If you are starching a crafted item that you want SUPER stiff, you might want to repeat this process using little to no added water at the end. Just let the boiled mixture cool to lukewarm and spoon onto the project, coating all surfaces of the yarn/fibers. Note that when I do this with large projects, I use a wide (18″) aluminum foil and lay it out on my countertop.


This super heavy starch recipe pairs perfectly with my newest crochet pattern (that I am releasing later today on the Heart Hook Home Facebook page)! Stay tuned, you’ll ♥ this one!

How to Make Starch for Crafts

More homemade recipes:

How to Make Your Own Homemade Swiffer Cleaning Solution
Homemade Butter (and Buttermilk!) Using a Kitchen Mixer
How to Make Homemade Taco Seasoning
Make Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Tabs
Homemade “Cream of” Soups (Chicken, Celery, Mushroom)

Home, Other Crafts craft starch, homemade starch, how to make starch, starch, starch for crafting

Comments

  1. Jane Aaron says

    December 25, 2020 at 2:35 pm

    Hi! Can this starch be used on a dark colored ribbon without leaving a milky looking residue? I'm having trouble stiffening a dark burgundy ribbon, for making a bow. THANKS!
    Reply
    • Heart Hook Home says

      December 26, 2020 at 8:25 pm

      Hi Jane! Not sure about ribbon, but I used this on a black crochet thread sunhat with no issues.
      Reply
  2. Jent says

    November 25, 2020 at 5:44 pm

    You dont mention if this can be washed and waterproof ! also there is an error with grammar First Name and to send post Name. It should be Name. The word Name is 'first. so the word First is an extra word that has no purpose unless you are asking for Last name when there is more than one name , Gloria, Maria, Lisa. Thanks
    Reply
    • Janet says

      December 20, 2020 at 10:52 am

      Ha! You mention grammatical errors in this blog, but you didn't even critique your own post! "Also" should be capitalized, and there should have been a comma placed after this word. Why are people ( like yourself) critize stupid sh*t like this. If you can say something nice, don't say anything at all!
      Reply
      • Julie says

        December 23, 2020 at 5:30 pm

        There were so many mistakes in grammar and punctuation by Jent, truly she has the kind of nerve so called “know-it-alls” typically display. She certainly wasn’t the kind of crafter I’d want in my group. Hey, you hang in there! Thanks for your recipe and help!
        Reply
  3. Karen says

    November 24, 2020 at 7:06 pm

    How much of the mixture do you ring out? I left mine pretty wet needless to say they didn't dry over night. I'm glad I used this on samples and not on my project. Also can I rush the drying by using a blower? Thank you
    Reply
  4. Debbie says

    November 4, 2020 at 12:31 pm

    I am going to be starching A LOT of doilies to use as snowflakes for a church luncheon. They will need to be starched very stiff as they will be hanging from the ceiling. Many of these are coming from ladies from our congregation and they will want them back. Will the starch wash out when we are finished with them? Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe.
    Reply
  5. Emma says

    October 30, 2020 at 11:34 pm

    Can you leave this to dry in a cold place or no? I’m storing mine to dry on my garage and I’m worried that it won’t dry properly
    Reply
  6. Jennifer Hadden says

    October 25, 2020 at 7:37 pm

    Hello! Thank you for posting this recipe . I am wondering how the dried look is with acrylic yarn?
    Reply
  7. Helen Stewart says

    March 15, 2020 at 5:33 pm

    How do you make the drachma with sugar and water
    Reply
  8. Ronald Forfar says

    January 14, 2020 at 3:23 am

    I intend to cover the walls of a room with fabric, most websites showing how to do this feature 'Sta-fl' liquid starch, which is not readily available in the UK. What recipe would you suggest to make my own equivalent? Salut, from England.
    Reply
  9. Caitlynn Petty says

    December 13, 2019 at 11:43 pm

    I have a couple questions. How long can I store this stuff? And could I multiply the recipe? Like, could I use twice the amount of starch and water in one sitting or do I have to make multiple batches?
    Reply
    • Darla says

      April 11, 2020 at 11:42 am

      You can double, Triple, quadruple the recipe all in one batch. Use what you need cover the rest for near future use. For longer use you can put it in the refrigerator.
      Reply
    • Karen says

      April 11, 2020 at 1:18 pm

      Ifi use sta-flo instead of water for the mixture and it still work?? I need somethimg super super strong
      Reply
  10. Rachel says

    May 21, 2019 at 3:53 pm

    I plan on making a large wall hanging using old doilies. This "wall hanging" will also be used outside at a wedding. Do you think this starching method will hold up to humid conditions? Once I have completed this wall hanging I will not be able to disassemble it easily to re-starch the doilies.
    Reply
    • Heart Hook Home says

      May 22, 2019 at 11:47 am

      Hi Rachel! I don't think it would hold up in humidity very well...especially if for long durations.
      Reply
  11. Angie says

    May 8, 2019 at 11:13 am

    Do you think you could dip fake flowers in this to make stiff and paint?
    Reply
  12. Daizie says

    April 8, 2019 at 8:28 am

    Your not answering my question. Can you mix mod podge with starch
    Reply
    • Heart Hook Home says

      April 8, 2019 at 10:17 am

      Hi Daizie! For the purpose of starching fabrics/yarns, I wouldn't mix starch with mod podge as I believe that would create more of a plaster like paste.
      Reply
  13. Theresa says

    April 4, 2019 at 2:57 pm

    Can I use this mixture on acrylic yarn ornaments?
    Reply
    • Heart Hook Home says

      April 8, 2019 at 10:24 am

      Hi Theresa! You can use this mixture on many different fabrics/yarns...I don't see any reason that it wouldn't work with acrylic as well =)
      Reply
  14. Becky says

    December 31, 2018 at 1:13 pm

    Any idea how many objects you can use this amount for? I have about 11 crochet snowflakes (maybe 3-4" each) and wondering how much to make. Thanks so much!
    Reply
  15. Mischa Barr says

    December 3, 2018 at 12:15 pm

    How long does it take for the corn starch stiffer to dry?
    Reply
    • Heart Hook Home says

      December 4, 2018 at 9:44 am

      Hi Mischa! I let mine sit overnight, but it probably doesn't take that long to dry. Hope this helps!
      Reply
  16. Ruth Marshall says

    November 1, 2018 at 9:36 pm

    Do you know if this corn starch mixture attracts pests - bugs after it has dried? Thanks in advance.
    Reply
    • Lynn Jolly says

      January 13, 2019 at 2:38 pm

      I put salt in mine just incase it might. No bugs so far
      Reply
      • Karen Totten says

        December 17, 2020 at 12:35 pm

        How much salt do you add?
        Reply
  17. Leslie J SittingBull says

    September 8, 2018 at 11:51 pm

    Well I am going to attempt this on my sunhat tomorrow. I have read all comments so I kind of know what to expect. My question is...what did you use to form the head part? I am resourceful so I will think of something by then.
    Reply
    • Heart Hook Home says

      September 12, 2018 at 8:35 pm

      Hi Leslie! I used a soup bowl flipped upside down.
      Reply
    • Peg says

      October 19, 2019 at 12:11 pm

      I used a balloon
      Reply
  18. Cookie says

    August 7, 2018 at 2:05 pm

    Thank you for posting this recipe. I tried to buy store bought liquid starch and can't find it any where. I plan to try it with fabric to use in my dollhouse for wall paper. Thank again!
    Reply
    • Wendy says

      August 20, 2019 at 4:16 pm

      My mom always bought Argo to starch her doilies. (That's a powder.)
      Reply
  19. Ann says

    May 6, 2018 at 12:36 pm

    I plan to try this starch recipe. When I worked in nursing we made our caps (remember those?) by placing our dampened fabric (which was like a hankerchief) in luquid starch, then putting onto the refrigerator door and smoothing it out. It dried overnight and we could peel it off when dry. The side against the frig was especially smooth and shiny. We then folded it into shape. I plan to starch doilies and put them on a window instead of a curtain. Has anyone heard of this?
    Reply
    • Lynda says

      October 13, 2018 at 10:33 pm

      Hi Ann. I've not heard of it but it sounds wonderful!!! Pls let me know how it came out. Lynda
      Reply
    • Wendy says

      August 20, 2019 at 4:19 pm

      My mom always starched her doilies with Argo and then laid them out on opened-up grocery bags. Only had to re-starch them when she thought they needed washing. I actually don't know any other way to starch a doily.
      Reply
      • Amy says

        November 30, 2020 at 8:52 am

        ARGO is a corn starch.
        Reply
  20. tryandfeelme says

    April 27, 2018 at 10:50 pm

    So i added the mp fabric and it is ugly!! So im wondering after i stiffen what can i use to give my item a gloss satin look, because just the starch mixture makes my item dull when using black crochet thread. Tried it on silver its good so far.
    Reply
    • Samia says

      November 29, 2019 at 10:03 pm

      @tryandfeelme You could try painting the reverse side of your project with the starch, using a small brush. The front part should stay shiny.
      Reply
  21. tryandfeelme says

    April 25, 2018 at 3:16 am

    Also can i use plastic wrap instead of foil?
    Reply
  22. tryandfeelme says

    April 25, 2018 at 3:14 am

    Can I store what i have left over for a few days or do i have to remake everytime i need it?
    Reply
    • Ashlea says

      April 25, 2018 at 4:41 pm

      I don't find that I have a lot left over, so I usually toss what little there is. Also, I would not use plastic wrap instead of foil, but you could! If you try that, please let me know how it goes.
      Reply
      • tryandfeelme says

        April 27, 2018 at 12:39 pm

        Why foil? And thanks very much for answering i didn't think i would get an answer!!! I got this crusty stuff that dries on my item . I think while it cools it forms this skin on top and when i stir it , it gets mixed up but doesn't break down. So im going to remove that skin. Also i did a batch where i did not add water after cooling, and one where i did. Not much difference. But adding multiple coats makes a difference. Im adding modge podge fabric coat. After stiffening, cause i want a shine. I wonder if it will effect the stiffening .
        Reply
      • tryandfeelme says

        April 27, 2018 at 12:42 pm

        I used plastic wrap before when im using modge podge so i figured why not. The plastic wrap works. I pin it down in cardboard with sewing pins. And pin my item in the shape i want
        Reply
      • VeggieMight4Life says

        June 10, 2018 at 1:01 pm

        Hello&an Thank you for sharing this homemade recipe. I don't like to buy aerosols. Esspecially if i can make my own things at home. Could I put this into a spray bottle instead of spooning onto my finished crocheted project? God bless!
        Reply
        • Lynda says

          October 13, 2018 at 10:36 pm

          The mixture is pretty thick so I don't think a spray bottle will work.
          Reply
  23. Bonnie G Kieffer says

    April 3, 2018 at 12:16 pm

    I let mine dry, sometimes that iron will leave unwanted marks on your beautiful piece.
    Reply
  24. Karolyn says

    January 6, 2018 at 9:36 pm

    Soooo after putting the starch on do I have to iron it? Or just let the crocheted item dry? I don't know, that's why Im asking.
    Reply
  25. Sophie says

    July 23, 2017 at 1:09 pm

    I could definitely use this for my crochet christmas tree decorations this year! There were a little on the floppy side last year....
    Reply

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Welcome!

beard

Hi! I’m Ashlea, the Kansas mom, and wife, that runs this crochet, food, and heart (CHD) blog.  I am a frugal, yarn loving crochet addict that enjoys good food and fine wine – or an occasional whiskey. 😉 Read more about me here and see my favorite Amazon products here.

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