I’ve had these old doilies in the linen closet for quite some time. Doilies are definitely a thing of the past and these three – well, they were old fashioned when doilies were cool! But how delighted I was when I found this ‘recipe’ in an old book of mother’s. Decluttering is bringing me untold treasures!
Mary A. Anstey is my grandmother and she is long gone from this world.
But her recipe for sugar starch and crinoline stiffening is yours today!
Sugar Starch
Boil 3 cups sugar and 1 cup of water for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and put items in the pan. Saturate item in solution. A wooden spoon may be needed to press the starch into the fabric. Remove and mould to shape as the item dries. Crumbled tissue paper is useful in doing this.
To Stiffen a Crinoline
To stiffen crinolines of nylon net or net, soften 2 or 3 envelopes of plain gelatin in 1/2 cup cold water. Dissolve in 1 quart boiling water. Dip garment into this thoroughly working solution into fabric. Do not iron, just drip dry.
Now… if I can find my crinoline! (and we thought Spanx were rough…)
Twice-Loved 