Home comfort is every housewife's dream. A crocheted napkin will be a charming addition to the interior. This is an airy product, starch will give it neatness. If you know how to starch correctly, taking into account all the features of this procedure, napkins will retain their shape and impeccable appearance for a long time.
Content
- Why are knitted napkins starched?
- Traditional method: starch
- Other recipes with starch: creating a glossy surface
- Other methods: creating a matte effect
- Use of sugar
- PVA glue
- Gelatin treatment
- Aerosol
- Dry method
- Drying and ironing tips
- VIDEO: How to starch a knitted napkin.
- 50 photos of openwork knitted starched napkins:
Why are knitted napkins starched?
Tablecloths and napkins are items that can easily get dirty, but if you starch them, it will be much easier to wash out accidentally placed stains. Starch creates an invisible film on top of the fabric that protects the item from difficult-to-remove stains: it does not allow dust to penetrate deep into the fabric. Special whiteness, beautiful shape and elegance: another reason to starch a festive napkin. Decorative plates, flowers and vases are also created using this technology.
Traditional method: starch
Using starch is an effective and time-tested method. To process the product at home, you can take the following type of starch: potato, wheat, rice or corn.
Please note! The proportion of starch used to prepare the mixture will depend on the choice of starch. Corn starch consumption is twice as much as potato starch. Rice and potato starch have approximately the same consistency.
The concentration of the paste will depend on the degree to which you want to starch the prepared napkins. In total, there are three degrees: light, medium and strong. It is enough to treat the napkins and tablecloth to the medium degree. They are prepared as follows: light - one teaspoon per liter of water; medium - one tablespoon per liter of water; strong - two tablespoons per liter of water.
Before starching, wash and bleach the item, then dry the napkin well. The preparation of a classic mixture using starch can be divided into several stages.
- Dilute the starch raw material in cold water, make sure there are no lumps, mix thoroughly.
- Prepare a pot of water. Put it on the fire and wait until it heats up to 100 degrees.
- When the water boils, slowly pour in the prepared solution, stirring gently, you can add a pinch of salt for shine.
- After the mass turns into a homogeneous paste, remove the pan from the heat and cool the mixture.
- Before starching, moisten the napkin with water.
- Dip the product into the paste for 10–20 minutes, depending on the desired degree of hardness.
- Remove and wipe off excess paste from the napkin. It is better to lay the product out on a flat surface after processing, rather than hanging it out.
- When the napkin dries, iron it through gauze to avoid yellow stains.
Attention! It is very important to take pure starch, without any debris. If you notice small particles in the starch, pour water over it for a few hours, let it sit, the debris will float to the surface.
Other recipes with starch: creating a glossy surface
Knowing how to starch a napkin and make its surface glossy, you can give the processed item a particularly beautiful look, because at first glance, it is difficult to carefully soak a crocheted item with starch, especially at home.
The method of the glossy effect is simple, you need to prepare a paste: 5-6 tablespoons of rice starch, 1 spoon of boric acid and 3 talc. The mixture should be without lumps: it should be thoroughly mixed. Take a cotton pad or a piece of sponge, slightly moisten it in the paste and treat the surface of the napkin. After you have managed to starch and dry the knitted napkin, take an iron and carefully iron it through gauze.
Attention! Do not starch dark-colored items, as they will show untidy stains and spots.
Other methods: creating a matte effect
To create a matte effect, the solution must be prepared with milk, as a result the item acquires volume and a special pleasant shade.
- Before preparing the solution and starting to starch, thoroughly clean the crocheted napkin or tablecloth with soap and water and dry it.
- Add 1 tablespoon of rice starch (or 2 tablespoons of corn starch) to a glass of cold milk and stir.
- Remove all lumps that have formed. For an ideal result, the mixture can be passed through cheesecloth or a sieve.
- Take 1 liter of milk with 1.5% fat content, bring to a boil and pour the starch mixture into it.
- Cool the finished paste to room temperature.
Use of sugar
Sugar is always at hand, it can also be used in addition to starch. The sugar product for processing the product is very easy to prepare: dissolve granulated sugar (5-6 tablespoons) in a glass of water. Heat the resulting mixture over a fire and add starch (1 tablespoon). The mixture should be homogeneous. Immerse the product for 10 minutes, squeeze slightly and iron.
Attention! Napkins and tablecloths treated with starch with added sugar attract insects. This method is not recommended for outdoor items.
PVA glue
Long-term results are one of the advantages of this method, but it is worth remembering that such a solution creates a high degree of rigidity and cannot be used for underwear and bed linen.
It is necessary to prepare a solution in the following ratio: a glass of water and half a glass of glue. This method is relevant when it is necessary to give a clear shape. To do this, dip a crocheted napkin into the mixture, squeeze it out and, if necessary, stretch it onto the desired shape.
Gelatin treatment
A good alternative to regular starch is gelatin. It needs to be immersed in cold water and left to steep for a while. On average, one tablespoon of gelatin requires a glass of water. Heat the steeped mixture in a water bath, adding an additional 200 grams of water. Mix the solution well. After the solution has cooled, you can starch a knitted napkin to a medium-hard state.
Aerosol
The most modern and fastest method is an aerosol. You can starch a small item simply and effectively in a short time; it is enough to spray the contents of the can evenly onto a crocheted napkin. Rules for spraying the aerosol: shake the can well and tilt it slightly, apply evenly onto the item from a distance of 25-30 cm.
Dry method
You can starch a tablecloth and napkin without preparing a mixture.
- Place the item on a cloth or a sheet of paper and straighten it out carefully.
- Apply a thin, powdery layer of starch powder on top.
- Spray the product with water, it is convenient to use a spray bottle, leave to dry, covering with cloth or paper.
This method of treatment is not long-term; after a short time the procedure will have to be repeated.
Advice: If the product is not hard enough after drying, the procedure can be carried out until the desired result is achieved.
Drying and ironing tips
The final stage of the starching procedure is drying and ironing, which will fix the result well. There are several useful tips that are worth considering.
- Do not dry in a room where the sun's rays directly hit the product, there is a risk that it will turn yellow and stains will form on it.
- Spread the treated item on a smooth, flat surface covered with a towel or a piece of thick paper.
- Drying should be done in a room with open windows and naturally.
- To secure the napkin, use pins and invisible hairpins. This is necessary to ensure that the item dries correctly and takes the desired shape.
- Iron the napkin at low temperatures using damp gauze.
- When ironing a product treated with starch, do not use hot steam, as it will destroy the starch.
Attention! Deformed fringe on the product can be easily restored to order with steam.
All methods presented in the material involve the use of exclusively natural components. Try each of them, choose your best option.
The starched napkin has a festive look, the product looks neat and cozy. Regardless of the method and substance chosen for starching: any crocheted item, tablecloth or napkin can be put in order in an accessible way at home.
VIDEO: How to starch a knitted napkin.
50 photos of openwork knitted starched napkins:
