When I made this fabric box with burlap, I used fusible web to stiffen the sides. But I wanted to find out what natural fabric stiffening methods would be like. So I tried three stiffening methods using common household ingredients.
The idea of naturally stiffening fabric came to me when I read Julie’s homemade spray starch and natural glue tutorials and I wondered if I could modify the formulas to use them as fabric stiffeners.
I tested three ingredients for stiffening: Elmer’s Glue, cornstarch, and flour. Here’s what I found out:
1. Elmer’s Glue All
Equal parts of glue and water.
Elmer’s glue is listed as being non-toxic and safe on its label and on the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). But the ingredient is still a type of plastic – polyvinyl acetate, to be exact. So while it’s labeled as being safe, I don’t think I’d eat it. In order to mix the solution, I used a glass bowl that I wouldn’t use for eating and an old plastic spoon. The mixture is solid white and it dried as clear film. The residue comes off clean with warm water and soap.
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Have you heard of Dip and Drape ? About 25 years ago I used this product to make several characters such as a nativity set, santas, angels and carolers. I’m really trying to locate the patterns for these because I think I would be able to use some of these other methods of fabric stiffiners. Please let me know if you have any ideas. Thanks
i am also looking for dip and drape
any info would be helpfull
Can any of this stiffening procedures be used on dark fabrics (polyester) without leaving white marks?
How long can it be stored and is there a way to preserve a large volume for later use at room temperature?
[...] Fabric Stiffening Starch – method of your choice [...]
Please help me find patterns for Santas and Mrs. Claus, etc.
I’m wondering about the durability of the 3 stiffeners. How did they hold up? Which would you recommend for areas with high humidity in summer? Thanks for the info.
for a more natural stiffener, mix a paste of rice flour/potato flour/corn flour. ..all natural, non-toxic and works a treat!
For my final runway project I was looking for natural ways to stiffen fabric, so your post was really helpful. I’m probably going to use the second option due to the clearness after drying.