To stiffen items
such as bookmarks, you can use Aleene's Stiff It
Place the item
in a plate, then pour water over it to soak it.
Pour off the
water, and pour on the Stiff It (about 3 tablespoons for a standard-sized
tatted bookmark.)
Pick up the
item and place it on paper towels. Then place more paper towel over
the item, and press out the excess stiffener. (The stiffener left
on the plate can be poured back into the original bottle.)
Put the item
on a flat surface, forming it as you wish.
Wait for it
to dry.
Notes: This method
stiffens more than starch, but not as much as straight stiffener.
"Stiff It" costs about $3 US per bottle. (Tip courtesy
of Carol A.)
I've started framing
some of my larger and fancier tatted motifs and was having a hard time
keeping everything in place while inserting the piece into the frame.
I usually mount my tatted piece on velvet and didn't want to sew the
piece to it as it continually shifts and it would also show up too much.
I tried spraying
the back of my blocked finished piece of tatting with Sullivan's
acid free quilt basting spray and tah-dah! My motif stayed right
where I put it. I laid it on a piece of waxed paper to spray it.
Using a chalk
pencil to mark edges and center placement is also another hint.
They can just be brushed away when everything is in place.
Also, for a
more country look, tatted articles can be mounted on a contrasting
cotton fabric. (Tip courtesy of Therese F.)
One of the cheapest
devices I have is a styrofoam sheet about for blocking. Cover
the styrofoam with grid paper (remember the old grid paper we had in
school for geometry?) and put clear packaging plastic tape over it.
The tape is variously sold as clear Duct tape, Postal tape, etc. I like
to use T pins and then I use a 1/2 inch paint brush to "paint" the motif
or doily with dilute starch or other stiffening agent. The grid paper
allows you to block straight and hold straight until dry. The tape lets
you use the same styrofoam board and grid paper many times.(Tip
courtesty of Helen C.)
I lay my piece
to be blocked on a pressing cloth and lightly spray it with a mist of
water before trying to block it. I can then gently pat or stretch it
into shape and the moisture is enough to hold each picot, ring, and
chain in place until I can get the iron on it with a lightweight cloth
between. The more out of shape the piece is before pressing the more
moisture I use to lay it out. (Tip courtesy of Eliz)
