I need a recipe for cornstarch solution to stiffen fabric. Can anyone help?

Question

I need to stiffen ribbon. Thank you to anyone who can help me out.

Answer 1

These are good ideas and also you can dip your ribbon in liguid starch then squeegee it off between your fingers, arrange while wet and let dry, propping up any bits with bowls or wads of paper to keep it in its shape until dry and it is like a rock.
But the old time answer is one tablespoon of corn starch for each level of stiffness desired in a quart of water.
We mixed one tbsp in one quart, then dipped a shirt in in, wrung it out, hung it to dry then ironed it. Three tbsps of cornstarch gave you a shirt you had to force your arm into. We also used it to iron the ruffles on girly dresses and doilies with big ruffles that encrcled the lamps and candy dishes. My mother used white sugar in the water to iron her crocheted candy dishes in the winter. In the spring, it was just sticky after a rain.

Answer 2

How To Stiffen Fabric

Answer 3

I know nothing about cornstarch as a stiffener. But I use Argo Starch and it feels like cornstarch. It comes in a Red and White Box and you can regulate the stiffness you want from lite to really stiff.

Answer 4

I've never used cornstarch to make "size"... but:

In my work with theater-props, I often use a diluted (60-40%) mix of Elmers White Glue and water.

I use this to stiffen drapes... perhaps if sprayed onto ribbon it might work.

ALWAYS test any mixture on a scrap of the fabric first to test for discoloration or other problems !!

Good luck !!

Answer 5

If you are crafting with the fabric, there is a product called Stiffey that you can buy at Michaels for $2.99. You soak the fabric in it, wring it out saving the liquid for re-use, mold the fabric how you want it and it will turn all stiff in exactly that position. I recommend using a clear spray on, non-yellowing polyurethane to protect your creation. It will also make it easier to clean. A home made method is to mix Elmer's glue and water. 2/3 glue to 1/3 water, but it doesn't make the fabric quite as stiff as the Stiffey product does.