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Easy Blocking With Spray Starch Tutorial

January 14, 2014 / 6 Comments

Have you ever made a small lacy motif like a snowflake or doily and was dissapointed at how misshapen it turned out? These types of small projects need special blocking.

Wet blocking might pull it into shape, but it’s “lacy-ness” can benefit from starching.

There are three types of starching: spray starch, liquid starch and sugar starch. This tutorial will show you how to do the easiest — spray starching.

This tutorial is part of my Motif of the Month December 2013: Snowflake Motif video. I’ve excerpted it below so you can watch just the part about blocking or check out the photo tutorial in this post.

What you’ll need:

  • Project that needs to be blocked
  • Spray Starch (found on the laundry detergent aisle)
  • Blocking Boards (substitute with an ironing board or folded towel)
  • Rust free blocking pins (sewing pins work great)

Step One

Get the project that needs blocking.

Look how floppy my snowflake looks.
Look how floppy my snowflake looks.

Step Two

Start by pinning the center of the project.

This will keep your project from moving around as you pin the edges.
This will keep your project from moving around as you pin the edges.

Step Three

Pin the points of your project out.

Take your time to pin them exactly how you want them to look. Once sprayed you will have to wash the project to start over.
Take your time to pin them exactly how you want them to look. Once sprayed you will have to wash the project to start over.

Step Four

Keep pinning every single spot that you want to be highlighted once it is blocked. You will use up tons of pins so keep lots on hand.

Look how many pins I used for the small snowflake.
Look how many pins I used for the small snowflake.

Step Five

Get your spray starch.

I like the "heavy" spray starch. You can use less.
I like the “heavy” spray starch. You can use less.

Step Six

Start spraying.

This part is messy so be sure to use a towel under anything you don't want sprayed.
This part is messy so be sure to use a towel under anything you don’t want sprayed.

Step Seven

Keep spraying.

Make sure it is completely soaked, so it gets super stiff.
Make sure it is completely soaked, so it gets super stiff.

Step Eight

Let it dry completely. Unpin and enjoy!

Look how much more pointy my snowflake is now, and not floppy at all.
Look how much more pointy my snowflake is now, and not floppy at all.

What is your favorite way to block with starch? Let us know below. And if you prefer to watch the full video on spray blocking you can check out right here.

 

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