Here is a tip I had not heard about, Sugar Starch for Doilies, bit I'm wondering if the ants would not be at the finished product..... LOL

used this way for years untill spray starch!!

In the fifties sugar starch was used for the tulle petticoats we wore. Gave it a try and the wasps followed me - so once was enough for me.

2 comments

by crafter2243 20 Aug 2016

Oh my.I couldn't help but giggle at that.

by dollygk 21 Aug 2016

You poor thing. sorry about that he he

Thank you

My first crocheted snowflakes and Christmas Angel I made back in the late 70's very early 80's, I used the sugar starch method that was recommended in the pattern that I used. Lets just say they did not survive more than a year or two. Between active rodents, ants and the moisture in our air in the Pacific Northwest, there were very few pieces that survived. PLEASE do not waste all your time and effort to create wonderful items then finish them off with methods that will ultimately destroy them or at the minimum put them at risk of being damaged or consumed. We have quite a lot of rain and moisture and the few items that were not eaten went very limp. For the set of items I had made for another family member for Christmas that year, I did pick up their items, rinsed out all the sugar starch and re-stiffened them with a glue stiffener available in the craft stores, this product has continued to work well for those items, now more than 30 years since I re stiffened them so that their items would not have the same ending as the set I had made for myself. Happy Stitching, Pam

Thanks! I may use one of these methods should the need arise.

Sugar Starch has been used for decades but I will tell you that if do use sugar, there is a chance that your doilies or ornaments may be "eaten" by mice or other critters if they are stored. White glue is also an oldie but goodie used quite a bit in school crafts as it is safe for children...

I think both of these methods have been around for quite a while. I agree, I would not use the sugar starch myself. I've had no trouble with the WWS so I doubt I'd need the glue. I think it's great to revisit the old tried and true methods.

Not to sure about the Sugar Starch, but I like the one with the white glue this would be a good craft for the kids, making their own bowls.. thank s for the links. Marian

Gosh you have brought back memories my Granny used the sugar starch I have not thought of it for years

This is a method that I have heard of before and used by a friend. Not all parts of the world have ants that cause problems