Hi Can anyone help. As you can see in the photo's my Christmas lace curls some very badly after a few days of hanging. They are kept flat during the year and are quite firm. Not sure what else I can do to stop this happening. Any suggestions gratefully accepted. Marian

Thank you Cuties for your advise very much appreciated. Marian

This happens from time to time for me too. If it happens while they are drying, I just iron them flat, no steam. Sometimes I flip them over while drying. Seem that the back side dries faster than the top which results in curling. Never had it happen with one that dried flat. I also notice that the ones I have done are much heavier in weight.

1 comment

by marianb 31 Jan 2017

thank you

Looks like Cuties are in agreement...need more stabilization from either starch, goo made from WSS, Modge Podge, etc...give it a try and let us k now what happens...

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by marianb 31 Jan 2017

Yes! Aren't they smart people here.

I am with Meganne, don't wash the wss out to much, You can iron them and that should help.

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by marianb 31 Jan 2017

thank you

Many years ago a lady who made a lot of FSL and hung them in her windows discovered that the best way to prevent discoloration from the sun was to spray them with a clear top coat spray paint. That would also solve your problem I think. Hugs. Nan W

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by marianb 31 Jan 2017

Maybe that would work I'll keep it in mind thank you. Marian

Marianb, yes as we have it so hot in Sydney at christmas time fsl may be a problem for some. However I lightly rinse of wss and then lay flat between two towels, and then put something heavy and flat on top and leave to dry. Never had a problem at all. Perhaps you could re rinse again in scraps of wss and try this method, made a little stiffer it should work for you and keep shaped . To keep until next year i lay flat with tissue paper in-between a group of say three to four items , and then a piece of solid cardboard each side held with an elastic band or tied with wool each end in a flat air tight box. Hope this is of some help to you. Sandra.

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by marianb 31 Jan 2017

Thank you Sandra I'm going to give restarching a go. Your suggestion on storing them is exactly what I do. Marian

Hi Marian, yes it is hot here at Christmas but none of my FSL snowflakes melted. (sorry, couldn't resist that, :-) )

If I might, I suggest that perhaps you should try not rinsing the WSS out quite as much.

I use warm water but only rinse until the WSS just dissolves.
Then I quickly pat dry in between a clean white nappy or hand towel, then I lay it face down to dry out completely without touching it further, (it is usually still sticky to touch so I place it on a plate or something solid that it won't stick to). I don't have any curling with FSL done this way.

I did notice that the design you have showed us appears to be very lightweight, (not very dense) and if it is only these type that you are having problems with, you could try starching them or using the spray on then iron, type of spray starch, (spray on the wrong side only) or you could brush on a couple of layers of Modge Podge.

I hope this helps. hugs n love, Meg

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by marianb 31 Jan 2017

Thanks Meg, had to giggle at melted snowflakes. I was tossing up wether to re starch them, I do have a lot of scrap wss so I think I'll give it a go.

It may have something to do with the humidity. I have only had that happen to lace as it is drying after washing some of the wash away out. Usually I lay my lace upside down to dry and then press from the wrong side to correct the curling. That may work for you.

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by marianb 30 Jan 2017

You may be right it does get hot and humid here in Sydney at Christmas. My snowflakes almost form a semi circle..

Other than re-wetting it or hanging some other little weight on it I'm not sure what else you could do. Hopefully some other Cuties will have some ideas. ❤️ Chris

1 comment

by marianb 30 Jan 2017

thanks Chris.