Crochet Cross and Sugar Starch Recipe for Crochet Doilies

There are some times when thank you’s just aren’t enough.  Not long ago, a friend of mine went out of her way to help me out with something, and even though I thanked her then, I wanted to go out of my way to show her my gratitude.  This is one of the best uses of crochet, I think  – being able to tailor-make things for certain people.

This said friend is very religious, and so I looked around and found this gorgeous crochet cross pattern.  It was lacy, it was pretty, and I thought it would make a great thank you.  The cross part itself was actually extremely simple to make up.  You wouldn’t think so by looking at it, but I had the entire cross part done in one afternoon.  The roses were a little more effort, but they turned out really lovely.  Weaving in the many ends of the roses and leaves is what took the most time (and is my least favorite part of crocheting!), but overall, I was pleasantly surprised that such an delicate and complicated looking pattern was so easy overall.

I made a sugar starch solution to stiffen the crochet cross up, and within a couple of days it was in the mail, arriving safely and happily at its new home (where it was much loved).  The pattern is called “Pineapple Cross with Red Roses” and can be found for free here (though you need to register before you can download it).  I used basic thread yarn in white, dark red, and green.  My Ravelry project page is here.

Making a sugar starch solution for thread crochet is relatively simple if you don’t have a starch solution on hand.  It’s a little bit sticky, but if you wring your crochet work out well, it won’t be clumpy.  It’s  actually very simple to make:

Sugar Starch Recipe for Crochet Doilies

Ingredients:
1 part water
2 parts sugar

These can be as small or large in quantity as you like.  I think I used 3 cups sugar to 1 1/2 cup water (and I probably didn’t even need to use that much), but any other quantity (2 cups sugar to 1 cup water or 5 cups sugar to 2 1/2 cups water, for example) would work just as well.

First, you’ll want to dampen your doily.  Get it throughly wet and then wring as much water as you can out.  

Next, heat the measured water, but don’t boil it.  Add the sugar and stir until it’s dissolved.  Once the liquid is clear, place your doily in the mixture.  Remove it and lay it on a towel, gently removing any excess.  Shape the doily with your fingers or tack it down, and then allow it to dry (which can take several hours).  Your doily should be stiffened up and ready to use!

 Anyway, with the holidays coming up, I think this would make a great Christmas gift.  Whew, and speaking of holidays… well, I’d better get back to work!

~Mellie ★