As you foray into the art of crochet, there will be times where you want to add some stiffness to your finished work. This is the case when you are crocheting items such as handbags, doilies, and certain kinds of lace. Stiffening your yarns or fibers can easily be accomplished by starching your projects with a variety of different stiffening mediums. Starching has been around for a very long time and with the different options available today for starching; you can find just the right one for your project.
Classic Starching
The oldest form of starching is simply to dissolve ¼ cup starch in ½ cup of cold water. Take this mixture and bring it to a boil slowly over a low flame. As the mixture begins to thicken up, gradually add 1 ¼ cups of cold water. Boil the mixture while stirring constantly until the mixture becomes clear. This will leave you with a think pasty type mixture.
As soon as your starch mixture is cool enough to safely be handled, dip in your crochet work and squeeze the starch into it thoroughly. Your goal is to soak your project with the starch but not to have it in the holes or any openwork in your project. At this point you will want to allow your project to dry in the position you want it to be in when the starching process is completed.
Once your item is completely dry, you can iron it with a steam iron on a medium setting.
Spray Starch
An easier way to stiffen your crochet items is to use spray starch. Spray starch is readily available in the laundry detergent area of any of your local grocery or drug stores. To use spray starch you will want to use one of two methods.
Method one is to lightly spray your piece and the press it using a warm iron, on the wrong side, covered with another material in-between your item and your iron.
Method two is to lightly spray your piece and then pin it in place and allow it to dry. If you choose to pin your pieces, make sure you use rust proof pins so you do not get any staining on your finished crochet work.
Spray starch is perfect for household items and holds up under normal wear. However, it is not permanent and if you wash your item then you will need to starch it again.
Liquid Starch
Using liquid starch allows you to control the stiffness of your piece very easily. You have the option of using the starch straight from the bottle, or diluting it with water and having a less stiff piece as a result. The process is identical to the directions above for classic starching.
Stiff Stuff
There is a great product on the craft market called “Stiff Stuff.” And, just as the name implies, it is used to starch craft items and handiwork. The process is exactly the same as using spray starch; however, your resulting item will be very stiff. And, if you wish to hasten the process you can use a blow dryer to dry the starch faster. Stiff Stuff is not permanent and will wash out if you wash your piece.
White Glue and Water
If you are looking for a permanent starching option, you can accomplish it by using white glue and water. Simply mix together equal parts of white glue and water. Dip your crochet item into this mixture and squeeze out the excess. Lay your piece on a hard non-stick surface to dry and you will have a permanently starched end product.
Shellac
Shellac is used in the case where you want a very firm finished product. Simply shape your piece and using a small brush add a thin layer of shellac. Let this layer dry, and then apply 2-3 more coats on top of it. Once your item is dry the shellac is permanent and your item will be very hard to the touch. Shellac is perfect for use on things like Crocheted Christmas Tree Ornaments and bookmarks.
By using these techniques, you can ensure that your crochet projects are starched like a professional and will last for many years to come.
January 11th, 2008
Posted by
georgechao1
General, Arts & Crafts
no comments
PowerPoint has become such a common business standard that a ordinary PowerPoint presentation is immediately marked as such. particularly if you’re making a sales presentation, a poor presentation may even harm your business.
PowerPoint presentations can be utilized for several purposes. In education and in educational meetings, they use illustrations and easy-to-read text to help attendees to grasp the information being given.
There are several concepts you can follow to create PowerPoint presentations more quickly and efficiently. One is to quicken the choosing of fonts by previewing fonts in the font toolbar. To do this,merely go to Tools/Customize, click the Options tab, then click “List font names in their font.” Another method to speed up creating presentation slides is to set a default text style for your slides. This both helps to make your PowerPoint presentations to look more professional, and it speeds up their making. To set a new default, go to Format, then Font. Do the changes you need, then click OK.
One way to create greater quality PowerPoint presentations is to use higher quality graphics. Clipart taken directly from Microsoft Office screams “this information wasn’t important enough for me to try.” In particular, avoid using MS Office “screen beans,” which are so usual as to become laughably cliché.
If you have important points to make, particularly if they’re whole paragraphs, include them in handouts. If you’re giving a vibrant presentation and want to keep your audience’s whole attention, make sure to pass out any handouts at the ending, as they can be distracting.
Costly PowerPoint templates incorporate the kind of pictures, animation, and transitions that you might not be able to create yourself. With well-made flash animation and sharp pictures, your presentation will really stand out. But be sure not to get anything too fancy. You don’t want to distract from your presentation itself.
Whether utilizing a template or creating a PowerPoint presentation yourself, there are a few common mistakes you should try to miss.The first is giving too much facts. A PowerPoint presentation is intended to accentuate your meaning, not describe it in full.
As a normal man cannot absorb more than ten new ideas in a sitting, each of your ten slides will give you the best effect. It should take you about five minutes to present each slide. Much more than that and you’re rambling. Much less, and people will question the requirement to have that slide in the first place. A twenty-minute lecture leaves plenty of time for set up, and allows questions to be asked later.
PowerPoint is one of the most effective presentation tools you can use for business meetings and sales presentations. A effective PowerPoint presentation helps to underline your point while giving the audience pieces of information that will be memorable. While a good presentation will help your business and add to your meeting, a low quality one can do just the opposite.
www.eyefulpresentations.co.uk
January 11th, 2008
Posted by
hroberts
Business, Software
no comments
Now that you’re pregnant, you’ll want to know how to avoid those unwanted pounds by discovering the secrets to looking and feeling great during your pregnancy. We all know how important exercise is for our bodies, even if we’re not pregnant, all the more reason to exercise during pregnancy. If you were active before, then by all means keep it up, and if you have been fairly sedentary, then all hope is not lost. If exercise has always been an important part of your life, then all you have to do is limit strenuous activities that involve bouncing, weight lifting, or are hazardous by nature, like down hill skiing or scuba diving. It is important to consult your obstetrician first, of course, especially if complications may limit your ability to exercise.
If you’re experiencing morning sickness during your first trimester, you may not feel up to exercise, but the benefits are many, so get going as soon as you can. Exercise during pregnancy helps you feel better because it increases energy levels, its good for your baby, it relieves backaches, reduces constipation, relieves stress and anxiety, helps you sleep better, and it gives your skin a healthy glow. It also prepares you and your body for an easier and shorter labor and delivery, and helps you regain your pre-pregnancy body more quickly after birth. Examples of appropriate exercise during pregnancy are swimming, water aerobics, yoga, Pilates, biking, or walking, which all combine cardio, strength, and flexibility. Exercise should be limited if you have pregnancy induced hypertension, early contractions, vaginal bleeding, or premature rupture of the amniotic membranes. Avoid outside exercise during pregnancy on hot and humid days, drink plenty of water, and keep your maximum heart rate below 140 beats per minute. If you can’t talk during exercise, slow down, and stop if you feel fatigued, dizzy, experience heart palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual pain in your back or pelvis.
More information about Exercise for Women and other health and weight loss ideas can be found at our web site.
January 11th, 2008
Posted by
Cristina
Fitness, Health
no comments
