“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas” Key word: dreaming. The reality is more like a warm Christmas, with the current forecast being 70 degrees on the 25th. Welcome to winter in the south.

This month has been bonkers weather wise and it looks making lace snowflakes is the only way we’re getting snow for Christmas.
If like me, you are also whipping up a flurry of snowflakes today I’m going to share my special snowflake starch recipe, as well as how I finish my snowflakes.

This starch has no odor and dries clear and with no visible residue on the snowflakes. It’s also free from the questionable chemicals in the store bought stuff. It’s also only two ingredients that you more than likely already have in your kitchen.

It is worth noting that this starch is very stiff and meant for craft projects and is not the same as laundry starch. It’s like ultra hold hairspray, which is good for things like snowflake ornaments, but not great for everyday use.

The proportions I have listed make enough starch for about six mid size lace snowflakes.

You will need:

1 cup of filtered water

1 tablespoon of cornstarch

A microwave safe bowl (I’m using a Pyrex measuring cup)

A stirring implement (I multi tasked and just used the tablespoon to stir)

This stiffener is foodsafe, so unlike glue-based stiffeners you do not need a separate bowl and utensils to make this. Just use whatever you have in your kitchen, so long as it’s microwave safe.

Snowflake Starch recipe:

It is important to note that this product is not shelf stable, so only mix this up when you intend to use it.

Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch into 1 cup of cold water and stir until the cornstarch has dissolved and there are no lumps. It will have a white milk-like appearance.

Place the bowl in the microwave and heat the mixture until near boiling (I do about 1:20, but every microwave is different). You could also heat the mixture on the stove, but I’m too impatient for that.

It will have an opaque appearance, give it a stir to make sure that nothing has settled. Allow to cool slightly before using.

To starch your snowflakes, you will need:

Your warm starch mixture

A towel, folded

Pins

Crocheted snowflakes (or other item you want stiffened)

Soak the snowflakes in the starch liquid. The longer you leave the item in the starch, the stiffer it will be. I typically let mine soak for about 3-5 minutes. Pull the snowflake out and let the excess liquid drip back into the bowl.
Place on towel and pin in place.
Once the snowflakes dry they will hold whatever position you put them in, so be sure they’re in the position you want.

Allow the snowflakes to air dry completely before removing the pins. Do not iron or apply any sort of direct heat in an attempt to dry them faster, as starch burns easily and can cause scorch marks.

A few things to keep in mind with this starch:

Because this starch mixture has no preservatives, this mixture is not shelf stable and can not be made ahead to keep on hand as the mixture would go moldy.

As it cools, the starch and water will separate and the cornstarch will settle at the bottom. Simply reheat and stir to remix it.

Do not store the snowflakes until they are completely dry. If they are not completely dry they can develop mold and mildew. 😬

Once they are dry, this is not a problem, as no water is left and only the starch remains.

Let me know if you give this a try, I would love to see your snowflakes!