I do a lot of crochet with thread such as doilies and decorative items. Right now I'm making hats (wall decorations). I have been using pushpins to stretch the doilies after I saturate them with fabric stiffener. However, the pushpins sometimes leave rust marks on the hat. I've tried large headed pins but they bend to easily when I try to push them through the towel and cardboard underneath.
I use stainless steel t-pins. They are sometimes called dissecting pins (used in high school biology classes), also used by taxidermists and upholsterers. Our design department uses them to hang up layouts on cubicle walls. :) Another option if you don't want to buy new pins is to thread silk or other fine thread through were you would normally want to put a pin and then pin *that* thread instead of your crochet item. I am working on my doily for the county fair this year, I hope I get it done! I love thread crochet! -Jenna
Thanks for the great idea of the thread! I hadn't considered that. I thought about the t-pins but it is a hundred mile round trip to the nearest supply so we only go about once a month.
Stretching doilies
Posted - Jul 06 2008 : 1:15:25 PM
