Remove crochet stiffening

It sounds as though she used a white glue such as Elmers! I don't know how to get glue out of fabric, but I bet the glue makers know, and suggest you contact them. Best of luck!

I had the same thought. Normal starchy-stiffeners don't make it "stiff as a board".

Normally a product such as Elmer's glue or even Aleen's tacky glue, will come out in washing. I've done it. If throwing it in the machine with hot water and regular laundry detergent doesn't work, then I believe you will have to consider the piece lost.

Dianne

Janice G wrote:

It sounds as though she may have used one of the "plastic" finishes on the market. If you poke around a craft store, or the craft section of a fabric store, you may find something similar, and it MAY, just may, have something on the bottle which tells you how to dissolve it.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

I know this sort of has nothing to do with the removal part, but when I made a doily, I shaped and sprayed with spray starch, that way it could be washed without a problem. Carol In WI

If you Dare to take a chance ??? soak some tissue in chlor and rub a tiny place with it ,, it might work ,, also dipping in a chlor

Yes, I would dare to take a chance. However, I don't know what "chlor" is. Is it a brand name? Short for "Clorox"?

Janice

snipped-for-privacy@actcom.co.il wrote:

Janice by chlor i meant Chlorine ,,, and yes probably Chlorox would be ok ,, mirjam

I don't know if the goo off product would remove the stiffness but I've successfully used it to get rid of glue/adhesives on non-fabric items.

Have you tried letting the piece soak overnight in a soapy bath?

Oh yes, it soaked in something for 2 weeks straight. I am headed off to a sewing store to buy additional presser feet for my machine - I'm taking the piece with me and will ask them. Thanks to all who replied.

I'll let you know what works - if anything will.

Janice

anne wrote:

Another thought, if it's some plasticky kind of substance, would be to try a bit of fingernail polish remover on it.

Good luck! And Welcome to the group, Janice!!!!

Joan

I used fingernail polish on something like that once and it dissolved the fabric. It was my bedspread actually, and it left a big hole in the middle of it! I now use a product called 'Goof Off' for anything like that. It removes the glue and leaves the fabric.

Maureen

Probably short for "chlorine bleach", as opposed to "oxygen bleach" or "peroxide bleach".

Clorox is a brand name of chlorine bleach, but Clorox also makes non-chlorine bleaches, so read the label.

jenn

-- Jenn Ridley : snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com WIP: Poppies (Art-Stitch), two knitted tops, Oriental Butterfly Most recently Finished: Floral Sampler, Insect Sampler

Have you tried goo gone - its removed all sorts of stuff for me. Also try Citra-Solve and OxiClean. And laundry detergent.

Cheryl (a friend tells a great story about oldest son helping younger son "flour" his hair for Halloween and the joys of removing the yuck from his hair. And shampoo didn't cut the mustard -only made it worse)

Since the doily is cotton, the nail polish remover shouldn't be an issue.