* window redo
Posted on April 17th, 2010 by maitreya. Filed under Home and Garden, Sewing/Fabric Crafts.
My first attempt at using fabric and starch on a window was a little rough. Here’s take two, which worked much better. Modifications: lighter weight fabric with less stretch (a $2.99/yard lightweight cotton from Joanns), a geometric design for easy even cutting, and a lighter starch solution in a baking pan for easier soaking. The result definitely looks better and lets in more light, and they went up super quick.
The design is a little too small to make a big impact, but up close it looks great.
ETA: thanks to a commenter for reminding me to talk about removing the previous pieces of fabric. This was really easy. I scratched up one corner and pulled the whole thing off in one piece. The starch rinsed right out of the fabric. There was a film of starch left on the window, but it came off easily with water and a damp sponge. I found the scratchy side of the sponge was useful for removing the bigger patches, which would then wipe right off with the spongy side. A last spritz with window cleaner and they looked good as new.
8 Responses to “window redo”
books I’m in
-
This week, I’m in Jaipur, India, starting my second teaching stint with Ritchie Ace Camps. Last year’s Jaipur experience was amazing (lots of pics here), and I can’t wait to meet everyone who is coming on the 2015 version (although I’m going to miss last year’s group like mad!). I hadn’t used block printing techniques a lot …
Categories
- Art
- Blythe
- Chickens
- Craft Room
- Crafty Links
- Crafty Review
- Crochet
- Cross Stitch/Embroidery
- Experiments
- Felting
- Fun with Lab Supplies
- Gocco/L Letterpress
- Holiday
- Home and Garden
- Inspiration
- Jewelry
- Knitting
- Martha
- Paper Crafts
- Projects with Instructions
- Random
- Resin
- Sewing/Fabric Crafts
- Toys (cat and kid)
- Uncategorized
- Wants
Blogroll
- a Stamp a Day
- Becca Stadtlander
- Cool Season Gardening
- ericamulherin.com
- Feeling Stitchy
- Frocks and Frou Frou
- Garden Mentors
- garden therapy
- Gardening in Seattle
- Hip Chick Digs
- Karen Barbe
- King County Seed Lending Library
- L I S A ‘ S – M U S I N G S
- Little Big Girl Studio
- Little Green Doll
- Lopez Island Kitchen Gardens
- Noodlehead
- Northwest Edible Life
- not martha
- Osborne Seed Company Variety Trials
- perdi o fio à meada
- Purl Soho
- Rake and Make
- Raspberry
- Salty Oat
- Seattle Urban Farm Company
- Sky Nursery
- Wee Wonderfuls
- Windy and Friends
- Wise Craft
Archives
- June 2019
- December 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- December 2017
- September 2017
- February 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- January 2016
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2013
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- October 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- July 2005
- June 2005
- May 2005
- April 2005
- March 2005
- February 2005
- January 2005
- December 2004
- November 2004
- October 2004
- September 2004
- August 2004
- July 2004
- June 2004
- May 2004
- April 2004
- March 2004
- February 2004
- January 2004
- December 2003
- November 2003
- October 2003
- September 2003
- August 2003
- July 2003
- June 2003
- May 2003
- April 2003
April 18th, 2010 at 11:08 am
Could talk a little about how the removal process went for attempt #1? This is the part that worries me as a renter and the part that is always glossed over when the starch + fabric treatment is discussed.
April 22nd, 2010 at 10:33 am
I really love the clean lines and contrast.
The small pattern is very delightful!
April 27th, 2010 at 1:02 am
I found you via All Buttoned Up. I had to comment because I got the idea of using spray starch and fabric for a window treatment from her over a year ago, went out and bought fabric and still have yet to actually put the fabric on the window, but when I saw that she had posted an update and mentioned you, I clicked over to your blog post and noticed that I picked out the exact same fabric at Joann’s as you did!
May 15th, 2010 at 11:36 am
Wow! What a great idea, thank you so much for sharing.
x
May 25th, 2010 at 7:51 am
Found you initially thru Technorati. Read your initial blog regarding your first attempt w/the heavier fabric,and while I like the look of the original fabric better, I can see how the lighting on your second attempt meets your satisfaction more. This is a great idea to share w/our customers at http://www.jofabrics.com. They are always looking for new ideas, and with our selection of novelty prints, this one could be quite fun! Thanks for the sharing.
December 4th, 2011 at 11:29 pm
I want to cover a glass insert on a panel door to a storage cabinet with fabric so you can’t see what is stored inside. What is the ratio of starch and water for application? Does the fabric need to be soaked? How long does it take to dry? What kind of tools do you need to apply/spread it on and smooth it out? Need instructions! Never done anything like this before and not very good at crafts.
April 16th, 2012 at 4:45 pm
I feel like I must’ve done something wrong or had the wrong kind of fabric. Mine worked great until I noticed that they all fell off within a few hours. I used a voile fabric to let a lot of light through but maybe it’s too soft to respond to the spray starch? Was using spray starch.
Anybody else had this problem?
September 22nd, 2014 at 8:52 pm
I found this cornstarch recipe/mixture in the site that lead me here. Hope it helps. ~~~
I made the paste, which is just regular cornstarch and water. I used two tablespoons of cornstarch dissolved in 1/4 cup of water, and then added it to 2 cups of boiling water. This forms a sort of thin, misty, perverse-looking jelly.