Lace Sculpture Using Fabric Starch

by Kat
(Canada)

Hi!

Thank you for posting this ingenious idea. I was doing a bit of research into making a ghost-type form. I made a plaster bandage mold of my torso and wanted to line the inside of the mold with lace, starch the fabric and end up with a lace cast if you will. However, I was concerned about the fabric sticking to the mold and there being residue on the exterior of my cast. I painted a thin layer of gesso onto the inside of my mold, but I'm not entirely sure if the starch will stick to it or not. I understand you used styrofoam for this craft and it was effective in the sense that it released well from the fabric. Do you have any suggestions? Do you have any suggestions for a possible release agent?

Thank you,
Kat

Response from Crafts For All Seasons:

Hello Kat,

I'm glad you liked this project, and I hope I can help you with yours. I think it may be hard to remove the lace if you put in on the inside of your plaster mold. Could you put it on the outside of the mold instead? Once it is dry, on the back of the mold I imagine you would have to make a cut in the lace with scissors vertically up the back, so that you have a way to peel the lace away from the plaster mold. Once you peel it all off, it should pop back in place. Hopefully the vertical cut would not be too noticeable on the lace has taken on the torso form.

Although I don't know for sure, I don't think you will have a problem with the lace sticking to the plaster and not coming off, although you may have to use a tool, such as a flat spatula to help pry it off and release the fabric stiffener "glue" from the plaster. My suggestion would be to test a small piece of lace and see how that releases.

As far as the fabric stiffener, yes, it will make the plaster mold a bit messy. It could possibly be washed off, or sanded off. However, it does dry clear so if shouldn't look bad if left on your plaster mold. I hope this works out for you, and good luck!