Wow! I just ran across this great site that will help out a lot when blocking doilies.
http://www.wildginger.com/products/wildthings.htm
As with so many sites, it’s worth spending some time browsing thru all the things the site owner has posted for our viewing pleasure.
The blocking diagrams offered on this site are very useful. I have a June Tailor quilting board that is designed somewhat like these blocking diagrams. I originally purchased the June Tailor board when I was doing a lot of quilting. When I made my first doily and learned I needed to block it, I dug out this thing and began using it for my doilies. Most of the doilies I have made fit it. But, it doesn’t have the polar lines that the wildginger site offers.
Also, be sure to invest in a good supply of RUST PROOF pins for blocking your work. I actually prefer many of my doilies unblocked or only lightly blocked, so I just use spray starch on the ones I bother to block at all. But, many people prefer to have their doilies heavily starched. In that case, a good liquid starch would be the preferred method for blocking. There are many other blocking solutions that have been used over time – sugar, epsom salts, cornstarch, etc. All of those have the same fatal weakness – insects and mice love them. So, I stick with my simple spray starch blocking method.
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