My crocheted leaves looked like green squiggles. You had to stretch them out and hold them with three hands to see their shape. The sunflower petals were wiggly and bent even after a steam treatment. Hmm… Wonder if I could starch them? Wouldn’t hurt to try.
I mixed up some laundry starch, about half the strength of the recipe for the doilies (see One Way to Starch a Doily). I dunked the pieces, squeezed them out, pinned them to cardboard, and let them dry in the sun. It worked! The wool leaves are still flexible, and they feel fine—you know, still soft. The synthetic leaves (Kelly green) dried a lot stiffer than the woolen ones. Maybe they soaked up more starch. Don’t know.
The sunflower is heavier than the leaves and the stitches are a lot looser. So far, the petals are staying straight. A couple of them look like they might squiggle back up any minute. Next time I do this flower, I’m going to use thinner yarn and tighter stitches. And maybe stronger starch.