Buckram is a very stiff fabric, almost like cardboard. Buckram is used for millinery and historical clothing. You can buy buckram but buckram is easy to make at home: All you need is cornstarch and cotton or linen fabric – I usually use cotton canvas, twill or Aida cloth.

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You’ll need:

• 4 tbsp starch – I used cornstarch
• 1 cup water
• cotton canvas, twill or Aida cloth

Whisk the cornstarch into the water (make sure there are no lumps). Stirring continously, cook it until the milky white solution turns clear.

As soon as it’s cool enough, dip the fabric into the starch. Squeeze out excess starch. Here I’m starching just a small piece of fabric that I needed for my 1920s flower but you can also starch a larger piece of fabric.

Place the starched fabric between a kitchen towel and iron it dry.

Uses For DIY Buckram

You can use DIY buckram for Victorian bonnet forms, 1920s cloche hats, detachable starched Edwardian collars, DIY lampshades and as foundation for beaded Indian tassels.

I used DIY buckram for my 1840s bonnet form. This DIY bonnet form is as stiff as cardboard but it’s more flexible than cardboard. I also used DIY buckram as foundation for the 1920s flower dress accessory.