tooMuchFabric

Yes, I started making my own starch after reading about it here on the board.
I do find it has to be much stronger solution if I use the dryer, you are right.
So if you can hang the fabric out somewhere (wish I had a clothesline) you can use less cornstarch.
.

quiltinghere

I spray my fabric several pieces with store bought starch...
wait a little for it to soak in...
then iron while it's still damp.
Works just fine for me.

pocoellie

I spray whatever I'm going to work on, put in a plastic bag and let it soak for a minimum of 2 hours, overnight is even better, then I either put it in the dryer for a few minutes or let it air dry before I iron it.

RkayD

I always tried to even up my fabric by putting my selvages even. Who knew fabric could be "off grain"? While reading an article by Fon's & Porter in the book Basic Guide to Rotary Cut Quilts ~You hold your piece up straight and slide the fabric until your fabric hangs straight. I Always iron out the fold first. There are pictures in the book that show what to do. It was a light bulb moment for me and took care of alot of my problems I was having with accuracy.

grann of 6

See, this is why I don't like to starch. By the time it is dry I am on to another project and my mind is all off that one. I don't like UFO's so I don't starch the backings. I must confess though that I did starch flannel the night before I planned on cutting it out.

tooMuchFabric

This is right!!
And now, at this point, there is another thing you can do to not only get straight lines in your cut, but make your piece smaller so your rulers will fit your cut - You don't always have to have a 22 or 24 inch ruler!
Here's what you do:
Now that you have your selvedges together, and the fabric is hanging straight as explained above, take the fold edge and fold it up again, but not all the way to the top of the selvedge, maybe only 6 or 10 inches or so.
Then measure at 3 or 4 places along these 2 fold lines. When you get the same measurement in all the places you measure (it can be 6-3/4", or 7-1/8", or 9", or 10-1/2", as long as they are all the same),

*****then your fabric is squared up and your cut strips will be spot-on.

sewingladydi

I dry it in the dryer after I spray it and iron it after it is dry. It's doesn't take the stiffness out of it.