I go through spraystarch like crazy. It's getting rather expensive. I have googled and found many recipes but some say it needs a preservative or needs to be used within a few days. I would hate to starch my fabric and have it mold. There are lots and lots of smart quilters on this board so I expect that maybe some of you make your own starch. Care to share the recipe? katie

OH I would like to know this too!

Look what they posted here, not to long ago.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-91248-1.htm

I haven't tried it yet.

I get the half gallon Sta Flo concentrated starch and mix 50/50 in a spray bottle.

how interesting

it will only go bad in the bottle, not after you've srayed and ironed dry. the concentrate is very economical

you can mix 2oz. of vodka to 4 oz of distilled water.. that got alittle expensive also ..i'm goin to try the cornstarch as soon as i run out of vodka.. hope the cornstarch doesn't leave flakes,the vodka doesn't .. a nice sizing..molly

One of the things I read, said to boil the water before adding the starch, then cook for a short time to dissolve before adding to bottle. Makes sense to me. I have added it to cold water and later it did get a sour smell. Can refrigerate to prevent this.

?

Are you kidding Vodka? Really? Joking?

no kidding , drinking vodka, yes,yes...its called sizing not starch, my bad,... it really does a good job,material real nice and crisp..molly

I make mine..

1 c Staflo
1c Febreeze- I love the Lavender scent
1c Water..

mix well.. I have had it for a month at a time in my closet. I use it pretty quick tho, but so far No mold.. I even use a clean glass spaghetti jar for my starch..

My great grandmother always made her starch. She never measured, just put a little bit of cornstarch in small pot of water and boiled it. For dipping clothes she made a big pot and reduced it down to the thickness she wanted. It never spoiled as it was made and used the night before ironing day. I grew up with washing day, ironing day, baking day, cleaning day......

I have had no probs with homemade spray starch. What does not fit in a spray bottle should be stored in fridge in a warm climate I would suspect. When I make mine I take what won't fit in spray bottle to a group and refill their spray bottle. It is cheap to make. I put a few drops of lavendar oil in.

thanks so much, i'm tired of buying and 1/2 thru, it falling on the floor and the sprayer breaking off.

Starch now comes in the big non areasol spray bottles. I like Niagara, it has a nice scent and doesn't flake. I find it at Walmart. The bottle is good to reuse if you make your own.

I have been using home made starch for years and never had a problem with it on my fabric. If you leave it in the bottle for more than a week or two (depending on heat and humidity) it will go moldy. I make a batch, starch my fabric, make my quilt and then wash it. But I've had "quilts in the making" with starched fabric sit around for a few months and never had a problem with it on the fabric.

Here's the recipe I use:
1 cup boiling water
1 cup room temp water
anywhere from 1 tsp. to 1 TBLS. corn starch (the more cornstarch you use, the stiffer your fabric will be)

Put the cornstarch in a 2 cup Pyrex measuring cup (or anything similar that can take boiling water).
Add small amount of cool tap water and stir to dissolve starch.
Add boiling water and stir for one minute
Add room temp water and stir thoroughly
When cool enough, pour into spray bottle.

Shake often while using and use within a week or two.

I love this because it's inexpensive, very easy to make, no perfumes or preservatives and it's always on hand since it only has two ingredients we all have on hand. :D

If you heat it up, you can add one teaspoon of salt to a qt and let the salt disolve and that will prevent mold just like the vodca does.

This is exactly the recipe I use. Never had any problems. I have been using the same bottle of it for over 2 or 3 months now. I don't use any thing else in mine either.

I'm a bit confused. If you starch, then dry your fabric, will it iron the wrinkles out? Or do you need to dry it, then kind of spinkle it with water? Guess I'm being blonde again, but I can't get a mental picture of this process. Someone please explain it again for a dummy

I made the vodka mix and it doesn't make the fabric stiff at all. It's no better to me than using water so I probably won't make it again.

The vodka mix is working nicely for me, which is good because the ONE brand of spray starch I can find here is crap.

Anything that needs to be used within a week or two is probably not a good idea for me, LOL.

I use this recipe

2 parts linen water
1 part liquid starch
1 part distilled water

It lasts quite a while and I have never had a problem with mold. I have used this for a long time.

old fashioned recipe for spray starch;

Argo corn starch or other corn starch, you need to experiment with it, that is how stiff you want your starch
try a couple of tablesoons of cornstarch with a cup of water, stir well, place in a container that will fit your item(a 2' square, for your experiment) let it dry, and you have it.

this also has been used for the thread crocheted items.

I am likew you, I hate to buy the starch and doesn't halfway spray or the sprayer itself breks. oh and if you get an old fashioned sprayer, which probably can't find any more, can spray your item and iron it, or just lightly steam your item

from the link above

Frebreeze? hmmm, gotta try that!

12 oz water
3/4 tablespoon cornstarch
3 drops lavender essential oil
Mix well in a measuring cup and pour into a spray bottle.

All of these are great to try, and I plan to do this afgain, so much cheaper too. and does just as well as the store bought spray kind.

SusannahG that recipe is the one I think my mom used ! thanks for the info,

can I still find that sprayer you put in the bottles? I really haven't looked for one, but would love to find one!

ditto

I buy the Niagra non-aerosal spray starch (in a spray bottle) at WalMart for under $2.00 for a 22oz. bottle and it works beautifully and has a fresh smell to it. (I also like the "Mary's" light purple spray they sell at Hancock's but it's $5.00 a bottle and also works nicely.)

Wowsa $5? I have been paying $7.50 for my Mary's at the local quilt shop. I am not a huge fan of starch, I don't like my projects to be "crisp", but I do like them to be very FLAT. I have been filling up my old bottles with water and I only use Mary's on a finished block. After that I just use a touch of water to keep things neat until I have a top...and I spray again lightly with Mary's. Trying to be conservative...I'm a stay at home Momma living on one income here! Lol*

I have heard of both the boiled cornstarch mixture as well as the vodka but haven't tried either yet. If you're a fan of Mary Ellen's Best Press what would be a good alternative to that? The vodka recipe?

Back in the day - when we did not get our ironing done we put it into the fridge for a day or two.

So, while we are talking about ironing, I am having trouble with the steam holes on my iron catching on the edge of my blocks and twisting them. Any ideas, Please?

This is what I do. I like it because I can make it as strong or as light as I want it. I like a 5 to 1 mix better.
A bottle of Sta Flo lasts a long time.

I will try some of the recipes. Wanted to try Mary's but refuse to pay the price. Thanks for all you who contributed your recipes.

I use the following recipe that was posted on this board about a month ago.

2 cups distilled water
2 oz. vodka
6-12 drops essential oils (I use lavender)
1/3 cup liquid starch (I use Sta Flow)

Hint: I put it in a spray starch bottle that was empty.... (BPS). The sprayer is finer than empty bottles you buy. It works wonderfully.

If you make up only one spray bottlefull at a time AND add a tablespoon of rubbing alcohol, most any recipe should be safe from mold.

Vodka is an even better solution to mold problem!!! I'll use that next time.

I hear you! lol But if I know I only have a little starching to do, I make half a bottle. And really at pennies a batch, if I have to throw a bit out without using it, no problem! :D

I also love that my home made recipe is safe not only for me, but for the environment. I'm not a 'tree hugger', but I do try and do my part where and when I can. :D

I've never had a problem with mold. I use a 50/50 ratio and mix it in a large spray bottle. That spray bottle lasts me about a year. It molds?? I've never noticed a smell or floating things in it at all. My quilts don't come out different smelling or anything. I used the last of my current bottle last night and was getting ready to make some more. Should I add salt to it?? I just use stayflo and water.

They sell them in almost any store I have been in. Dollar, grocery, Walgreens, WM. All over the place!!!

Thanks for the heads up Gale. Now I won't have to waste the Vodka!! I prefer it with the water, sta flo and fabreeze. Works great for me.

I've been using Sta-Flo to mix my own for years.

I buy the concentrate and mix 1/2 starch 1/2 water to use when pressing fabric.