Thread: Sizing vs starch

What's the diference? I'm unfamiliar with Sizing. Can anyone explain the difference to me? :?:
thanks!

I'll be watching to see the answers too! :D

I don't know any technical stuff just my experience. I use sizing to make my stuff stiff especially my bookmarks before I sell them. When I tried starch it took for ever for it to dry. And I didn't think it was all that stiff. The sizing dries pretty quickly and I soak mine with the spray when I spray them. By morning they are really stiff. I use the sizing to stiffen a piece of fabric or to take out wrinkles. I iron it after spraying and it dries really well in just a couple of mins.

Maybe someone else will have a more technical answer.

I was told to use sizing instead of starch because bugs like starch and they would make holes in the fabric.

I don't thing sizing flakes as much as starch does.

Interesting question and if you google there are several discussions from quilters to professional cleaners.

Sizing is also designed to create shape and dirt resistance.


A: Starch is used to stiffen fabrics such as shirt collars and cuffs, while sizing is used to add body, “crispness” and “hand” to garments. Starch is vegetable-based (it’s formulated from wheat, corn or rice), while sizing is a resinous solution that can be either vegetable- or plastic-based.

Because starch doesn’t satisfactorily adhere to thermoplastic fibers such as polyester, manufacturers often blend a plastic-based sizing agent and vegetable-based starch to impart stiffness to the synthetic fibers.

Niagara Starch is the only one that I found that doesn't flake. Best Press is nice but pricey if you have to pay shipping to get it.

I use Magic Sizing made by the Faultless Starch Co in Kansas City Missouri

Thanks for the explanation Quilt Addict!

I like the magic sizing because it smells so great and makes the fabric fluff rather than stiffen up.

I think this was answered scientifically, and I was going to add about the bugs, so all your questions have been answered. Thanks girls, I never knew the real reason just that the bugs don't like it.

Rita