Thread: Using starch in quilting

Originally Posted by sahm4605

I just soak my fabric and the let it dry completely and then iron the snot out of it so that it will be stiff as a board, fold and on all the folds I iron them flat as can be. this way when I go to cut it I have four layers I am cutting threw. But this is just me. and it is probably being done wrong, but it works for me. you should try a few different ways of using starch and find the one you like best.

This is what I do too. If you iron while it is still damp, you could distort stripes or other designs in the fabric. It also prevents flaking and the starch sticking to the sole plate of your iron :D:D:D

just pick up a can of spray starch in the laundry isle of the grocery store, take it home and spritz a piece of cotton fabric that needs to be pressed. let the starch soak in then press. you will have a nice, crisp peice of fabric to cut. no secrets to using starch

I have been quilting for 40 years and have never used starch.
My question is "why"? Buy good quality fabric and there is no need to starch.

I starch fabrics from my stash, especially the old stuff, but when I buy new, I dont see the need for starch. My stash is old stuff that my mother put away YEARS ago, but it is darling stuff. I cant bear to toss it.

I just use the spray starch from dollartree. Works fine

Originally Posted by amma

Originally Posted by sahm4605

I just soak my fabric and the let it dry completely and then iron the snot out of it so that it will be stiff as a board, fold and on all the folds I iron them flat as can be. this way when I go to cut it I have four layers I am cutting threw. But this is just me. and it is probably being done wrong, but it works for me. you should try a few different ways of using starch and find the one you like best.

This is what I do too. If you iron while it is still damp, you could distort stripes or other designs in the fabric. It also prevents flaking and the starch sticking to the sole plate of your iron :D:D:D

I do the same , and love the results so much that it is worth the wait for them to dry. I bought a drying rack just for my Starching! I like the consentrate ( Stayflo) so I can alter the strenght as I need to .. its also very inexpensive.

Originally Posted by Nancy Jean

Is there a tutorial on using starch in making your quilt? I could not find it, but noticed people talking about it.

Prior to devoting two pages in my current book to fabric starching, I wrote this brief piece, [url]http://www.marcusbrothers.com/features/quilting_experts/anita_grossman_solomon[url], which may answer some of your questions.

-Anita

Originally Posted by AnitaGrossmanSolomon

Originally Posted by Nancy Jean

Is there a tutorial on using starch in making your quilt? I could not find it, but noticed people talking about it.

Prior to devoting two pages in my current book to fabric starching, I wrote this brief piece, [url]http://www.marcusbrothers.com/features/quilting_experts/anita_grossman_solomon[url], which may answer some of your questions.

-Anita

I read your two page article... You are abosultely right on target on the subject. I could not agree more. Thank -you for posting this valuable link. Now when I tell others about starching I can send them this link !!! Again Thank-you.

Thank you Anita for posting this for us :D:D:D