Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums > Main
Weird experience with starch.  Is this normal?? >

Weird experience with starch. Is this normal??

Weird experience with starch. Is this normal??

Old 09-16-2011, 03:15 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: The California Hills
Posts: 626
Default

I've only been quilting for a few months and have been hearing about people using starch so I bought some Mary Ellen Best Press. I did a few spritzes from the bottle onto my finished blocks (I put 4 blocks close together to experiment first). They got pretty "wet" and instantly started to curl and warp a bit. I let them sit for 10 minutes to dry and yet they were still really damp. I waited a few more minutes and then used the iron to dry them the rest of the way.

The did end up with a bit more stiffness to them which is nice but it seemed weird that they got so wet and they never really dried without using the iron. I have read a lot of posts that indicate you should wait till they are dry to iron them.

I was planning on doing this process to my whole pieces of fabric (1/2 to 1 yard pieces) before starting my cutting but now I'm not sure? Do you starch entire pieces of fabric?
AngelinaMaria is offline  
Old 09-16-2011, 03:16 PM
  #2  
Super Member
 
MellieKQuilter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Washington State
Posts: 1,199
Default

Maybe you are using too much?
MellieKQuilter is offline  
Old 09-16-2011, 03:17 PM
  #3  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
Default

I don't think Mary Ellen's Best Press is starch. (Starch is normally made of corn flour, but potato flour and others can be used as starch too.)

Edit: With spray starch, you need to wait for it to dry (or at least soak into the fabric so it's not just sitting on top of the fabric) before ironing so you don't scorch the starch. With Mary Ellen's Best Press, I don't think you need to do that.

To starch yardage, I mix up a solution of Sta-Flo liquid laundry starch and water, "paint" it on with a large wall-painting brush until fabric is saturated, toss in dryer, then iron with steam. It's a pretty fast method, plus my finger doesn't get sore from spraying.
Prism99 is offline  
Old 09-16-2011, 03:23 PM
  #4  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern Michigan
Posts: 12,861
Default

when you spray starch your fabric gets wet- the iron dries it....that's how it works
ckcowl is offline  
Old 09-16-2011, 03:25 PM
  #5  
Super Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Milton DE
Posts: 3,189
Default

I spray entire block let it sit 5 mins to soak in and then iron dry...
hobbykat1955 is offline  
Old 09-16-2011, 03:25 PM
  #6  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: FL
Posts: 16,574
Default

Make sure your nozzle is on spray, not stream and don't hold it too close.
sewnsewer2 is offline  
Old 09-16-2011, 04:29 PM
  #7  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Kansas
Posts: 20,402
Default

Maybe you are using too much.
blueangel is offline  
Old 09-16-2011, 04:35 PM
  #8  
Power Poster
 
BellaBoo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Front row
Posts: 14,646
Default

If you wait for the starch or sizing to dry, hot iron won't do anything but heat the dry starch. I get my fabric almost sopping wet with starch then press dry before cutting. My fabric isn't going to distort or ravel at all.
BellaBoo is offline  
Old 09-16-2011, 04:39 PM
  #9  
Super Member
 
feffertim's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Desert Hot Springs Ca
Posts: 2,633
Default

I always spray my blocks until they are wet, then iron them dry, thats how it works. If you are spraying dark fabric, spray on the back, it helps avoid any white residue on the front that sometimes shows on dark fabrics.
feffertim is offline  
Old 09-16-2011, 04:46 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
gypsyquilter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: North Texas
Posts: 449
Default

with the ellens best press, try shaking the bottle before spraying.
gypsyquilter is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
seazteddy
Main
39
04-20-2019 03:51 AM
RJLinkletter
Main
19
02-26-2019 01:48 AM
Jackietellijohn60
Main
12
04-28-2013 08:43 AM
Threadbanger
Main
11
02-02-2012 01:06 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


FREE Quilting Newsletter