Would starch help?
#1
Would starch help?
I am working on a quilt with lots of half square triangles. The background fabric is one that I hand dyed years ago; I think it was a white sheet before I dyed it a mottled light blue. The problem is that some of the triangles of background fabric simply will not iron smooth and stay that way. They iron smooth then go back to very wrinkled within a few hours. Full disclosure: I live in Atlanta, and our summer humidity is awful!
Would starch help? If so, do I spray it on the dry fabric or damp? Or do I need to do something with liquid starch? (I know nothing about starch...) Any information or advice that you can give will be most appreciated! Thanks!
Would starch help? If so, do I spray it on the dry fabric or damp? Or do I need to do something with liquid starch? (I know nothing about starch...) Any information or advice that you can give will be most appreciated! Thanks!
#3
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
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Starch should help. If this were uncut fabric, I would suggest a different method but, since it is a quilt top already pieced, spray starch is what you should use. Spray the fabric, wait for the fabric fibers to absorb the starch (at least one minute but may take longer), then iron. You can allow the starch to dry if you are able to iron with steam; the steam will re-activate the starch. You may have to starch and iron several times to get it to stay smooth. If your humidity is extremely high, you may have to re-iron occasionally just because the humidity will soften the starch; however, as long as the starch remains in the fabric, ironing with steam will re-set it.
If you are planning on basting this quilt (as opposed to quilting with a longarm, in which case basting is not needed), I would recommend getting cotton or wool batting (not polyester) and using 505 spray to baste. This will help ensure that the top will stay flat until you are finished quilting, and will also help to make sure that the top adheres to the batting even though the top is starched.
Edit: The above assumes that your fabric has already been pieced and/or cut into pieces. If you are dealing with fabric before it is cut, I would recommend something different for the starching process.
If you are planning on basting this quilt (as opposed to quilting with a longarm, in which case basting is not needed), I would recommend getting cotton or wool batting (not polyester) and using 505 spray to baste. This will help ensure that the top will stay flat until you are finished quilting, and will also help to make sure that the top adheres to the batting even though the top is starched.
Edit: The above assumes that your fabric has already been pieced and/or cut into pieces. If you are dealing with fabric before it is cut, I would recommend something different for the starching process.
Last edited by Prism99; 06-26-2014 at 04:34 PM.
#4
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,654
Some fabric simply has bad manners.
Starch might be a temporary fix -until the item is washed the next time.
I think of starch as temporary scaffolding for fabric.
Starch might be a temporary fix -until the item is washed the next time.
I think of starch as temporary scaffolding for fabric.
Last edited by QuiltnNan; 06-26-2014 at 05:59 PM.
#5
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,559
I've had really good luck lately with spraying the starch, waiting a minute for it to soak in, then spraying water on top of the starch, then pressing. I tend to starch the living snot out of misbehaving fabric. I use non-aerosol Niagra - my kids love the scent.
#6
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: S.E. Queensland, Australia
Posts: 1,488
I agree with Peckish, and I use powder starches to mix with water to my liking, much cheaper than buying aerosol starches. Unwashed fabric takes a little longer to absorb before ironing, and sometimes I spray starch a couple of times for more stiffness. It makes cleaner cutting and does help with sewing on the bias.
#7
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central NJ
Posts: 5,572
I, too, agree with Peckish. However, I use the liquid Sta-Flo starch mixed 50/50. For really badly behaving fabric, you could simply 'paint' the fabric with full strength liquid starch, then press. That should beat it into submission.
#8
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 11,276
You can also try white vinegar and water. There's lots of info on Google about this, here is one:
http://blog.megannielsen.com/2012/08...-with-vinegar/
http://blog.megannielsen.com/2012/08...-with-vinegar/
#10
Thanks for all of the replies! My two grandsons just arrived so it will be several weeks before I can get back to the project, but hopefully I can get it beaten/starched into some kind of submission then....
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04-02-2011 02:02 AM