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.