Originally Posted by libertykm
Ok here is a dumb question for you. How do you starch your material, in a sink, bath tub or just spray. And where do you air dry. Doesn't it make a mess where ever you dry it. I'm assuming you can't wring the material or it will stretch.
Sorry for the dumb questions.
Not dumb at all! I mix up my solution of Sta-Flo and water, "paint" it on yardage using a large wall painting brush until the fabric is saturated, toss into the dryer, then iron flat with steam. Quick, easy, and I can adjust the heaviness of the starch solution to the need.
I personally do not starch fabric for the top (unless it is flannel) as it's too much work plus I wouldn't want to keep heavily starched fabric in storage for years (which is how long it takes me to use up some of the fabric). I do starch if the pattern is one that leaves bias edges on the blocks, but that is rare because I usually don't use those patterns any more.
I heavily starch backing fabric (1:1 solution) because it keeps the backing from puckering when I machine quilt. I also heavily starch fabric that is going to be cut into binding strips -- especially bias binding strips, but I also starch straight grain strips -- as this keeps it from stretching and distorting on me.
I spray starch tops before assembling into the quilt sandwich, but then I usually use commercial spray starch. That is a much lighter starching than what I use for backing and binding.