Originally Posted by johans

I wash everything as it comes into the house. I like to know exactly what that fabric is going to look/feel like when it's in a quilt. I get the fabric finish off and any chemicals that are in the product. When I'm ready to do a quilt, I put the fabric into the washer with starch solution, spin it out, partially dry, and iron. The iron FLIES over the fabric. It feels like new fabric, keeps a good crease, and starch can be "reactivated" with a water spritz. I don't use canned spray for many reasons. For small pieces I keep a pump-spray bottle with 1 part starch to 4 parts distilled water -- perfect.