Originally Posted by Tilladare
Could you explain or give a link to, the starch method?
Hello Sorcha,
The starch method is just a way of preparing the applique pieces so that they are easy to handle, easy to arrange on the background and easy to sew. The pieces are like potato chips when you're done with them, but the edge is already turned under and it's easier to pick up only the outside couple of threads.
There's a series of starch method lessons on this blog:
http://erinrussek.typepad.com/one-pi...essons/page/2/ but I haven't found the way to navigate to the lessons that follow. If you click on "Applique Lessons" at the bottom of this page, you can scroll to the bottom of the next page and see some of the subsequent ones.
Basically, you're taking liquid starch (I made mine from boiled cornstarch and water and added a little antimicrobial Febreeze to keep it from molding) and brushing it around the seam allowance on the wrong side of the piece. Then you place a full-size template on the wrong side and iron the seam allowance up over the edge of the template.
It's fussy work, but I love the look. If you like having some hand work to do while you're watching tv or riding in the car, this is just about ideal. :)