Originally Posted by Sadiemae
Originally Posted by retiredquilter
The lady who conducted the quilting class I took didn't have the time to say much so I guess that's why so much of what I read here is all new to me. My question is, why are you starching the fabric? I assume that this to stiffen the fabric. Why?
If you prewash and dry yor fabric, you wash away the sizing or stiffening agents that are in fabric. Starch will help to prevent fabric from stretching as you cut and sew it.
I don't always prewash (although I am doing it more and more), but I do starch -- especially when I am doing something with a lot of pieces or bias edges since they stabilize the pieces/blocks so you can be more accurate.