Starch before cutting. Funny story, I cannot believe I did this, it was such a rookie mistake and I ought to know better.... two weeks ago, I was hired to put a hanging sleeve and binding on a quilt that had been commissioned by a fabric manufacturer. The binding went on just fine, no problems. The quilt's owner had very specific measurements for the hanging sleeve. I cut the fabric, then starched and pressed it... and it was too small. I thought I must have measured wrong, so I cut it, starched and pressed it again, and of course, it was too small AGAIN!!! Smacked myself upside the head, starched and pressed the rest of the fabric, THEN cut it to size. This time it was perfect. Thankfully there was plenty of fabric left over!!!