I always wash what I'm going to use the day before the project and than starch just before i cut it. My starched pcs probably stay that way not longer than a week than wash as soon as I finish. But unlike a lot of you I don't do big projects, no larger than I can quilt with out a struggle on my machine, no bigger than 60x 70. So it doesn't take long.
But before I got off on this tangent, I think you were referring to inferior material, which I do buy and pratice my stitches on only. With batting, I do my dec stitchs and free motion, that I have been trying lately, plan on an hour every night, till I get it.
I try only to use better material for anything I'm giving away and do a ton of sales. On line and at the shops here. I try not to pay more than $5.00 for anything, since I'm unemployed I can't. If I buy crap I don't think even starching the snot out of it will help down the road!!! That's my theory. Is that crystal ???