I've been thinking lately that starch is my new BFF! I so totally agree with others' comments about it. I just finished making 36 scrappy Flying Geese blocks and couldn't have done nearly as good a job on them without starch. Since I wanted each one to be different, no two alike, I had to do them singly. Starching the fabric helped me cut and sew them precisely. I also used a straight-stitch throat plate, as well as leaders and enders to chain piece the blocks. The points turned out nice and sharp and I'm really happy with them. I credit the starch a lot for the results.
I am no working on a quilt for DH for Christmas which includes some pieces from his father's shirts. These have been washed a lot and the fabric is really soft but I an starch the pieces and they have good body and handle really well.
Happy quilting!