I love these stories as it brings back memories from Grandma's as well as growing up on a farm, although Mom didn't starch much.
I prewash and dry. I use the 1:1 water:starch method in a spray bottle...spray the fabric so that it soaks in, let it dry and iron with a dry iron. Spritz it with water if you need to work any wrinkles out. I like to put a FQ on top of my ironing board. It absorbs some of the overspray and excess starch. after a while it is nicely starched as well. Put away and replace with another FQ.