pumpkinpatchquilter

You might check out Lisa Bongean (of Primitive Gatherings quilt shop) - she has a blog - she practically drenches her pieces in starch. LOL Her piecing is phenomenal though - very accurate and clean. She suggests you spray with inexpensive starch generously to the reverse side of the fabric (though obviously it doesn't matter which side with a homespun) and then turn it over and press. Sharon Schamber also uses this method - though I don't know if she uses quite as much starch! It will definitely keep your pieces from distorting - but of course you'll want to be careful when piecing and take into consideration any kind of bias edge. Really just don't pull or tug at your piecing when your sewing, and also avoid directional ironing but rather pressing with a stationary iron - just setting it on the fabric versus pushing along the fabric which is what we tend to do when ironing clothing or large hunks of fabric.