bearisgray

i soak and wash almost all washable components before cutting them. thread is one of the exceptions.

i think starching/sizing has its uses, but i feel that the fabrics i am willing to use should have enough stability to not need bolstering.

i will starch/size the fabric (s) - before cutting them - if the pieces are very small, very skinny, or the piece is very biased on the edges.

i will admit that a stiffly starched piece is less apt to fray and that the block looks a bit tidier when it is finished.

sometimes i will starch/size a completed block - spray before pressing - allow time for starch/sizing to be absorbed - and then press the block - if i want the blocks to be nice and flat.

i use the spray stuff from Walmart that is called "sizing"

my guideline is - if washed fabric is too limp, flimsy, thin -to use as is - then i do not use it at all.

starch/sizing does have its uses - it just can't permanently change a fabric. it the fabric is "not good enough" to use unstarched, i don' t see how starching will make the fabric "good enough"

i thing of starch/sizing like bras - temporary support or enhancement .