Best press and starch
 

Could somebody explain to me the difference. Both say they are starches but what difference do they make to patchwork piecing and applique work?

Thank you for reading and hopefully replying.

I have used both. Best Press has an ingredient that allows it to penetrate the fibers of the fabric faster and so you can press without mess more quickly. I also notice that my iron doesn't get gunky from Best Press like it does from starch. The fabric that I use Best Press on doesn't seem as stiff as when I use starch. It could be that I am using less Best Press however since the cost is so much higher that I'm more careful how much I spray.

When I am starching a larger piece of fabric then I use starch. I use the non aerosol Niagra. I spray the fabric and roll it up and let it rest before I press. If I'm pressing seams and want a little crispness to it or smaller pieces of fabric I use Best Press as I can spray and press right away. I bought a small bottle at a beauty supply store (Sally's) that is meant for hairspray that I use to spray. It gives a much finer mist so my Best Press lasts longer. I buy it in the bottle without the sprayer as it is more economical that way.

So encouraging to see someone else has picked up on my idea about the little spray bottles. If you use coupons from Joann's to get your Best Press it decreases the cost even further.

I use lots and lots of both starch and Best Press. Before I cut my fabric, I heavily starch it. I use a mixture of 2/3 Sta-Flo to 1/3 water. I put this in a spray bottle and spray the fabric heavily. I then put the starched fabric in a plastic bag which I put in the freezer until I am ready to iron. For me, piecing is do much easier with the stiff fabric. If I need to get out deep wrinkles or fabric fold lines, I use Best Press which I purchase by the gallon and pour into a small spray bottle. Nothing beats Best Press for getting out wrinkles!

I really found that I like an item called "Magic Sizing". It gives a light body without the stiffness. I can ONLY find it at the larger Walmart for under $1.00 a can. Never have any problems with the nozzle plugging up and I can quickly spray and press without any flakes. I am on a tight budget so I have never tried Best Press.

I'm so intrigued by the descriptions of using starch (spray heavily, put in fridge). I think eventually the curiosity will overcome my fears about bugs, and I'll give it a try. Since following recent discussions on starch/Best Press, I've tried spraying with Best Press before cutting, but I can't say I've noticed much difference. Someone mentioned that starching really helped with applique, and I wondered if it was the background fabric or the applique piece that was starched. It seems it would be harder to turn under an edge that was stiffened with starch?

Joe'smum. I agree with your applique quote but if using bondaweb the stiffness could hinder needle work.

Oh, I see. Thank you so much. So this would not work for needle turn applique then, where you finger press, and turn under as you go.

When doing machine applique, I heavily starch the *background* fabric yardage before cutting it. For this I use a 1:1 solution of Sta-Flo and water, a large wall-painting brush to apply (very fast) until the fabric is saturated, wait a couple of minutes to allow the starch time to penetrate the fibers, toss in the dryer, then iron with steam. This makes the fabric almost as stiff as cardstock, eliminating the need for stabilizer underneath the background fabric when doing machine applique. Without stiffening or stabilizer, the background fabric is very likely to stretch and distort while machine sewing around appliques.

I find that Best Press most closely resembles sizing in terms of how much it stiffens fabric. Sizing is made from chemicals and is used to give just a light stiffening to things such as cuffs and collars on shirts. Using more Best Press will not really stiffen the fabric more; it will still give just a slight crispness and stability to fabric.

Starch is made from organic sources (corn, rice, potatoes) and can be made up in different strengths. The lightest formulations will be similar to sizing, but heavier formulations will stiffen and stabilize the fabric so much that the fabric will become highly unlikely to stretch or distort, even with lots of manhandling. That is why I like it for backings; heavy starching pretty much eliminates the chances of getting puckers and tucks in the back when quilting.

Both sizing and starch wash out of fabric; neither is permanent.

The problem I have with starching yardage is that if it is off grain, you can't straighten the grain after starching. If you wash the fabric first and straighten the grain before starching, you probably won't have this problem so much. Having said that, I still seem to twist the fabric while moving it to iron it. So I only starch small amounts of fabrice at a time. With Best Press, I don't have this problem. If you want the fabric stiffer, just spay/iron the fabric with it however many times you want until you get the stiffness you want.

I was buying the non-aerosol Niagra from Wal Mart and now can not find it at any of the local stores, also looked at the Dollar type stores. Anyone know where to find it?

My local Safeway carries it.

I use Magic sizing as well...I can bring myself to spend that much on Best press..

I've never used Best Press due mostly to the price and availability to acquire it in my area. I do use the Vodka recipe for making my own and add liquid starch to it as I like a stiffer result. If I know I'll be starching, I usually use a dishpan filled with my recipe, dip the fabric and hang it over the tub so it drains back into the tub for reuse. I normally just let it dry before pressing. I'll use my spray bottle filled with water to mist it while ironing. If I just need to add a little starch while pressing, I have a spray bottle filled with my recipe near by. So far with my recipe I have never had a starch build up on my iron.

Best Press, have tried others and now I'm a loyal user of this product.

There must be pixie dust or something else magic in Best Press! I've read these thread for years and never tried BP. Weekend before last I attended a Bernina demonstration at a LQS. A gift for attending and watching all their demonstrations was a small eyeglasses kit and a small bottle of Best Press. I used it for the first time this weekend. It's a miracle! I mix my own starch using liquid starch and water. It's economical and effective. But I had never tried BP! I love it. It sprays evenly, presses beautifully and never clogs. WalMart has a 32 oz. bottle to refill smaller ones for $6.91. An affordable miracle.

@llong0233: Are you saying that you buy Best Press at Walmart?

they do have it at Walmart.
 

My quilting teacher had us use Magic Sizing. As several have said, it does a great job and is less expensive than Best Press. I get it at my local Market Street grocery store. Not every grocery store has it.

I buy my Best Press from Nancy's Notions. Usually there's a small discount plus free shipping, so that works for me. I also use liquid starch from Wal-Mart; depends on what I'm doing.

On a previous thread, someone said they bought some kind of starch at Fleet Farm. Does anyone recall what it was called? I am going to a Fleet Farm soon (nearest one is 2 hours away) and want to try it but can't remember what it was called.

Best Press is a sizing not a starch. It's not a food source like starch so won't attract critters. Personaly, I prefer Magic Sizing in the green can. It works as well as Best Press at a much lower price. It also won't gunk your iron or ironing surface like starch. If you're going to use the fabric right away, starch is fine. I use the starch in the blue bottle and dilute it abour half and half in my own spray bottle. But I always wash a quilt before I gift it so starch is all gone.

Are you sure? The MSDS info for Best Press states that it's in the starch family.

http://www.wardrobesupplies.com/spre...pdf?1344950602

I am the odd one out here. I don't spray my fabrics or fabrics with anything but water from a spray bottle. I have made over 136 Quilts.

My local Walmart (Amherst, NH) carries BP. It is in the fabric area. Don't know if stores that don't have a fabric department would carry it. Haven't tried it yet, but I am in the sizing or just plain water group.

Magic Sizing
 

I have used Magic Sizing for years for my clothes and keep it on hand. It's a great alternative to starch, although I don't think it's actually starches unless it's very light. As one gal suggested, use the coupons for fabric stores to save. I didn't want to use BEST PRESS either due to cost. Like you I am on a budget. But I did try it and I really like it and only buy it when I have a coupon. I got the refill bottle with a coupon as well. You can get coupons from stores on your smart phone. Hancock Fabric and Joann's Fabric are always running sales. Just go to I've never tried it on fabric, so you've given me a great idea to try it!