I'm right there with you about the starch! I just starch the snot out of everything, cut it out freehand,sometimes use Elmer's school glue to stick it where it's supposed to go and sometimes just hold it down with my thumb and then (gasp!!) I raw-edge applique it!! Heaven only knows if it will stand up to much washing, but the project I'm working on currently isn't likely to be washed a great deal, some but not every week. I love cutting out crazy shapes and colors fors for wierd but exciting flowers. I've made some very exotic birds and it's all a LOT of fun with fabric. And after all, isn't that what we're all doing here.....having fun with fabric?