Can You Use Starch/Best Press While Piecing and Sewing your Blocks?
 

I am wondering if you can use Starch or Best Press as you are sewing a block / assembling a quilt? I had some stubborn seams that did not want to lay down even after pressing two different times (thin sashing strips). I was tempted to use the Best Press to make the seams lay down and stay pressed but was wondering if they would shrink (I had not prewashed the fabrics)?

The quilt before, my half square triangles did not all lay flat (some were wonderfuly flat but some were ruffely) and I was also tempted to spritz with Best Press. Anyone do this and have good results (or bad results)??

i used it in such a way with success. Best you try a sample and see how it reacts to your design and fabric.

I've found that using starch as you go along does help. I recently learned paper piecing and with each addition of a new piece, I paint along the the new seam and press it with my clover mini iron. then, when adding the next piece, there's no extra or folded fabric to make the new seam wonky. I mix the starch about 1/2 and 1/2 with water and keep it in a small bowl next to the mini iron and mini ironing board. i found that if i don't cover the bowl if not continually using it that the water will evaporate.

I always starch as I piece and have never had an issue with shrinking when I wash the final quilt. Works for me with pre-washed and non-pre-washed fabrics. The only thing you have to be careful about is that you press the block not "iron" you want to press it flat, don't move the iron around too much while it's wet or you will distort things and that's when issues start up.

Good luck!
Rachel

I use starch or Best Press all the time when I am assembling or pressing my blocks. It's the only way that I can get some previous crease marks out.

I use it that way too and it works great!

This is good to hear. I am staring another quilt that has tons of sashing and I really didn't like how it "bubbled up" on my last quilt.

If you're having trouble with seams laying flat, is it possible that there's some poly in your fabric? Poly doesn't behave as nicely as cotton. I use starch liberally before cutting my fabric, but seldom have a need to use it after the fabric is cut and pieced. I would worry about distortion, although if you're very careful to press rather than iron, you can probably avoid that problem.

I use it whenever I need too. The other thing that is great for seams are the pressing hams; I think that's what they are called. Normally in Joanns one side is gray and the other is plaid. By putting them on the curved surface and pressing it helps with the seams better.