Okay help the guy quilter out here........I read on another thread that there is a proper temp to using starch and apparently a secret to keeping it from flaking.

So here is my question..........

What is the proper temp and use of starch. I used to used sizing and now swapped to starch but it flakes on me in spots. Now it usually washes out no big deal but whats the secret to not flaking.

Billy

Hey Billy sure enjoy your posts on machines....when you spray it let it rest til foam disapates and then iron it....its the foam that flakes....also use Mary Ellen's Best Press....the best one

After you spray your fabric let it sit for about 30 seconds to let the starch seep into the fabric. I use my iron on the cotton setting. Your are getting the flakes because the starch is still wet.

For me it happens if I soak an area too much with starch.

There are brands out there that specifically state no flaking. I wonder if one of these would work for you or I've used homemade and its worked well.

The starch that I use is the one where you mix it with water to make it what ever strength you want to use it at. I of course go for the heavy starch where you can make a 4" square stand up on end. I used an old "Shout" spray bottle and I was thinking that might be it. I modified the sprayer to where it is almost a mist and I wait for a while before ironing but sometimes it still flakes.

I was thinking that the starch was a little too heavy.

Billy

Sounds like it maybe a little too heavy if the charm can stand up on end! LOL :)

Like others I also let mine rest a bit...if I have time. I also spray on the wrong side of fabric so IF it flakes it'll flake there.

Such a good idea....now, why didn't I think of that!!!! :oops:

Whatever fabrics I'm going to be working with, I starch at least 1 hour before using, then either put in the dryer for a few minutes or let air dry, then I mist with water to iron, I don't get flakes then. I also use the concentrated but I mix it a little more like 55% mix, and spray on the wrong side also.

Mary Ellen's Best Press hasn't flaked for me yet. I love it.

I mix mine 60/40 so I am not far off from you then. I guess I will have to let it dry longer and not be so impatient :)

Billy

For spray starch, the secret is in giving the starch time to sink into the fabric. This probably takes longer if the fabric has not been prewashed because the fabric is treated in the factory to resist dirt (and starch!). Flakes and "snow" occur when the starch is ironed before it has had a chance to be completely absorbed by the fabric fibers.

I do not use spray starch anymore because I seem congenitally unable to wait long enough at the ironing board. Since I don't prewash, my fabrics usually have enough stiffening in them already for accurate cutting and piecing.

When I do starch fabric, it's usually for backing fabric. For that, I mix a 1:1 solution of Sta-Flo liquid laundry starch and water to make a heavy solution, paint it on to the fabric with a large wall painting brush until the fabric is saturated, toss in the dryer, and then iron with steam. Drying the fabric before ironing ensures there will be no wet starch to scorch. With this method I can use a very hot iron and not worry about scorching the starch because it has been entirely absorbed by the fabric. The steam re-activates the starch just enough for ironing all the wrinkles out.

Thanks for the great question Billy! I've learned a lot by reading everyone's posts...Mary Ellen's smells great but doesn't starch as heavy as my grocery store Faultless Heavy Starch I buy in Walmart. I don't get flaking and I sometimes will spray on both sides...one quilter's theory who taught a class said when it's hot she flips and starches the other side and figures it soaks deeper when hot...I don't know if that's true or not.

Great ideas here. Thanks Billy for posting that. Thanks for all the ideas. :thumbup:

So the not being able to wait for it to soak in is congenital? I wonder if I can teach hubby or one of the kids to iron? Oh, that's right--Hubby has the don't know how to work an iron congenital defect and the kids have inherited both problems.

I guess I had better start throwing it in the dryer as suggested. I always wash my quilts as soon as the binding is on so flakes don't bother me but I can actually scorch the guaranteed not to scorch starch. Definitely points to a congenital issue--LOL!

I have another question about Mary Ellen's. I have used it, but it seems to stick to my iron and later leaves scorch marks on fabric. It does wash out, but am I using it too hot (cotton setting) or is it what the bottom of my iron is made of? Am I supposed to dilute it?

I have not had that happen and I do use my iron very hot. I do not dilute. Sorry I'm not more help. I do buy it by the gal. online at Joann's if I have a coupon. I know there's some controversy about Joann's that didn't know about before, but so far my coupon worked well online.

One lady at one of my LQSs recommended diluting it a little and I have tried using it both ways. I don't mind it but, like another poster, found that regular starch worked better.

I spray my fabric until it is wet with starch, hang it up on a tension rod until it dries. I don't have any problem with scorching or flaking. It works well for me with canned or what I mix myself :D:D:D

If I am in a hurry, I put a fan on it :wink:

My secret is don't use starch. I hate the residue everywhere.

Billy, I wash my quilts before giving them. It washes right out. Just more of an irritant if anything. :-D

Oh I know it washes out but I just didnt know if there was something I was missing when I was starching the living daylights out of my material.

I have to have the heavy starch so that all of my blocks are square and the points line up perfectly.

Billy

I pretty well do the same. spray, hang.... wait and press

So I guess I need to learn a bit of patience..........that is a hard thing for a guy you know!

Billy

Same here, guess I need to wait til it dries and maybe dilute it a little. Thanks for the info. :thumbup: :thumbup:

meeee, too, I switched about a year ago and I haven't missed those flakes.

the key to that great stiffness with out the flaking, is 'layers' light spray, let soak in, press, let cool re-spray, set/soak in, press, let cool, spray (ya know wash, rinse, repeat :) ) until its as stiff as you want it to be. don't saturate too heavily, a light spray is less apt to flake even if the mixture is a kind of 'heavy' mix that's ok, just spray lightly each time.

I use this as well and since it is inexpensive, works for me!

Ditto! It's fantastic!

Especially those triangles!!!! Yep! Totally understand. Just wash afterwards and all things will be good! :thumbup:

I mix my own. Mary Ellen's is nice but way too expensive for me to use on quilting. I save it to iron clothes. Now I have had the bottle for almost 3 years if that tells you anything. I was ironing some black fabric and got the flakes I used the lint roller to take it off. Worked fine. Of course I was only doing 1/2 yards.

Well again after all these years of quilting as my DM taught me I never starch my fabrics,just now started calling it fabric instead of material. lol . I have no problem with my points matching etc with out it. and was taught that it was a no no on quilts.

Thanks for the questions and all the answers! I occasionally have flaking and finally figured out that its just because I'm impatient...not necessarily "starch challenged"...

Mary Ellen's Best is the Best--NO flaking
To grammy o'5, maybe the iron is too hot

The first time I used the Faultless Heavy Duty starch, I got flakes. Then learned that I need to actually wait for it to get into the fabric. I have learned to walk away while it soaks in, get something to drink, do something else. If I jump in too quickly - the flakes show up again.

I do like Mary Ellen's Best Press - as I haven't had flaking problems with it. Though it is hard to argue the price difference.

I'll likely go the route someone suggested and use a coupon to get a gallon jug. It can join the jug of water already in the sewing room to refill the iron (though in honor of the Sprite in the iron thread - I will have to keep them way apart).

Cheers, K

I only use Mary Ellen's Best Press & have never had a problem. When I used the regular spray starch I always had the flakes.

How about multiple pieces of fabric so, by the time you've starched the last piece, the first one is almost dry if not dry?

Billy I am a very impatient person, exact reason why I don 't tackle alot of quilt patterns, any way I use Faultless Heavy Starch , the wait time is maybe a second before I start ironing/pressing, just long enough for the foam to disappear.

Niagara spray starch does not flake. I've tried making my own from cornstarch and from the concentrated. I've have several bottles of Best Press, Faultless, Niagara, StaFlo, from sizing to heavy starch. Honestly one works as good as the other for quilt blocks.

I love Mary Ellen's Best Press. I buy it by the big jug!

I usually run my hand across the area where I've sprayed and I never get flakes. I guess running you hand across the starch speeds up the waiting time for the foam to disappear.