Thats what most of us do, the only difference is some of us like the smell of the Fabreeze in with it.

Okay, tell me why are you using spray starch. I wash my fabric, air dry on clothes line, then hand press to the stash. Press when I get ready to cut for piecing. Please educate me, have I been missing an opportunity?

Ok, here's my recipe--small glass of orange juice, splash or 2 of vodka, drink that, spray the fabric with whatever you happen to have sitting around, (windex, whatever) Enough orange juice, and everything will look GREAT! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Mark Lipinksi has some great recipes at this website under Tulips tips....they are great to use!

I love the Mary Ellen's Best Press and it is a little expensive so when going to a workshop, I knew everybody there would be grabbing on to it so I simply diluted the stuff and found it works just as well that way. The nice fragrance is still there and it releases the wrinkles just like it's supposed to. Now I only use it full strength to stabilize my fabric before cutting a bunch of bias edges for triangles or before cutting out applique pieces.

I found this out as well! works great at 1 part ME-3 parts water!

Instead of vodka , I use alcoohol.

I am impressed with all of you! I am looking at this recipe and I have one thought. I was told at the quilt store of course, that you do not use startch but the product called "BEST PRESS" because this is not a sugar base, which can attract ants.

So what is the scoup?

starch is NOT sugar based either...it is corn starch usually and can attract bugs, usually silver fish, not ants...

and they are just trying to push the best press...which does not work any better or worse than simple vodka water or spray sizing!

starch can also dull your needles, flake off into your machine, dull your rotary blades, cause your blocks to come out wonky, makes a mess of your iron, and so on....

either way, each person has his/her own preference I am sure!

or running out of propellant in the can and product left that you cannot use

The scoup is. The LQS sells the Marys Ellens and not spray starch. And the ME cost about $5-8 a bottle.. We can make it and it works great. for about pennys a bottle.

I buy mine from Walmart for $0.96. It can leave some residue on dark fabric but it comes right off brushing it off with my hands. For me that is worth it.

Vodka is made from potatoes so there is the sizing.

OK, You convinced me. I'll put some Vodka in the spray bottle. I am not wasting it in the whole batch if I don't like it!! :-D

The vodka mix is a good substitute for Mary Ellen's Best Press...I use it all the time.

I just got a recipe for homemade "Best Press"
1/4 c. vodka
2 c. distilled water
essential oil of your choice

Enjoy! :XD:

I think that sounds fantastic!!! lol 8-)

Ladies, you are the best with answers to questions. I read this board everytime it is sent to me and always learn something new. I am going to tell all my friends about it. Now I can make starch for my quilts. I haven't been quilting long and haven't put any pictures on the board yet. First I have to learn how because I just made a nice quilt that I am proud of for a friend. I will learn soon. Thanks ladies for all you wisdom and information and inspiration.

You are so welcome! :roll:

I also found this recipe and it says it is to put into your iron. Isn't that linen water and not starch??

I remember being told to put whole Bay leaves in with the material I had starched to keep the bugs away. It worked!! :))

Though I do like the medicinal use of the vodka with orange juice. Can only imagine what my work would look like. Hmmm. I'd be a true 'art quilter."

ali

ali

I have never heard of it before but there is a starch that you put in your wash water.

I'm having the same problem. I keep checking the bottom of the iron, but something just causes bunches every now and then. I sure hope someone has a suggestion. I'm using a new iron.

My mother always used liquid starch. She would spray the clothes then leave the clothes in the fridge over night. anyone know why she refridgerated them?

Just a point of interest: Unless you're buying very high end vodka, most of it isn't made from potatoes. It all was made from potato years ago, but most is made from various grains now. It's much cheaper to produce. Go to a good liquor store and talk to an "expert", or investigate on the internet!! Wish I could remember important things as well as I remember this useless trivia! Ahhh the wonders of the human mind.

Yes, linen water. I've heard (from people that have had this happen) that if you spray your fabric with starch, not use it all and end up storing it that the moths love the starch and can ruin your fabric. So, linen water is a good choice. I now try to spray just the fabric I know I'm going to use (if I use my spray starch, which I do like to use sometimes) so I'm not storing fabric that has been sprayed with starch). :lol:

Yes, I starch just when I am ready to use the fabric. But then, I don't prewash anything but Flannel or Batics. No sense in washing, starching folding and then have to redo it when you are ready for it!!

ME Best Press out here is jsut under
$10 for a for a 16 oz bottle. I am out all the time! The trip to the store is 30 miles one way.

I need the essential oils and I am trying this out.

There goes my vodka stash!!!!

I only buy Smirnoff vodka. Is that high end? My dd has allergies so I buy brands I know are not a problem for her (especially if I'm going to be spraying them about).

I should clarify that my dd does not drink vodka. LOL. I use it to make homemade vanilla so she does 'ingest' it in recipes.

I don't think so. I'm talkin' Chopin, Belvedere etc. The $40 a bottle stuff. Waaaaaay outa my price range!

So much good info. ty, clever quilters

Thanks for the helpful hints everyone.

You could always DRINK THE VODKA to make it run out quickly! :)

Where do you get the essential oils, and my concern is 'oil' a good idea to be spraying on your fabric. Guess it must be OK, sounds like a lot of gals are using it. I like a little fragrance so want to go beyond just the vodka-water mix. Ever tried cherry vodka with frozen lime-ade for a cherry lime-ade. Way better than Sonic.

ok I've heard alot of talk about spray starch, what do u'all use it for? when I was younger and ironed everything i used it. DON'T iron that much now.