Where can I find Mary Ellen's Best Press? I have never heard of it. Why is it better than starch? I have always starched my applique pieces as well as I prefer to needle turn rather than fuse like most people seem to do now, and it makes it very easy to keep the edges tucked while appliqueing.

Peggy what do you soak your fab. in plain water or do you add anything to it, and how long do ou soak your fabric? Gerbie

I SOAK MY FABRIC UNTIL THE WATER GETS COOL. IF THERE IS NO DYE COLORING THE WATER, FABRIC GOES INTO THE DRYER. IF THERE IS DYE IN WATER, I CHANGE THE WATER AND SOAK AGAIN (RINSE FABRIC UNDER RUNNING WATER BEFORE PUTTING BACK IN BOWL/CONTAINER). SOMETIMES, I HAVE TO CHANGE WATER SEVERAL TIMES TO REMOVE ALL THE DYE. HAVE TOSSED A FEW FABRICS BECAUSE THE DYE KEPT RUNNING; THANK GOODNESS THEY WERE SMALL LENGTHS AND NO BIG EXPENSE. I WANT MY QUILTS COMPLETELY WASHABLE. WHITE VINEGAR SOMETIMES HELPS TO SET THE DYE BUT NOT ALWAYS.

I prewash not only for fading issues but for shrinkage problems.

Synthrapol will remove any excess dye and Retayne will set the dyes in your fabrics. It is what we use when we hand dye fabrics and both work great.

YOu can find ME Best Press at most quilt shops, even most of the q. shops that are online. I think Connecting threads, Nancy's Notions, and any of those quilting/crafting catalogs. YOu can google if you donot have paper catalogs. I have found both starch and the alternative helps applique so much. Good luck.

WHERE CAN I PURCHASE SYNTHRAPOL & RETAYNE? I HAVE NEVER SEEN THESE PRODUCTS. I NEED TO GET SOME OF BOTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The other I am not familiar with either but would ask at the QS.

Peggy
I have both, I purchased them from one of these sites, but I do not remember which one for sure. ConnectingThreads.com, KeepsakeQuilting.com or Clotilde.com. I have used the Retayne, and it seems to work, to keep fabric from bleeding in the wash, when I prewashed my fabric. However, I do not know if it works after the fabric is quilted or not. Check these sites out and if you can't find them at these sites, pm me and I will try and find the invoices and let you know. Gerbie

THANK YOU FOR THIS INFO.

QUESTION - DOES IT ANNOY YOU THAT I USE ALL CAPS? I HAVE EYE PROBLEMS AND AUTOMATICALLY USE THEM. ENJOY THIS FORUM VERY MUCH. HOWEVER, EVERYONE SEEMS TO USE LOWER CASE WHICH IS HARD FOR OLDSTERS TO READ.