Everyone keeps referring to Mary Ellen's Best Press. Is it really that much better than spray sizing or starch? And does it really smell that much better? Just curious as I'm thinking of ordering some of it (but don't know which scent!)

I don't starch because I heard that it can attract silver fish. I do use the Best Press on occasion - when I deal with bias seams or when I need to block a piece into shape.

Fabric sizing (or starch) in general gives the fabric a crisper feel - sort of like unwashed new fabric but wihout the chemicals.

I have never washed my fabric before I make my quilt and never had a problem. I love Best Press. I bought a gallon on Amazon for $22. At the LQS they wanted $50. I always iron my fabric before I use it. Always!

There are no dumb questions in a search for knowledge, sweetie. ask away and we will do our best to answer your questions. Quilters love to share.

I always pre-wash my fabrics. I am new to all this too. I was told starch would help the blocks. It really did, but I found it turned the fabric yellow. I am using white for my background and borders. The blocks are great, but I found the border is more white than the white I used in the blocks. (( starched the block pieces.)

I think a great fabric won't need starch; I bought some recently and it was nice and thick and easy to sew.

Quote from Madquilter:I don't starch because I heard that it can attract silver fish:unquote.

Now I have a question...does the silver fish come because the starched fabric is in storage OR
after the quilt has been completed (pieced and quilted), washed and stored??
This board is fantastic for giving help to one another :)

Thank-you feffertim...I am going to start sizing/starching on the back and ironing the fabric beforehand....great tip. :)

I always prewash. For me since I'm using a variety of fabric manufactures fabric in one project I'm concerend with some shrinking more than others.
when I first started quilting I starched everything. It really helped. Now I only feel the need to starch if I'm working with sharp angels where there might be more stretch than on a standard 45 degree angle.

I don't startch, size, wash or iron my fabric before using it. No trouble thus far and I've been quilting since the 70s.
I've never starched but did prewash all new fabric til about 15 years ago. I just found it easier to work with unwashed fabric. I never ironed fabric even when it had been washed and was wrinkled. I use templates or wide rulers to cut and they press it flat.

I have heard "The Only Dumb Question Is The One You Don't Ask"