Sorry, another question, please!
 

Sorry, forgot to ask this. Since I'm not only a new user to this site, but a new quilter also, I have a number of dumb questions. Here is my first one. Why do you spray start your material? Thanks!

I prefer spray sizing, because it does not draw any insects. In either case, the idea is to have the fabric relatively stable when you are cutting and handling it. The more intricate the pattern, the more this matters. The spray also tends to get rid of any wrinlkes, as you iron it. I bet the next question is why wash and iron. The washing is to preshrink and get rid of exess dye. In some cases, it's to identify fabrics that would run in splotches over your quilt, making a real mess after all of your work. If you don't iron, your measurements can be WAY off because the fabric is not really flat. I'll be honest. I hate ironing, but I am really convinced that it matters.

PS. Don't worry about asking dumb questions. I bet every one of us has asked the same questions. "older" quilters shared their knowledge with us, now it's our turn to pay it forward.

I don't use starch, probably would be a good thing if I did, I don't know. I have allergies and asthma so can't use it.

Do you wash all your fabrics before make projects? I've heard pros and cons

starch (can) make your fabric hold/stay better for more precise cuts- it helps give the fabric body/stiffness making piecing easier- and gets out those wrinkles-
some people simply spritz with a little water- or use steam- or use sizing (which is like starch but does not give the stiffness) and some use starch- it is a personal choice-
i've been using starch for 50 years-so prefer that when water is not enough-
it washes away when your project is finished and laundered.

You'll get lots of answers to wash/not wash...starch/not starch. It really boils down to personal preference. I pre-wash; I starch. I want to pre-shrink my fabric. I've pre-washed and still had things run due to excessive dye. Color catchers are a beautiful thing. I'm also older than dirt and grew up starching cottons when ironing. Just normal for me. But it does give the fabric more body and does make cutting/piecing more accurate - at least for me.

Not dumb, very brave and very sensible to ask what you don't know. You are in a safe environment here, so ask away. BTW, I don't starch unless the pattern is very intricate and stiffer fabric would be easier to work with. That happens once in a blue moon because I like the quick and easy.

There is no such thing as a dumb question...a question means you would like an answer for something. No one is born knowing everything!..I use spray sizing and I definitely prewash. One time I didn't and the material ran when I washed it. Also, I am alergic to something on new fabric and I have sneezing fits in a fabric store so I wash what I purchase as soon as I get it home.

Several reasons why I like to starch my fabric. The top two reasons are... cutting is more accurate, the second is when the seams are pressed , they stay pressed much better than with just steam.... no seams flipping in a direction I did not want them to go when I am sewing.

I don't prewash. I use Mary Ellen's Best Press, which is a starch alternative, before cutting. I don't use steam. Remember, a *bleeding* fabric is not the problem. The problem fabric is the one that picks up those loose dyes!!! And shrinkage is your friend!! When you do a less than perfect quilting job and then throw the quilt in the wash and it comes out puckered just a bit it'll hide all that less than perfect quilting.

I do not, and never have used any type of starch or sizing. A good quality fabric doesn't need starch or sizing.

Keep in mind the only dumb question is the unasked one. You will find many many helpful quilters to answer questions for you. Sure wish I knew about it when I started quilting. Good luck on your quilting and keep those questions coming.

the only dumb question is the one NOT asked. I do not use spray starch very much at all. It tends to draw bugs and I don't want those in my stash. If I have to spray anything I use plain water. and because I am allergic to some of the chemicals in fabric - I wash every thing before I use it

just remember the only dumb question is the one that is not asked. I prefer to starch and also not prewash, unless I have a fabric color that is really rich. (Like RED). I will prewash also if I use a lot of white with a dark contrast just in case. And I always use color catchers. They are available at the grocery stores and you put them in the wash. They will collect any color that will run in the wash.

I do prewash and starch. I started quilting without doing either and have had fabric bleed or behave badly after washing the finished quilt. If it is going to present problems I want to know about it before investing my time and energy. Also, when you iron/starch before cutting it requires hands and eyes on the fabric and you can catch any issues such as small holes or flaws that you need to eliminate in cutting out your pieces. Ann in TN

At a LQS I was told not to bother washing or ironing beacause the "newer" fabric doesn't need it. Not true and I found out the hard way. I always wash and dry on hot and use spray sizing. Worth the extra work, plus some charities request washed items for people with allergies and for baby quilts.

I prefer 'best press' to starch, it works really well and smells wonderful. A couple of tips, iron the fabric before you spray, the heat makes the starch absorb into warm fabric better, also, especially if the fabric is dark, spray on the back so you don't get any residue on the front.

I don't prewash (except flannel) and use Best Press only if the folds and wrinkles are bad. However, that said as pinkberrykay said try both methods and see what you like. I use Colorcatchers when I wash any of my quilts.

I do per-wash to get rid of any chemicals in the fabric, this is the time you would want your fabric to run or bleed loss dyes, not when you have all ready done the work in sewing a quilt of any size! If you chose not to wash you could always test the fabric first with a wet cotton swab, but then it would get rid of the chemicals in it. I use spray sizing just because I like all that is does for me as stated in others posts. I also think that fabric doesn't always shrink the same, this way the shrinking is done with and your quilt if washed ever won't go wonky! P.S. there are no dumb questions!!

Try using Mary Ellen's Best Press. It's wonderful, comes in many scents plus unscented. I keep the small size in my suitcase (inside a plastic bag) for pressing my linen travel clothes. Works great!

See there is proof that there are no dumb questions, I've been quilting for 5 yrs or so and never knew about startching stuff, will have to try it, thanks Bubble

I've been quilting for a number of years (too many to mention) and have never starched my fabric or pre-washed it. I can say that I have never had any problems so far!!!!
To each his own:)

I wash reds and blacks with shout color catchers (found in Walmart or grocery stores) I have found mine near the starch. I bought a bottle of liquid starch and mixed my own with water in a spray bottle. I just sprits my fabric and iron out any wrinkles. The fabric seems to handle better There are no dumb questions, I have asked a slew and still ask. Way to learn. The folks here are great and willing to help. I myself am self taught, no classes, no family members that taught me anything about quilting.

"The only dumb question is the one not asked ". Ask away . this board loves to help.

It seems like when people first learn to quilt there are lots of different ideas out there. I buy my fabric for wall hanging, table runners and bed quilts from LQS so I don't prewash them as I figure the better quality fabric won't be a problem. Flannel I prewash unless I want to have it shrink to look old. I don't prewash charm packs at all because they are so small but I know people that do. But as you can tell everyone has learned different ways to quilt. I use Magic sizing or Mary Ellen's to stablize the fabric and get any wrinkles out- it really helps to be accurate when cutting.

Here's why I prewash - because if I spray it either with steam or sizing, it sometime shrinks the piece just enough to be s problem. I find that when I prewash fabrics,this doesn't happen.

Only one dumb question...the one you never ask. You will only get answers if you ask...so ask away!

I starch/size because it makes handling the fabric easier, especially those small bias cuts.

Have you ever seen a sample of stitches in a Dealers shop? They are always on a stiffend fabric. Makes the stitches stand out better..no puckers.

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"