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franie 07-09-2010 04:23 PM

SPRAY STARCH

1 qt (4 C) water
4 T liquid starch—I use Sta-Flo
Bring this to a boil and remove from heat.
Add 2 more C of water and stir until clear
When clear, add two more C of water
Add your favorite essential oil—I use a few drops of lavendar
Pour into your spray bottle and store any extra in fridge!

If you like it stronger add a little more liquid starch.

quiltinghere 07-09-2010 04:24 PM

Would the oil leave marks?

Is the oil optional or necessary? I don't have any.

raptureready 07-09-2010 04:24 PM

Thanks, I may have to try that when my Mary Ellen's runs out.

amma 07-09-2010 04:26 PM

Thank you for sharing this :D:D:D

AbbyQuilts 07-09-2010 04:40 PM

Hope you do not mind me adding a recipe. I just ran out of starch mid project and hubby does not want to run out to get any. So after looking online I found some basic corn starch and water recipes but I wanted it to smell good so I did

1 1/2 cups of water
1/2 cup of Fabreeze
1 tab spoon corn starch

Mix and pour into a bottle and it works WONDERFUL!!! My squares and blocks smell so good and they are crisp

littlehud 07-09-2010 04:40 PM

What a great tip. It will save lots of money we can use for fabric.

dkabasketlady 07-09-2010 04:42 PM

Thanks for the tip & I've bookmarked the recipe!!

ToucanSam 07-09-2010 04:43 PM

Thanks for this thread!!! :) Going to try the homemade version.

Pam 07-09-2010 04:49 PM

I used the same recipe as Frannie, but used more starch and added Febreeze later, smells great! After I wash fabrics I take them to the sink still wet and put fabrics in a bowl and ppour starch right over top, squeeze out extra and hang on clothesline until dry. The fabrics are a little stiffer whan if just sprayed on and it dries quickly on the line.

I use a funnel to put left over starch right back in the one quart milk jug it came out of.

katiebear1 07-09-2010 05:03 PM

I have been using the spray starch from the dollar store, since it is so cheap but I may have to try one of the homemade recipes

oatw13 07-09-2010 05:04 PM


Originally Posted by AbbyQuilts
Hope you do not mind me adding a recipe. I just ran out of starch mid project and hubby does not want to run out to get any. So after looking online I found some basic corn starch and water recipes but I wanted it to smell good so I did

1 1/2 cups of water
1/2 cup of Fabreeze
1 tab spoon corn starch

Mix and pour into a bottle and it works WONDERFUL!!! My squares and blocks smell so good and they are crisp

I use 2 cups of water and a heaping tablespoon of cornstarch.
I don't add Febreeze due to the chemical composition. If I want a light scent, sometimes I add a capful of lemon extract or almond extract or vanilla extract. It just takes a small amount. However, I usually prefer to leave it unscented.

franie 07-09-2010 06:43 PM

Optional. It just makes it smell good. I put maybe one or two drops in. I think the one in the bottle that they sell at the LQS has scent too.


Originally Posted by quiltinghere
Would the oil leave marks?

Is the oil optional or necessary? I don't have any.


franie 07-09-2010 06:45 PM

Good way to do large fabric pieces.


Originally Posted by Pam
I used the same recipe as Frannie, but used more starch and added Febreeze later, smells great! After I wash fabrics I take them to the sink still wet and put fabrics in a bowl and ppour starch right over top, squeeze out extra and hang on clothesline until dry. The fabrics are a little stiffer whan if just sprayed on and it dries quickly on the line.

I use a funnel to put left over starch right back in the one quart milk jug it came out of.


oksewglad 07-09-2010 07:00 PM


Originally Posted by franie
SPRAY STARCH

1 qt (4 C) water
4 T liquid starch—I use Sta-Flo
Bring this to a boil and remove from heat.
Add 2 more C of water and stir until clear
When clear, add two more C of water
Add your favorite essential oil—I use a few drops of lavendar
Pour into your spray bottle and store any extra in fridge!

If you like it stronger add a little more liquid starch.

Is it necessary to boil the water starch mixture?

Prism99 07-09-2010 07:05 PM

It is not necessary to boil the starch mixture if you are going to use all of it right away. Boiling will help preserve it, though, if you are saving some in the frig for later. I have noticed that once I mix Sta-Flo with water, the mixture will develop mold if I leave it out. Refrigerating it retards the spoiling, but boiling before refrigerating would help even more.

oksewglad 07-09-2010 07:21 PM


Originally Posted by Prism99
It is not necessary to boil the starch mixture if you are going to use all of it right away. Boiling will help preserve it, though, if you are saving some in the frig for later. I have noticed that once I mix Sta-Flo with water, the mixture will develop mold if I leave it out. Refrigerating it retards the spoiling, but boiling before refrigerating would help even more.

Thanks Prism99--I've never boiled always used fresh and have had no mold developing, but then only mix a pint at a time--maybe I use it fast enough.

Essential oil usage is so small that it is not a problem when adding it to the mix, I too like the lavender scent!

Chele 07-09-2010 07:29 PM

I'm having a hard time finding liquid starch. There are some good applique techniques that use liquid starch. None of my grocery stores carry it. Or Target or Walmart. Do people in Florida not use it? I use and buy spray starch all the time, but nothing in a liquid form.

Do you ever worry about bugs with starch? I heard it might attract them as it's corn based. I've always sprayed bunches on table linens, but so far no buggies.

Prism99 07-09-2010 07:37 PM

Try requesting Sta-Flo at the customer service desk of your grocery stores. A lot of stores try to stock customer requests. Worth a try at Target and Walmart too. Our Walmart does not stock it but our Target does, as do most of the grocery stores in our area (not all).

I don't worry about bugs and starch.

walen 07-09-2010 08:02 PM


Originally Posted by Prism99
It is not necessary to boil the starch mixture if you are going to use all of it right away. Boiling will help preserve it, though, if you are saving some in the frig for later. I have noticed that once I mix Sta-Flo with water, the mixture will develop mold if I leave it out. Refrigerating it retards the spoiling, but boiling before refrigerating would help even more.

Yup...boiling does change the chemistry so that it deters the mold!

gale 07-09-2010 10:51 PM

I've never boiled it but I've always used distilled water. Now I just cheat and buy the ready-made starch though. From the grocery store.

Yarn or Fabric 07-10-2010 03:44 AM


Originally Posted by Chele
I'm having a hard time finding liquid starch. There are some good applique techniques that use liquid starch. None of my grocery stores carry it. Or Target or Walmart. Do people in Florida not use it? I use and buy spray starch all the time, but nothing in a liquid form.

My Walmart has it - that is where I got mine. I am planning on beginning to starch all of my fabrics - that will be new for me... I cringe at the thought of starching all of the fabric I already own lol. Maybe one day if I have absolutely nothing to do (hmm. yeah, that will happen) But anyhoooo.... the liquid starch was right by the spray starch in the laundry detergent aisle. There were several spray cans which I won't use because they are aerosol... then there was one that was a small squirt spray bottle and then there was a larger bottle of concentrated stuff for making up your own. I went with the big bottle and bought a cute spray bottle in the garden area. Hope that helps.

gwena 09-15-2010 02:35 PM

The problem is I am having difficulty finding the Liquid starch in a good size container in the stores...they just don't stock it in Target, Cub, Walmart, etc., here in Minnesota. Will these recipes make a good stiff starch?

Sienna's GiGi 02-22-2011 01:00 AM

You could buy Linit starch. I got three 64 oz. bottles from Amazon for under $20 with shipping and it works great. You dilute it with water and it lasts a long time too. I'm trying to figure out how I am going to get the other two bottles home because all I need on this deployment is one.

janell2009 08-01-2011 06:40 AM


Originally Posted by AbbyQuilts
Hope you do not mind me adding a recipe. I just ran out of starch mid project and hubby does not want to run out to get any. So after looking online I found some basic corn starch and water recipes but I wanted it to smell good so I did

1 1/2 cups of water
1/2 cup of Fabreeze
1 tab spoon corn starch

Mix and pour into a bottle and it works WONDERFUL!!! My squares and blocks smell so good and they are crisp

I use this recipe, but I cook the starch. so cook water and starch, basically bring water and starch to boil stirring constantly , then add the fabreeze after. I put a couple of marbles in the bottom of the spray bottle to help with the shaking.. It does need to be shook before you use it each time.

mary quilting 08-03-2011 08:39 AM

thanks for all the tips

Katmom 03-09-2012 08:47 AM

I posted a questionon forum (not sure where now) about starching fabric pieces and hanging on a clothes dryer (meant to dry clothes inside, portable with several wire rows across) then putting outside to dry when weather permits but could not find a reply. This sounds like my approach will work ok and not distort or stretch fabric. Iron when dry then cut.


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