Hi it's me again, more questions, this time it is about spray starch. Does this clog up the needle on your machine? And do you need to wash the quilt when finished if you use it? For example if you have used it on your applique shapes. Also does a quilt need to be pressed after it is completed?
Thankyou for your help, everyone is so friendly and so helpful here, I shan't get any quilting done at this rate!!!! lol

Gal

I use Niagra spray starch and Mary Ellen's Best. I have not had any problems with the starch gumming up my needles. I always press my quilts really well before I quilt them. And I always wash my quilts before I use them and any starch gets washed out.

I was at Hancock Fabrics the other day and one of the ladies was telling us that the Lavender scent is a deterent to moths. Don't know if this is true, or just a way to sell more since they were promoting the Lavender Mary Ellens.

Thanks Sherri, just thoght I would tell you about what I do with lavender, I grow it and pick the flowers to bring inside in bunches to dry, it helps keep flies away (I live in the country)I also put it in my linen press to make my cupboard smell nice and it is supposed to keep moths away etc. I also make little lavender bags with the flowers to put among my fabric stash to make it smell nice and keep moths and insects out of that too! It beats the smell of moth balls (does anyone still use those)? When the bags appear to have dried out just squeeze them and that releases the oils again. I do not lay them between fabrics just inside the cupboaed will be enough. I have been sewing for years and used this plant in among my fabrics and I have not had any problems with moths or insects etc. Much cheaper than buying a product and it lasts a long time. Smells fabulous!!

Gal

I use the mary ellen's best press and just love the stuff. Used it all morning ironing the yardage that came out of the dryer. I use the lavender it was the scent my LQS had and I just love it so I bought the big jug of it to refill in lavender too.

I use Mary Ellens best press too, but the lavendar gags me. I like the unscented. I have alergies.

I let the starch dry really, really well before I iron it. I have had no problem with it gumming up my needle.

I use a lot of spray starch. It really helps stabilize bias edges and piecing.

I use Sta Flo and mix it in a spray bottle from the gardening section of Wal Mart.

A couple of years ago at my quilt retreat, someone complained about the canned spray starch bothering their allergies. I went to WalMart and picked up a jug of Sta Flo and have used it every since. I love it!

Hi Barb, can you elaborate on Sta Flo, I do know that product but we may have similar here in NZ, I could have done with this good advise before I cut out my triangles for the outside edge I did not know about biases and the outside edges when I began cutting out! I think it was a case of trying to run before I could walk, however I am happy with my quilt and to help with the slightly curvy edges I piano key quilted them which helped a lot!

Gal

Welcome Gal, From New Zealand,
Glad you found this site, you will love it.
Starch when dry which is after ironed will not gum up your needle, as I have found... never a problem.
I only press the top before layering to quilt it.
I just make sure to always wash all fabrics before I use fro quiltig. Colors run sometimes or has a lot of sizing and after washing you may decids not to use. Happy quilting.
Connie

Thankyou Connie, yes I do wash all fabrics prior to using, thanks for info on pressing as in all the quiling books I have read, non say to press the quilt afterwards, and I have always wondered about that, I guess it would flatten the top too much. I guess it was obvious but when you are new to quilting there is so much to learn! Gal

I buy Sta-Flo starch in a big jug at Wal-mart and mix it with water. It never seems to be a problem for my needles.

I love starch! Starch is the best quilting tip I've received from the board.

I've used every brand of starch and sizing and have made homemade starch. I like Niagara the best.

I have never had a problem with starch gumming up my needle. And I always wash my quilts when I'm done.

One of the big quilting award winners recommends spraying your fabric with starch 3 or 4 times before cutting it out. This is really good advise for quilt squares with alot of bias to them. It makes the fabric very easy to handle if you are going to machine quilt it. I would not do it for hand quilting tho.

I just use the cheap starch from Bi-mart and have not had any problems with it. Penny

where do you buy Mary Ellen's best

My quilt guild put this starch recipe out recently in a newsletter (won't attract bugs). "This is a substitute for Best Press starch. Works the same, no white flakes when you iron. Smells good and puts back the body removed by prewashing."
Mix together:
1 tsp lavender essential oil (found in Walmart candlemaking supplies) Note: optional if allergic to scents.
3 oz. vodka
Then add to 24oz distilled water in large spray bottle and shake well.
Hint: Vodka is made from potatoes , a natural starch.

reginalovesfabric I bought Mary Ellen's best at Hancock fabrics in Hattiesburg.

What fun, you can always drink it if you get too frustrated :lol: Actually, I may try this some time just to see if it really works. Thanks

I have dried the lavender and put it in stuffed toys. It helps the children sleep.

Well, I agree about drinking it if it doesn't work. :}

I tried Mary Ellen's Best Press. I loved the bottle. It is the right size, never clogged, and held enough for each project. I used the unscented because of allergies.

However, I did not care for the starch itself. Although it did not leave flakes, I didn't think it gave me the pressing crispness I was looking for.

I use Faultless Premium Professional Spray Starch from the grocery store. It is a 20 oz. can, no flaking, and comes in a Pure Cotton Scent that is fresh and clean.

I have never had the needle clog up, always wash the quilt prior to use and try to iron the top as best I can.

sounds like a great idea , have a big wash tub of it growing, thanks whipperwill

HI, I make my own starch also. I recorded serveral episodes of Simples Quilts. Any way the guy says to boil 1 qt of water add 4 tablespoons of starch mix. Add 2 cups of water. Mix. Add 2 mor cups of water. Fill your spray bottle. Extra store in fridge. Of course after it has cooled you could add your lavender essential oil to it.

I use magic sizing you can get at walmart. Its not a starch, it wont stiffen up the fabric but it does help to make the fabric crisp and clean and easy to manuever.

By starch mix, do you mean cornstarch powder? Or is it something else?

Doesn't the oil get on the fabric?

I also read that Niagara makes a non-aerosol spray starch but I haven't found it locally. Wondering how it compares to Best Press - function and price. Anyone used it?

I've heard the cheapest starch works best. I have used Mary Ellen's, Faultless, and a couple of others, but on the recommendation of a very good quilter, I picked up some Dollar Tree starch today.

I can get it at our Target. It is starch which is the main thing that is different about "Best Press"--I am told it is not starch. I don't know what makes it work so well (maybe the vodka, someone mentioned??? :>) It is much cheaper than Best Press--$2.00 for a quart compared to $6/7 for 8oz. of Best Press.

Sta Flo can be purchased in Wal Mart or most grocery stores. It is under $3 for a half gallon (?) container, comes in a blue bottle. I mix the starch and water in a 50/50 mix and put into the spray bottle from the garden center. I have tried old Windex bottles, etc but the hole isn't large enough and clogs.

I starch my fabric heavily. It is almost as stiff as paper. I went to a couple of classes with Barbara Barber and she is a big advocate of starch. This is when I first started the heavy starching.

All starching should be done BEFORE you do any cutting. Starch your fabric and then cut your strips. Your pressing will be nice and crisp when using this method.

I go ahead and quilt my quilts and then I wash and block the quilt to get all the starch out.

Hope this helps.

Barb

I starch also. I am now using Mary Ellen's but it is expensive. My friend told us about her husband who used to be in the Navy and irons everything in sight. (Yes HIM.) He bought a small bottle of Mary Ellen's and used it in a week and a half. He went back and bought a gallon ($52 here). The only thing I see about Mary Ellen's is it doesn't dhow at all of black or dark fabric.

starch starch starch that is my motto for getting material ready for cutting!!!!! i use Niagra spray starch and have never had a problem with the needle gumming up i also wash my quilts after they are complete for 2 reasons,, one to make sure they stay together !! and the other is if i pit them in a quilt show one of the requirements is that they be cleaned before bringing them in

Hubby has a green thumb so I'll have to get him to grow some lavender for me.....great idea! I love the scent too!

I used to use spray starch but I had a problem with the nozzle clogging or just spraying a jet stream instead of a mist. I switched to Mary Ellen's Best Press and don't believe I'll ever go back to the other. It comes in several different scents and unscented too. Plus, you can buy large bottle so refill the small pumps.

I use niagara it is cheap and dose a good job. I have never used the other brands. I cant afford them. Penny

I think thAt its really important to wash out the starch after the quilt is finished as starch attracks silverfish. They think starch tastes like candy!! I don't know if the lavender would repell them-hopefully it would.

A while ago I bought some of the non-aerosol Niagra at Targets and really liked it. It was just a couple of dollars for a 16 oz. bottle that lasted much much longer than an aerosol can of starch. Unfortunately, my husband and I have allergies to fragrances and smell was just too much.

I have mixed my own Sta-flo and liked it okay but did get some flaking when ironing.

Today I bought some Mary Ellen's Best Press am my LQS but haven't had a chance to try it yet.

Here is a recipe that I haven't tried yet but it was highly recommend, it uses corn starch. The original instructions called for cooking it but the girl that gave it to me said she just mixes it but makes sure she shakes it well while using.

12 oz water
3/4 tablespoon cornstarch
3 drops lavender essential oil (optional)

Mix well in a measuring cup and pour into a spray bottle

Hi everyone. This is my first time on the message board. I just started quilting about 9 months ago and just love it. So far, I have only got one quilt done because I had a major medical problem right in the middle of doing it. I just finished the top of a quilt that I am making for my mom. It is going to have a skirt attached to it. (will hopefully look like a fitted bedspread when complete). I need verification that I now layer the quilt, then I add binding, then I do the outside border and this is what the skirt is attached to. Does this sound correct? Oh, and by the way, I started using starch 1/2 way through my first quilt, and it made the fabric a lot easier to handle.

Masick, Welcome to the boards!! I am a fairly new quilter and wish I could answer your question.

If you use the Niagra spray starch in the bottles, they are great bottles to use for other things also. I use an empty bottle for my Mary Ellen's (I bought the gallon jug) and also for Sta-Flo that I mix myself. I even keep one with just water in it. After I learned about how much starching can help, I became a huge starch addict! LOL!!!

Hi masick and welcome to the board from Oregon. Penny