I love using my starch ! the stiffer i can get the fabric the better , and yes i agree with comments about Mary Ellens it just doesnt seem to work as great as starch

I use Spray Sizing. It isn't as stiff as the spray starch, but still gives some body.
We learned at guild that starch attracts moths, as the spray sizing doesn't.
Mariah

I had the same issue with starch. I use sizing, it comes in a spray can and is located next to the starch in Walmart. Cost is less than a dollar. Great stuff!

I love Niagra non-aerasol spray starch. Makes everything crisp and easier to cut and I hate cutting.:sew::wave:

I have put the piece of fabric in a bucket with the starch after washing, let it dry a little: damp dry from the dryer or line is perfect, then iron it.
And I like to starch a block with the Sta-Flo 4 to 1 after it is all sewn. What a difference it makes! I'm making a Scrapbasket quilt right now, and all edges are bias after it is trimmed. So starch is very necessary here. Diluted Sta-Flo does not flake and the fabric doesn't wrinkle after use. I've never had any trouble with bugs of any kind.

Love me some starch! I use it all the time.

Best Press
 

Hello, use the Best Press it works great I get it on sale at my local fabric shop.
Vontina (wbfrog)

Use Best Press or Sizing and you will not have the flakes.

They both make your fabric easier to cut and sew as well.

I remember when I was a child, back in the 1950, my mother and grandmother damping down the clothes. This was done with a bottle with a special top. Made it like a mini water can. After sprinkling the item was rolled up and left for a short while to allow the water to penetrate the fabric. I use this technique when I use starch and don't get flakes.

I like Best Press but not its price tag. I learned on this board how to make my own. The recipe I use is 2 ounces of vodka, 2 cups of water, 8-10 drops of essential oil if you want. (There are other recipes!) I got the essential oil (lavender) at the drug store. They had to order it and one little bottle cost $20 but I haven't made a dent in it probably because I don't use more than 3 or 4 drops. DH had a really sensitive nose and we share the den/sewing room so we can be together. But the lavender smells lovely even at the reduced level, so subtle and clean smelling!

I do use starch for stiffness and don't find that my homemade or name brand Best Press does the job of adding body that the starch does. I only starch those fabrics that are more "flimsy" than others, not every fabric and certainly not most.

If you get Best Press at the store when there are coupons, it is not that expensive and I think much easier to use then regular starch.

I have been told that if you iron the fabric first to warm it, the flaking won't happen.

Starch is in the same category as pre-washing, one of those personal fabric prep choices that each quilter decides for him/herself. I always pre-wash and I never starch, my choice entirely. In over 40 years of quilting, I've never once run into a situation where something would have worked better, or been easier, with stiff fabric.

If starching works for you, by all means use it. But if it doesn't, it's certainly not a necessary part of the quilt making process...not for bias edges, not for circles, not for appliqué, not for anything. The choice is yours alone.

Count me in as a starcher. I use Best Press. :thumbup:

Starch makes my fabrics too stiff, and I am allergic to it. I now use corn starch, works well and easy to adjust how much you use.

You can use a length of freezer paper too - just iron it shine side down so it sticks to ironing board. Use it till it's gunky then just pull off & toss. Years & years ago, when everything was starched (think it was b/4 spray) I never had a problem with flaking. Everything was submerged in home made starch, then line dried, sprinkled, rolled up in a sheet to set a while before ironing.

I used starch years ago. I stopped because I hate the mess it made on my iron and Ironing board cover.
I only use water in a spray bottle.

Love best press, buy it by the gallon. Yes, it's expensive, but I like the results and the lovely fragrances are like aromatherapy in my quilting room.

I use Best Press or Best Press/Water, when I need a little extra something besides just water. The Best Press/Water combo is mainly when I load backs onto my LA.

Is this common knowledge regarding starching? I didn't know about spraying your fabric and letting it sit! Didn't know about the flaking situation either. I guess it's because I can't stand the smell of the stuff. So I always spray my fabric outside. Then I bring the fabric in, set up my ironing board and iron. Guess I must kind of slow!! No flaking.

I use Fabric Sizing instead of starch. No white flakes. I have made my own slightly watered down liquid starch as well, but love that sizing.

I agree. I usually lightly water spray my fabric, wait a few minutes, then spray starch, wait a few minutes, then iron.
Never have any residue to deal with.

I'm a serious starch fanatic. I cut out a quilt for class today. I used 1 1/2 cans of heavy starch on the whole project before I even cut. I want it stiff as a board when I cut it out and sew it. I often work in no larger than 6.5 inch blocks unfinished with some very small pieces sometimes. I can't seem to live without the starch now.