Washing ALL quilting fabric before cutting it is an absolutely essential step for me.

I really don't understand the people that will wash a large piece of fabric for all the usual reasons that people wash their fabric before cutting it - won't wash smaller pieces before using them. But - their monkey, their circus.

As far as starching - especially on fabrics that want to ravel badly - which I try to avoid - it does seem to cut down on the loose threads on the back of the piece.

And does make the final pressing look prettier on the back.

I just like to know how my fabric is going to behave after it's washed BEFORE I go to the effort of making something with it.

If by starch you mean Best Press, yes. I spritz fabric before cutting; leave it to dry and it practically presses itself. I then spritz every seam sewn after initially pressing from the front, let dry a bit and press again from the back. When constructing blocks, I cover already sprayed seams with a press cloth.

The starch I bought is called Linit Liquid Laundry Starch. It's the only liquid starch I've seen stores since Sta Flo quit making theirs. I think it works just as well as Sta Flo and is $3.77 for 64 oz

I've seen it online but not paying double digits for starch. LOL Not in any stores here yet.

I have used Niagara starch from time to time, nothing consistent. I just took a class where we used templates and cut our pieces. The classroom was sponsored and was stocked with items for us to use, rotary cutters, mats, irons, thread, and they had Magic spray. I used the magic spray and am a believer now. I have bought some since and did my own experiment and can absolutely see and feel when sewing the difference on blocks with and without the Magic spray. I also have terial spray and will dilute and use it up in time too, but Magic spray is definitely going to be near my iron station from now on.

Since I only starch my fabrics before I cut into them, once the quilt has been made and gifted, send a note with a couple color catcher explaining how to use them when they first wash the quilts. Then it's on them if they don't use the color catchers.

I'll have to check on that Linit Starch as some day I will run out of Sta-Flo.

To clarify, I like Best Press better than spray can starch, but I'll use either. I just iron/starch once before cutting. I would like it stiff as a board, but creating stiff fabric would take so much time. I am following this thread because I never used much starch before quilting. And only in spray cans. Pressing fabric is my least favorite task. And ya'll?

If you want stiff as a board fabric you need to use Terial full strength. Spray until wet, let dry, press, and the fabric will be like cardstock. It washes out completely.

Thanks everyone for your kind replies! I am a very recent convert to using starch and it has made piecing my LeMoyne Star so much easier! I didn't know if starching was used by very many quilters though. :)