Starched scraps?
 

I want to use starch after last quilt's disaster. I have Niagra. I understand the bug problem and washing the quilt. What do you do with the left over starched scraps? #2. Can I protect my ironing board from getting starched or doesn't that matter? Thanks for responding!

your ironing board cover is washable-it can be removed and laundered if you get fusible or a starch build up on it. sometimes I put a piece of freezer paper over mine to work on/ protect it from starch, glue or fusibles.
I use starch A Lot. I've never experienced a (bug problem)
my scraps are kept in open boxes, shelves, baskets and rotated/gone through often so I don't worry about it. if they are going to be stored for an extended time I would not use plastic storage containers (totes) and would protect them from moisture/humidity. you don't show where you are---=but, if you live in a humid climate check your stash/scraps often.

Never heard of a bug problem with using starch. Does it have to do with your climate?

I should have said, upstate NY. I was just reading on the board that in particular silverfish are drawn to starch.

I use LOTS of starch all the time. My scraps are in totes/bins and drawers and rarely are touched once I am done with a project. I've never had an issue with any kind of bugs/silverfish. I use towels on my cutting table to iron. I refold periodically if the nap is getting really matted down and wash occasionally. Still no issues.

I've never understood the "bug problem" also. I think this is for people who have a huge stash and their fabric sits for years and years. I starch away and haven't had a problem.

I would think it would be more of an issue if you live or store them in a moist/humid environment, such as a basement.

As long as you play with your scraps fairly often and don't hide them away for a long time, you should be fine. I've never had a bug problem and I starch everything.

I am pretty sure the bug problem with starching only happens with home made starch made with corn starch. The commercial starch, such as stay flow and spray niagara have additives in them to keep them from going bad as home made starch can. I suspect these same additives don't attract silverfish, it probably doesn't give a chemical signal of food to them. I suspect the spoilage issue is one of the reasons why many home made starch recipes say to add vodka to deter spoilage, but this may also deter bugs. Additionally upstate NY does not have as high a potential of bug problems as the more temperate humid climates like the southeast.

I starch using Sta Flo starch to which I add about 2% water. I cover my ironing board with a towel when starching and sometimes put a bed sheet on the floor if I am starching very large pieces of fabric. Getting that starch off the floor is no fun. Both the towel and the sheet go into the washer when I have finished the day's starching. I have lots of starched scraps and, so far, I have not had any bugs. I do worry about the heavily starched tops I send to the LAQ as it sometimes takes her a year to return them. Fortunately, the returned quilts have been fine.

I starch all my fabrics before using, and have never had a bug problem. If I have scraps left over, depending on how much, they either go back in the drawer or in the scrap bin. I do believe that if you don't have a bug problem before using starch, you won't have one simply because you start using starch, my opinion.

I do what Tartan suggested, I iron on freezer paper. My ironing board is a large cover for a board made by June Taylor in the 90s. Not sure how well it would wash.

Down in Florida I wouldn't have thought to use starch due to the bug problem...........no matter how clean you keep your house those palmetto bugs (giant roaches) got inside your house. Up here in Iowa I find spiders in my basement from time to time but I read where you can use fresh basil leaves to allievate this problem. As I grow it in my garden I'd just grab a handful from time to time and hang it upside down in my fabric room. I don't see many spiders these days.........plus my kitty will alert me of anything crawling within her reach.

I use starch by the gallon. I starch my fabric stiff as paper before cutting it. Scraps don't wrinkle much that way. I've never had a problem with silverfish and they are in my area. Mostly around moist spots like floor drains.
One tip about washing your ironing board cover. Put it back on the board while wet. Let dry on the board. It will dry to fit the board and you wan't have to stretch or pull to put it on the board.

When I know I'm going to use spray starch, I dilute StaFlo and water as I go. I use a flannel back table cloth and lay it across the surface I'm working on. Spray the pieces of fabric lay aside and let them soak it up a little. Then take them over to my ironing/pressing surface. I have hardwood floors in my room . Don't want to have that kind of fun. I have starched fabric scraps in plastic containers with lids. This is South Texas and roaches are a known fact. We keep them at bay and if they want to get in really bad, they will. My last episode with cardboard boxes was last time I used card board (file boxes) to store fabric. WEnt to open a scrap box and a momma rat gave birth. Let nature deal with that outside. No more cardboard storage for fabric.

I won't keep paper grocery sacks for reuse or cardboard for storage. Bugs love the glue used to make them. Paying one exterminator bill isn't worth saving those things. I reuse the plastic bags for many things. The paper ones go right in the trash.

I've only had silverfish when I lived in the San Diego area, and wasn't a huge problem then. I wasn't quilting then and they were in my linen cupboard.

Thank you all. Next time I will use starch and hopefully improve my accuracy. Thanks to my LQS for looking my project over and suggesting sashing. After I tried part with sashing and still went, "no, no, no". Thanks to my DH for saying, "You are too picky." My top turned out "okay". But, next time, ooh when can I start and get it right?! I wanted to post a picture but it won't upload. Thanks again! Oh, I tried one more time and there it is.

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I like it Reb! Very pretty

Thanks. It's still far from done but it won't be scrap! Nor, a UFO!

It is the type of quilt that the more you look at it the more you like it. Great job with the sashing.

I was told do not use starch if you store fabric. Silver fish will eat into the fabric since they are attracted to the starch.

I have never had a bug problem...however I no longer live in Louisiana...lol...I put all my starched scraps in zip lock bags...then you can throw them in an open container with no problem...also keeps dust off of them and you can label. I tend to keep scraps from a certain project like a quilt all together...don't know why except they are already kind of matched up if want to use them for something else. Most people keep them by color groups.

Not always. I washed one and the batt inside disintegrated. I had globs of gunk everywhere. Like washing a box of tissues. I now have a home made one that washes well.

Now I put freezer paper on my ironing board and change that if it looks too grungy. Fusibles will make it look like that.

If you make your own starch from corn starch then you may have a problem but StaFlo is so easy to dilute and has no properties that will attract bugs. You can use it as you go. Day one starch, day two cut, etc.

I use spray starch. I put oversized pieces on a towel on a table to spray. I let them rest for about a minute before taking them to my ironing board. There is not much buildup then. After they are ironed I cut them to the size I want.

I sprayed the pieces directly on my ironing board on my first quilt. It left a mess so I switched to a towel on a table.

I just love those colours and that pattern......so pretty!

Very pretty Reb!

I starch all the time with 50 starch/50 water put in a sprayer. I have a plastic dishpan that I used to control the over spray by putting my fabric in it to spray one side, turn it over etc. I then roll my damp fabric and put in a plastic bag and wait for the fabric to absorb the starch and then press. I use a piece of muslin over the ironing surface and then just either throw it in the washer when it gets too stiff and dirty or throw it away and use another piece.

I live in Florida where humidity and bugs are a given. I never have had problems with bugs in starched things and I store all sorts of starched scraps.

I live in Chicago & leave starched scraps in bags/bins indoors all the time without any issue at all. My ironing board cover says not to was it, so I just wipe it down with a wet rag if it needs a cleaning.

I, too, starch a lot. I cover my ironing board with a large tea towel that I can wash. The only issue I have had with starch is table cloths, napkins and pillow cases that were starched 40+ years ago -- the white areas yellowed and it has been a challenge to get the yellow out without taking out the color.

Does she wait until she has no other work to do before she tackles your heavily starched quilts? I though you were supposed to quilt them as you get them, in order. I would not want to wait a year to get my quilt back.