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ok I am confused I used to use sizing on my fabric when I pulled it out of the dryer (I prewash everything). BUT!!! I have a problem with it I do not like starch or sizing. What it did to my ironing board and bottom of my iron was like putting glue on em!!! never worked right after using sizing.. I have stopped using it. It is an extra cost that never seemed to work for me..
I need help How do I use it properly?? How do I keep my iron and board cover from looking and acting like it has glue on it?? thanks for your help Chris |
Use "Mary Ellen's Best Press."
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Yes, that stuff is magic, isn't it? Doesn't ever seem to burn or get sticky or leave any residue at all - I don't know what's in it, but it smells like heaven, too. I use it to iron my clothes, not just quilt blocks.
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Originally Posted by Scissor Queen
Use "Mary Ellen's Best Press."
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I am not a pre-washer....my choice....but I am a firm believer in using Magic sizing on EVERYTHING before I cut a strip or square. I spray on a pretty good amount onto the peice of fabric that I'm getting ready to cut, not wet but dampish and then hot iron in every direction I care to go. Nothing easy, I use a hot iron and go to town onto that piece of fabric. In 30 years of quilting, I've never had a top shrink more than th 1-2 percent you find after the first washing and drying when finished before using.
I buy Magic sizing at WalMart for less that $1.00 a can and it will last through about 2 quilts. I also use it to press blocks and to press the entire quilt top before starting the sandwiching process. jodi in leavenworth |
Originally Posted by eaglebeak1960
Originally Posted by Scissor Queen
Use "Mary Ellen's Best Press."
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Our Hancock's and LQS both carry Mary Ellen's Best Press. If you use it a lot, it is good to purchase by the gallon. If you go to the search button and search, there are also recipes for making your own using Vodka. No, not to drink. lol It is a potato product and works well.
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Originally Posted by Sadiemae
Our Hancock's and LQS both carry Mary Ellen's Best Press. If you use it a lot, it is good to purchase by the gallon. If you go to the search button and search, there are also recipes for making your own using Vodka. No, not to drink. lol It is a potato product and works well.
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Vodka is made by the process of distillation of a fermented substance--often potatoes and rye or wheat grain--and less often, sugar beet molasses. Most vodka was traditionally made from potatoes and corn, but in recent years, most high-quality brands of vodka has been distilled from cereal grains. The potatoes and grains are heated until the starch is released and converted to sugar. Then this substance, called a mash, is fermented and heated to a high temperature to allow distillation to occur. The substance is then distilled multiple times until all of the spirit is extracted. Multiple distillations allow for a higher proof. Water is added at the end of the distillation process to decrease the alcohol content, and then the vodka is ready to be bottled and sold
Read more: How Is Vodka Made? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4574426...#ixzz1819rTKeL |
Magpie, you are faster than I am at research.
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sorry i was curious
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Eaglebeak, you could also use a press cloth or parchment paper to protect your iron and ironing board cover.
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I went online looking for the Mary Ellen's it is like $42.00 a gallon OUCH!!!!!!!!
can I get it cheaper?? |
Originally Posted by jodimarie
I am not a pre-washer....my choice....but I am a firm believer in using Magic sizing on EVERYTHING before I cut a strip or square. I spray on a pretty good amount onto the peice of fabric that I'm getting ready to cut, not wet but dampish and then hot iron in every direction I care to go. Nothing easy, I use a hot iron and go to town onto that piece of fabric. In 30 years of quilting, I've never had a top shrink more than th 1-2 percent you find after the first washing and drying when finished before using.
I buy Magic sizing at WalMart for less that $1.00 a can and it will last through about 2 quilts. I also use it to press blocks and to press the entire quilt top before starting the sandwiching process. jodi in leavenworth that is what I was/am having a problem with Magic SIzing gummed up everthing. |
Spray your fabric with your choice of starch or sizing and let it set a minute or so - then it'll be absorbed into the fabric threads where it counts!
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Originally Posted by eaglebeak1960
I went online looking for the Mary Ellen's it is like $42.00 a gallon OUCH!!!!!!!!
can I get it cheaper?? |
be sure to shake the sizing can good before each use, I don't have a burning or gumming problem with it, I did with starch
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thanks Sissor Queen. Kinda out it today having a DUH moment when I replied to this.
I am trying to get it with out having to pay for shipping. Money tight this time of year.( for all of us I bet). |
When I use spray starch, I spray one side of the fabric, but iron on the other side. It keeps my iron clean.
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Originally Posted by magpie
Vodka is made by the process of distillation of a fermented substance--often potatoes and rye or wheat grain--and less often, sugar beet molasses. Most vodka was traditionally made from potatoes and corn, but in recent years, most high-quality brands of vodka has been distilled from cereal grains. The potatoes and grains are heated until the starch is released and converted to sugar. Then this substance, called a mash, is fermented and heated to a high temperature to allow distillation to occur. The substance is then distilled multiple times until all of the spirit is extracted. Multiple distillations allow for a higher proof. Water is added at the end of the distillation process to decrease the alcohol content, and then the vodka is ready to be bottled and sold
Read more: How Is Vodka Made? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4574426...#ixzz1819rTKeL |
Originally Posted by Scissor Queen
Originally Posted by magpie
Vodka is made by the process of distillation of a fermented substance--often potatoes and rye or wheat grain--and less often, sugar beet molasses. Most vodka was traditionally made from potatoes and corn, but in recent years, most high-quality brands of vodka has been distilled from cereal grains. The potatoes and grains are heated until the starch is released and converted to sugar. Then this substance, called a mash, is fermented and heated to a high temperature to allow distillation to occur. The substance is then distilled multiple times until all of the spirit is extracted. Multiple distillations allow for a higher proof. Water is added at the end of the distillation process to decrease the alcohol content, and then the vodka is ready to be bottled and sold
Read more: How Is Vodka Made? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4574426...#ixzz1819rTKeL |
I make my own starch. In a large bowl or pot, stir 1/2 cup cornstarch into
1 cup of cold water. Stir in boiling water (2 quarts for heavy solution; 4 quarts for medium and 6 quarts for light solution). If you only need a small amount then half or quarter above quantities. Sometimes I add a bit more water for the heavy solution as it gets a bit too thick. You can try and adjust as you wish. When the cornstarch solution is cool, I use a paintbrush to apply it on my fabric (stir the solution often or shake if it's in a spray bottle). Let is soak for at least 30 mins. If I don't have time to iron I just put everything in a ziploc and put it in the fridge for the next day. If it's too wet I roll the fabric in a towel first and iron on the wrong side with a cloth on top so that the starch doesn't stick to my iron. When the heat has absorbed most of the humidity then I continue to iron without the cloth. Hope this helps. By the way, I finally tried Mary Ellen's Best Press. I wasn't too impressed. It's ok for small jobs. I think I'll keep using my cornstarch mixture. :-D |
Originally Posted by eaglebeak1960
Originally Posted by jodimarie
I am not a pre-washer....my choice....but I am a firm believer in using Magic sizing on EVERYTHING before I cut a strip or square. I spray on a pretty good amount onto the peice of fabric that I'm getting ready to cut, not wet but dampish and then hot iron in every direction I care to go. Nothing easy, I use a hot iron and go to town onto that piece of fabric. In 30 years of quilting, I've never had a top shrink more than th 1-2 percent you find after the first washing and drying when finished before using.
I buy Magic sizing at WalMart for less that $1.00 a can and it will last through about 2 quilts. I also use it to press blocks and to press the entire quilt top before starting the sandwiching process. jodi in leavenworth that is what I was/am having a problem with Magic SIzing gummed up everthing. Occasionally I will have a piece of fabric ''stick'' to the board. I just ''peel'' it up, repray and iron again. I use the June Taylor pressing boards and not a big regular ironing board and I do designate one pressing board for ''spray use''. I would guess it lasts about 2 years or so before it is shinny and slick....from all the spray build up but for about 8.00 at JoAnns when quilting notions are half off, I figure that is a small price to pay for the great results that I get from Magic spray sizing. I would NOT quilt with out it and buy a case at a time, so I never fun out!! jodi in leavenworth |
You can drape a sheet or other press cloth over your ironing board before you press. Then spray the fabric and let the sizing or starch soak in a bit. You can even let it dry. Then simply wash the press cloth when you are finished.
I just take off the ironing board cover and wash it when it gets too sticky or dirty. lol You can also clean the iron be ironing over a paper bag or piece of wax paper. Or, you can buy drops to clean the plate of your iron at most stores in the laundry aisle. Or, use the Mary Ellen's. It smells wonderful. |
Originally Posted by Scissor Queen
Originally Posted by eaglebeak1960
Originally Posted by Scissor Queen
Use "Mary Ellen's Best Press."
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Ok - as a fairly new quilter I am now wondering when & why I was supposed to be doing this?
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Originally Posted by EasyPeezy
I make my own starch. In a large bowl or pot, stir 1/2 cup cornstarch into
1 cup of cold water. Stir in boiling water (2 quarts for heavy solution; 4 quarts for medium and 6 quarts for light solution). If you only need a small amount then half or quarter above quantities. Sometimes I add a bit more water for the heavy solution as it gets a bit too thick. You can try and adjust as you wish. When the cornstarch solution is cool, I use a paintbrush to apply it on my fabric (stir the solution often or shake if it's in a spray bottle). Let is soak for at least 30 mins. If I don't have time to iron I just put everything in a ziploc and put it in the fridge for the next day. If it's too wet I roll the fabric in a towel first and iron on the wrong side with a cloth on top so that the starch doesn't stick to my iron. When the heat has absorbed most of the humidity then I continue to iron without the cloth. Hope this helps. By the way, I finally tried Mary Ellen's Best Press. I wasn't too impressed. It's ok for small jobs. I think I'll keep using my cornstarch mixture. :-D |
If you let starch or sizing dry into the fabric, you will find that your iron and cover will stay cleaner :D:D:D
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Originally Posted by gale
It seems like that would attract bugs worse than vodka. If you have a bug problem, that is.
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I was told by a quilting teacher to use sizing because starch attracts silver fish. I have not seen any silverfish in years but am afraid to take a chance, don't want little holes in my quilts.
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Originally Posted by ibequilting1
I was told by a quilting teacher to use sizing because starch attracts silver fish. I have not seen any silverfish in years but am afraid to take a chance, don't want little holes in my quilts.
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I got mine at Hancock Fabrics and just love to use it. By far the best ever.
dude |
Best Press is best!!!! If you live near a Hancock Fabrics, watch their ads and buy it when it goes on sale. Or support your local quilt shop and purchase it from them.
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I was told that starch is a food product and if you use it on your quilt and then store it, it could be eaten by critters. Just passing this along for what it's worth.
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When I spray the sizing on the fabric I let it rest until the fabric absorbs the stuff. then press with hot iron. I don't have any problem with gunk on the iron that way.
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Sizing has a higher scorching temperature than starch and I find that even if I need 2 coats it works better. Two light coats are better than 'saturating' the fabric. Also, I spray on one side, then flip it over and press on the other side.
I was taught in heirloom sewing that if you use sizing before you mark the fabric with a water soluable pen your marks don't 'penetrate' the fibers and is removed much more easily. Peggy Freezing in Fla where we're supposed to break 3 records in 24 hours. (Two record lows and one record minimum (high)! |
I am told that regular starch has sugar in it. So, if you plan to store your fabric for an extended period of time, skip starching when pressing. Best Press does not have sugar in it.
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I wash my quilts as soon as they are finished, so whatever I use is washed away.
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Originally Posted by tjradj
When I use spray starch, I spray one side of the fabric, but iron on the other side. It keeps my iron clean.
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Originally Posted by EasyPeezy
I make my own starch. In a large bowl or pot, stir 1/2 cup cornstarch into
1 cup of cold water. Stir in boiling water (2 quarts for heavy solution; 4 quarts for medium and 6 quarts for light solution). If you only need a small amount then half or quarter above quantities. Sometimes I add a bit more water for the heavy solution as it gets a bit too thick. You can try and adjust as you wish. When the cornstarch solution is cool, I use a paintbrush to apply it on my fabric (stir the solution often or shake if it's in a spray bottle). Let is soak for at least 30 mins. If I don't have time to iron I just put everything in a ziploc and put it in the fridge for the next day. If it's too wet I roll the fabric in a towel first and iron on the wrong side with a cloth on top so that the starch doesn't stick to my iron. When the heat has absorbed most of the humidity then I continue to iron without the cloth. Hope this helps. By the way, I finally tried Mary Ellen's Best Press. I wasn't too impressed. It's ok for small jobs. I think I'll keep using my cornstarch mixture. :-D |
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