I know this topic has been discussed recently, but I just found some info online concerning the use of starch when quilting. Everyone loves it, of course, but starch is a protein and attracts bugs, silverfish, in particular, and washing doesn't totally remove it as it is deep into the fibers after pressing. Also, over time, starch will "yellow" fabric. It has been suggested that using Magic Sizing spray instead of starch works well and it doesn't flake or build up on the iron. Any thoughts on this subject?

I've also heard that Magic Sizing is better to use than spray starch.

I really do not have a bug concern, living in a cold climate, and never found any evidence of silverfish. I have been starching for years and not had a yellowing issue. It will be interesting to see if others have had yellowing.

All of the quilts that I make are used often, frequently washed, so I am pretty sure that the starch isn't going to be a problem.
I don't think it would linger in the fabrics after a couple of washings. I give mine an extra rinse to make sure that it is all out, and the quilts are nice and soft :D:D:D

I use both--Magic Sizing on light fabrics and starch on all others and have never had a bug problem since MIL moved out. Her junk food attracted bugs. They all seem to have followed her.

I'm not patient enough to use starch on lights so end up scorching it--even the non-scorching type.

Wool is a different story. It will be eaten very quickly if you don't keep up with the moth crystals or cedar shavings.

I know we are supposed to be quilting for future generations, but really cannot find it within me to worry about it yellowing a few decades from now. I just can't see my quilts being in a museum or whatever 100 years from now and someone saying if only she had not used starch. LOL I will not give up my starch!

When making quilts, I am making sure they are washable, even the hand quilted ones. The hand quilted ones have lots and lots of stitches closely spaced to make them washable. Surely any starch would come out eventually. Plus, now days all you gotta do is add those non-chlorine bleach additives that will take out the yellow.

I've always used Magic Sizing. It does a great job on my blocks. It makes them easier to handle and to sew together. I don't think I've ever used starch. I know that way-back-when, I deliberately made a decision against starch and for the sizing but for the life of me, I now can't remember why I chose sizing in the first place.

People have been using starch for centuries with no problems. In fact,old table linens that were heavily starched, are generally in better shape than clothing of the same vintage, which was not. I'm not really sure that your source is correct. Yellowing on old textiles is often from dust and smoke. Before electricity, homes relied on burning gas-oil-kerosene for light and wood and coal for heat. Add tobacco smoke, and even modern fabrics will yellow, regardless of starching.

Starch DOES wash out, or else accumulated starch would have commercial linens stiff as boards! That is one strange theory!

I starch on the wrong side of blocks, and keep the iron temperature appropriate to minimize flaking. No problems, and no problems with bugs, either. Can I blame starch on the tiny lizards getting in the house?

I use starch all the time and never had a problem. I never noticed any left overs on my projects after washing it. I'm always hearing about bugs too but never had that problem either. I'll keep using starch.

:thumbup:

I am a big fan of Magic Sizing, it works great for me and I was also told when I first started quilting that starch attracts bugs. I am in NC and we have lots of bugs here so better not to take chances.

I've never used either. I plan to tho. I was wondering what kind everyone preferred since I have no clue!

I live in Florida and was concerned about the "bug" issue. I'm not concerned that the starch might cause a yellowing of the fabric. I just read this info online this morning and thought I would get your opinions...thanks for responding. I'm rather new at quilting and have never used starch, but it would be a great help to make the fabric easier to work with. I think I'll try the Magic Sizing first.

I dont understand why starch will attract bugs but the chocolate stash I keep in my sewing room dosnt? Someone please let me know?

Starch attracts bugs because they like corn too. Starch is made from corn.

Mary Ellen's Best Press doesn't attract bugs since it's an alternative starch.

ok, I'm coming to your house to raid the chocolate, lol lol

I also read that sizing is made for synthetic fabrics, whereas starch is suitable for natural fabrics, i.e., cottons, etc. Silverfish love starch. I've seen them in our attic and garage...they eat the glue from the stored boxes, etc.

ROFL - LOL

Every thing I have been reading that mentions silverfish eating starch is talking about paste which is made out of wheat flour not corn flour. The little buggers love wallpaper paste and the paste that holds layers of cardboard together. Also the glue that holds books together and the paper on some types of insulation seem to attract the buggers. I think corn starch might actually act as a dessicant (drying agent like talcum powder) and cause them severe discomfort. They like moisture and cornstarch absorbs moisture.

One article did talk about fabric but it was talking about a different kind of bug that eats rayon and may damage cotton in it's quest for rayon but can't digest cotton.

So, feel free to starch your fabrics but get rid of the ugly wallpaper!

When my grandma was alive, she washed her sheets once a week and starched them every single time. They were so nice and cool to lay down in the summertime. Anyway, they did not turn yellow. If starch yellows fabric, these sheets should have been yellow with all of that starch.

I couldn't imagine not using starch anymore!!! I starch all my fabric before I cut it. And after I get the thrift store shirts cut, I starch and iron all those pieces.

Someone mentioned checking small, hometown groceries for laundry starch. We have a small, hometown grocery store just a few minutes away. I checked for laundry starch and found
Argo Gloss Laundry Starch. It was $1.19 for the same size box as regular starch. I love it!!! I love how it leaves the fabric starch so nicely. And it goes a long, long way.

I was recently introduced to Magic Sizing and would never go back to starch. Starch leaves a "snowy" residue which sizing does not. I love working with it

I prefer using the concentrated starch, one, because I pay less than $5 for a gallon versus the spray can and it makes at least 10 times more which is also why I don't use sizing spray, it's too costly for the amount you get. If it came in a concentrated bottle, then I might switch but until then, I'm using starch.

I am new to quilting and so far I have only made 4 or 9 patch blocks and quilted them SID. Why do you use starch at all. What is the purpose

But how can it be true about the yellowing?
My mom starched my dad's work shirts to a faretheewell, and believe me he wore them til they fell apart and they never, NEVER yellowed. And they were white shirts, not blue or any other color. 8-)

Well, I just found some Peppermint Patties that I keep here for my grandson, and all the chocolate had been eaten off them, and nicely unwrapped too. The next day I caught 2 mice on that shelf in my basement. I don't use starch except on my crocheted doilies.

I have always used Magic Sizing, and it works well. It is also inexpensive. About a dollar a can at Wal-Mart. Have never had a yellowing problem.
If you want to spend more $$, Mary Ellen's Best Press is nice. Comes in several scents too. :)

I would have to agree with this. I have tons and tons of doilies in my cedar chest, made by my grandmother. She had a heart condition and had to lie down most of the day. She was never without some kind of handwork, mostly crocheting doilies. I have HUNDREDS of doilies. Someday I'm going to incorporate them into quilts, but for now, there they sit. And they look as good a the day she made them some 70 years ago.

I've never used starch before reading about it here. I read that it helps decrease the amount of stretching or distortion when cutting and the stiffness it creates makes cutting accurately much easier. I tried it on my most recent quilt, a flannel one, and found that it worked very well. It is my most accurate quilt so far (despite many seams to match), and I plan to keep using starch or sizing from here on out. I'm sending the quilt to Illinois, where it is hot and humid and there are plenty of bugs, but I'll wash it first to remove the starch - so it's soft for the baby, and in case the starch would attract any critters.

Be careful though. If you iron while it's still damp, it can create distortion.

I agree, for clothing it is not an issue, but for fabric it can be.
If you distort your fabric initially and then cut and sew, when the fabric is washed and dryed it will go back to it's original form and your quilt can distort.
I spray my fabric and let it dry, then iron to get the wrinkles out. You can use steam if the fabric is stiff, and it shouldn't distort the fabric, unless you get really aggressive with it.

had a thought and had to come back
I make my spray starch by mixing water and liquid starch and dropping in a drop or two of essential oil. If you are worried about bugs, use some lavender or cedar oil in your spray. It just takes a drop or two.

thank you for the info I didn't know this about starch

I use Sta-Flo liquid starch that I dilute with water so it's half starch, half water. I have not had any problems with flaking since I switched from the spray starch in the can. :-D

I used to do that but don't use it that often, so had it get congealed in the bottle and wouldn't shake back to normal, so threw it out and stopped using starch. I have canned spray starch but don't use it often because I don't like the schmutz on the iron. Just another thing to clean.

I had a friend who starched some 30's reproduction fabrics for her pinwheels and starch turn the color is some. I will use magic sizing, but not starch.

I do not use starch/magic sizing at all. The only fabrics I prewash are batiks, blacks, and red. I purchase all my fabric at quilt shops. Even if I do happen to prewash I still do not use starch. Why do you use starch? When you prewash you are washing out the starch.

I actually don't iron or starch my fabric until I'm ready to use it. I wash it and fold it up and put in the designated plastic bin until ready to use.

I have used magic sizing since I was a teenager and I don't think I have ever used starch. Good to know.

OK, Here is a little known fact. I used to work at a Dry cleaners and I learned a thing or two. One of them is....
Never wear a blouse/sweater/shirt out to dinner and then hang it back up in the closet. Moths do not eat wool/silk etc. What is eaten are minute' food particles left over from the meal you ate. The moths lay eggs on the garmet and when they hatch the larva eat the particles of food and unfortunately the threads they are attached to. Cedar smells good, moth balls smell bad. Guess what? Moths can't smell. Well actually that's not quite true. They can if you smell like another moth...LOL
I prefer sizing to starch, just a personal thing for me. I doubt that your quilts would get eaten by moths if you use starch on the fabric. I'm thinking that if they did, our grandmothers and mothers quilts would be in tiny pieces by now. This is just my opinion you understand. Oh and the other thing.... Don't eat when your piecing/quilting. But if you do, wash the quilt when you finish it and you shouldn't have any problems with Moths.
:XD:

Same here...I think the pest problems can arise if it is starched then stored for long periods.