Do you only ever use spray starch or do any of you mix your own? If so how do you do it? Does it last for a long time? does it come out of a spray bottle well? What are the issues?

Good question. I am interested in the answer as well.

I only use regular ol' spray starch in a can.

Starch? I don't usually use starch on anything but the lace from the embroidery machine, and if has it's own, the water soluable stabilizer is a starch.

Kids for their uniforms for cadets use the spray starch in a can, it comes in regular and linen(double starch)

I have gone through three cans in the last couple of months. Not only am I concerned with the price but the environment too. I was wondering if the "mix it yourself" kind was more economical and better for the earth.

it can sometimes be hard to find but starch has been known to be sold in trigger bottles. easier on the enviroment.

i starch everything and go thru numerous cans a month.

not only do i starch all my fabric for sewing but i also starch all DH clothes.

i also use the can starch from the store its typically niagara

This is what I use..


http://homemanagement.suite101.com/a...n_spray_starch
One table spoon of corn starch to two cups of cool water shake this each time you spray it and keep in fridge when not using..

Thank you for this valuable information!! :D I am anxious to try it out.

this is also what I use. I haven't put mine in the fridge though as I put lavendar essential oil (few drops) in it and it has not gone bad. years ago when I ironed ALL of dh's work clothes I used liquid starch that you mix...it would go bad so fast!

I only use Niagra.
Should make my own, but too lazy. lol

I use the quilters starch from Mary Ellen Best Press, I always starch a block when I'm done with it. Gives such a crisp look

Same here, altho it can be a bit pricey I only use it for my quilting material. Love it!!

I'd like more informaiton about this also. For regular clothes ironing I really like to use sizing. And in the past I sometimes used sizing on sewing fabrics that I couldn't get the wrinkles out of after shrinking -- worked great and crisped things up. I had read a long time ago that you should never use starch for quilting as it will eventually draw bugs to your project. Then I heard somewhere else not to add spray sizing, because this is like the finish fabric manufacturers use and you want to wash it out. When I was working on my doll quilt, Kwhite kindly gave me a link to Sharon Schamber's online directions for putting on a binding. And of course she uses starch extensively as well as Elmer's School Glue . And it does wash out. I used both on the doll quilt. It washed out fine.

When I read this information about keeping a homemade starch mix in the refrigerator, that seems to suggest that it could go bad, and again drawing bugs might be an issue. And Klue, you make art quilts. Does using starch on projects you never wash affect them?

I love starch!! Usually Niagra for clothes, sometimes whatever I can find, I know what I have at the board right now is not. I have used the Best Press at the LQS when I'm in a class, I like it alot, but haven't gotten any for home yet. I use regular strength for quilting and my clothes. My son uses heavy duty for his shirts (yes, I created a monster, but at least he does his own!!) I use the heavy duty for my lab coats. Oooo, I love that crisp even crinkley feel and sound and smell of starch :D :D Yeah, I'm weird that way..who cares? :lol: :lol:

I use Niagara for clothes; but Best Press for quilting.
Here is a description of the product:
Make ironing as pleasant as possible! No more mixing starch with water or environmentally-unfriendly aerosol cans that get clogged. 'Best Press The Clear Starch Alternative' is a clear and fragrant miracle starch that doesn't clog, flake, or leave a residue - even on dark fabrics. Also relaxes stubborn wrinkles, makes ironing easier, and makes fabrics soil-resistant. The clear, non-aerosol spray bottle lets you see how much is left.
Best Press' is a trademark of Mary Ellen Products, Inc.

Yup. I use Mary Ellen's, too, but only on my quilting.

Does the homemade starch ever leave a residue?

Sounds like best press is a good product if it works like promised. I have alway to clean a horrible mess off of my iron. Not having to do that would be a dream.

I have used Sta-Flo that I mixed; it worked okay. I only used it b/c I had it from making silly putty w/ kids.

My preference is Mary Ellen's. I LOVE the Citrus and the Carribean Beach scents. Rose, lavendar, cherry blossom and unscented are also available. LQS quite often has a 16 oz spray bottle for about $8. I bought one, and since then have gotten the gallon refills. I find them online for about $40 - with shipping, it was close to $50! :oops: Or get two from another place when I am ordering from someplace else that is a little more but offers free shipping w/ $100 purchase.

In addition to regular pressing and the crisp look, it gets out even the fold-lines from fabric that is off the bolt. You only need a light mist, not a soaking spray. So even though it's pricey, it does last quite a while. And I enjoy the scent while ironing - anything I can do to make pressing a less awful task...

Thanks I will have to try that. Does Joann's have it? 40% off coupons are great.

you get absolutely no white residue on your fabric, and it has a pump spray on aeresol. I had a quilting teacher tell me when you spray regular starch to let it set until soaked in and you won't get white flakes...works

I use Best Press (it's a starch alternative).

I use Mary Ellen's Best Press. I spray and iron my fabric before cutting and sewing. It really helps with accuracy. I never use regular starch on anything.

I use both spray and sta-flo. I will say that the sta-flo allows me to make the fabric more stiff (I just add less water)....I love this for my backings--seems to help keep everything in it's place and I tend to have less puckers.
However, since it does seem to go bad quite quickly (not sure if it's b/c I'm in Arizona), I only make a small amount when I mix. Maybe putting it in the fridge might work, but it only takes a minute to mix.

Here is the starch recipe It was a common recipe before liquid starch could be bought. The proper way to starch is too time consuming now days but you dip the fabric in a starch solution, roll up and put in the fridge over night and sprinkle with water before ironing the next day. Wash on Monday, iron on Tuesday. That was the way it was every week when I was a little girl and when my mother was a little girl. Everything fabric in the household was starched and ironed back then.

Dissolve half a teaspoon of cornstarch in a few tablespoons of cold water Add boiling water to make one cup, stirring constantly. Then add cold water to make 2 cups of starch. Let cool. Keep in fridge if not used up.

I use only niagara and I starch everything!

I've tried sta flo and making my own, but I had tons of residue. The only kind i found that has no residue is NIagara. but, it may be different if you can find a pump sprayer. I couldn't find one around here.

Lynette

I had cut many 5-inch squares and then decided they would be nicer and better if I sized or starched them.

Maybe I got them too wet, at any rate, when I ironed them they stretched a bit.

So - is there a "proper" way to use spray starch/sizing?

When I was a kid, the whole garment was immersed in the starch mixture - remember that little blue wax thing that was melted in it? - and then hung out to dry - don't remember if that just hand-wrung or put through the wringers again.

I use Mary Ellen's Best Press. Expensive if you pay regular price. I don't pay the $8 or $9 (full retail) I get it at Hancock Fabrics for half price.
The reason I use it on my quilts and clothing is that it never flakes when an iron hits it.....it comes in scents too. I always get the lavender. Love using it on pillow cases.
Diana in Texas

I use Niagara Spray starch.

I use a mix your own all the time. Find it at your grocery liquid starch in a bottle. Mix 1/2 and 1/2 put in a spray bottle. Put more water for a not so stiff starch. Lasts quite a while. I usually mix so I do not have waste.

Hi, Niagra now makes a spray bottle of their starch that is environmentally friendly. There is also Linit Starch that comes in a big container that is in the grocery store. You mix it to the strenth desired and put it in a spray bottle that you can get at the dollar store. Hope this is helpful.

Ellis' Granny B

I use Best Press Lavender.

I use the Mary Ellen's Best Press lavender for my qulting. I buy it at Mill End for $4.50 plus tax. Try some of the discount fabric stores. They are much more reasonable on things like this.

Remember that fabric has more threads running the legnth and so that is the most stable way to press/iron. But, if you do iron the width go with the grain. I hope this helps you keep the fabric from going wonky on you from now on.

I have used both. I preferr any store brand liquid starch mixed 50-50 in a spray bottle. This does not stick to my iron or make the skin on my fingers peel.

I get better coverage for quite a bit less money.

If I want it stiffer I just use a little more liquid starch. I starch everything and I try to make my fabric really stiff.

Mary Ellen's Best Press Lavender

I have found Sta-Flo liquid starch in the detergent section of grocery store sold in a 2 qt light blue bottle. Contents--water, corn starch, borax, processing aids, preservative, ironing aid, and perfume. No color added
Directions on label given to mix the how much "starch" you desire. I usually use a 1:1 ratio
I mix as desired and put in a spray bottle. Once in a while the spray nozzle will dry up if I haven't used it in a while, but a quick soak of the sprayer in the sink remedies that problem.
My sister, a nurse, used this years ago to starch her cap--remember when nurses wore caps! :lol:
Hope you can find it and give it a try. A lot less expensive and don't have to mess with a pressurized can!

http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/18816.page


there was a thread on this issue a while back. and i think a while back from then, too. :lol: :lol: . it's an everlasting question.

i make my own starch, from liquid, 50/50, and spray everything all the time,
on the wrong side.

I love the way the starch handles on the fabric but I hate the way it comes out of the spray bottle - more spatter on the wall than on the fabric - BIG DROPS TOO! :cry:

I've used it in a can but I tried mixing my own... spray bottle + corn starch & water... Haven't used this homemade mixture enough to say whether it is just as good. I got the idea because I replaced my cooking spray with a spray bottle with Oil. I don't remember the measurements. I watered it down about 2x more than making gravy... if that makes sense. LOL.

I found I can purchase Niagara at the $ stores. Seems to be the same quality as I get from other stores for the same brand.