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-   -   Your choice in Starch??? (https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1/your-choice-starch-t63672.html)

sosewcrazy 09-11-2010 01:58 PM

My favorite is Mary Ellen's, but it's so expensive that I've begun mixing the StaFlo myself for pressing my prewashed fabric. I'm looking for the non-aerosol Niagra, but haven't had any luck finding any. I tried sizing, but like my fabric just a little stiffer.

Ikesgram 09-11-2010 05:46 PM

When I was a child,we never had a drier other than a clothesline. First we washed the clothes and hung them on the line to dry.Next we made starch on the stove in a large pan;when it was cool enough,we put all articles that needed starch into the pan and one by one, we soaked those clothes in the starch and hung them up on the line to dry. Then we sprinkled them with water from a sprinkler bottle, rolled them up to "season" for overnight and then we ironed them.
I ironed most of them every day after school and learned to do my father's shirts well! He wore dress shirts every day and a fresh one if he had an evening meeting or event at the university where he taught.
It was important that the starch soak every fiber before ironing or the shirts would be limp and look messy. When using starch these days, most people iron too quickly after spraying. I spray starch each one and stack it on top of a pile, then roll up and let sit while I do another pile or two. Then I iron, starting with the bottom of pile 1. If I don't get it done that day, I put it into a plastic bag and put it in the freezer.I end up with very nice fabric. My granddaughters like to iron it too when they are with me.
"Anything worth doing is worth doing well " was how I was brought up--I am sure I wasn't the only one who remembers that !! Speed is great for some things, not for fabric.

np3 09-11-2010 06:25 PM


Originally Posted by shequilts

Originally Posted by Scissor Queen
I use Mary Ellen's Best Press and only that. I use it because it's a starch alternative and will not attract bugs. Plus since it's not a starch it doesn't have the flaking problems starch has.

I use only Mary Ellen's Best Press for all the above reasons I love the no flake part, especially on solid or dark colors.
Karen

I tried it one time, and have continued to use it and nothing else. I buy it by the gallon to cut the cost down.

cooper 09-11-2010 09:50 PM

i use mary ellens

dixiechunk 09-12-2010 02:44 PM

No starch here, just sizing.

zz-pd 09-12-2010 10:37 PM

I use the stuff at the dollar store. God bless.

Lady-T 09-13-2010 01:44 AM


Originally Posted by shequilts

Originally Posted by Scissor Queen
I use Mary Ellen's Best Press and only that. I use it because it's a starch alternative and will not attract bugs. Plus since it's not a starch it doesn't have the flaking problems starch has.

I use only Mary Ellen's Best Press for all the above reasons I love the no flake part, especially on solid or dark colors.
Karen

Me too - I love Mary Ellen's Best Press!!
I buy it in the gallon size!! :thumbup:

Judie 09-13-2010 12:34 PM

We always kept clothes in the fridge after they were sprinkled, rolled and put into a plastic bag.. What I'd like to know is who has room for clothes in their fridge now?? I don't think I could fit even a few shirts in my fridge, let alone a weeks ironing!!

MadQuilter 09-13-2010 12:48 PM


Originally Posted by quiltmaker
I use Mary Ellen's Best Press.

Me too - it works and it smells pretty.

cooper 09-13-2010 02:50 PM

LMBO
I forgot my mom use to do that---i have never thought of doing it. never iron clothes here! lol...just fabric &
press it out

katiebear1 09-13-2010 03:00 PM

I just use the spray starch from the dollar store....works fine for me.

katiebear1 09-13-2010 03:01 PM


Originally Posted by Judie
We always kept clothes in the fridge after they were sprinkled, rolled and put into a plastic bag.. What I'd like to know is who has room for clothes in their fridge now?? I don't think I could fit even a few shirts in my fridge, let alone a weeks ironing!!

I agree. Were fridges bigger back then or did we not have all the junk food to put in them LOL


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