quilt queen

in Texas we have plenty of bugs to..I think the vodka and water maybe the way to do.also read in an older GB that vodke used with water in pie dough makes for a better crust. Who would have throught!!!

damaquilts

Everyone here laughs because my vodka is kept in my bathroom upstairs near my sewing room. I buy the cheapest one I can get after all it doesn't have to taste good. I use it by itself with water or I put a little in with my staflo starch mixture I also use it when I mix up my essential oil sprays.. I do put some lemon or lavender essential oil in my vodka/water mix too. So far haven't seen a bug in my tops that are packed . I don't iron my stash until I am ready to use it. So that is just washed and stored.
I am going to have to remember to try the vodka in the pie crust. I always have the job of making the pies because of my crusts so if I can do it even better. LOL

bunniequilter

I also cook my own starch. Havent had any problems with silverfish or any other little bugs, I always wash my quilts to remove marking for quilting etc anyway. I also add borax which preserves the starch and keeps it from going sour.

running1

Did not know that!! Thank you!!!!!

Suzette316

I've been using my own starch made from cornstarch and water for about seven years now after reading about it on Diane Gaudynski's site. I love it! So very inexpensive, no additives or junk to mess up the environment (or my lungs) and I can make it as stiff as I choose for the project I'm working on at the time. (Lots of bias edges gets lots of starch prior to cutting.)

So yeah, I guess nothing new under the sun to use this formula, but I love how this stuff always comes back around again!

Oh, my version of this is to dissolve 1 - 2 teaspoons of cornstarch in a bit of cool water, then add 1 cup boiling water, stir to thoroughly dissolve then add 1 cup cool water. Once cool enough to handle, I pour into a spritzer bottle and go quilt! I do give this a shake before each spritz and I pitch any that's left (which is rare) within the week. (No preservatives means it won't last much longer, but that is almost never a problem for me and even if I have to throw some away, no biggie, it only cost pennies and few minutes to make more.)

alleyoop1

My aunt would crochet fancy lacy baskets and starch them with a sugar mixture. I found a recipe for it online:
Sugar Starch Recipe for doilies: This is the old-fashioned starch used for lacy doilies.

1/4 cup water
3/4 cup granulated sugar

Mix water and sugar in a small pan. Stir the mixture over low heat (do not boil) until clear and not sugary. Remove pan from heat, and let mixture cool.

Wet the collar and cuffs of a blouse or lace doily. Roll in a towel to remove excess moisture and dip it into the mixture. Squeeze out excess starch, then shape the collar and cuffs or doily. Allow to dry and iron on warm setting.

Doilies do not need to be ironed when you use this starch. Just smooth out and shape while wet on a clean flat surface.

sap

I also put 1 or 2 drops of blue-ing in the starch mixture, makes those whites n light colors stand out and the whites look whiter.

slicksister

In the theater world we use the vodka water recipe to spray costumes which cannot be washed between performances. It takes the smell right out of the underarms and other places where actors perspire profusely. Some of the fabrics used in costumes just aren't conducive to washing between each performance or even at the end of the weekend. We usually do 23 shows over 5 weekends so if we were to try and dry clean the costumes that many times the costs would be prohibitive. We call the mixture ROTGUT! LOL

petthefabric

I'd be concerned about weavels getting started in the house. In one house I had to keep all starches, seeds & nuts in the freezer. How they got inside glass bottles is a mystery. We've moved and haven't seen any weavels, and don't want to, so I'm being careful.

fran624

I remember yrs. back when my mom used a product (if I remember called Argo) It was in a box & she mixed it with water & put it on the stove. When mixed she put the lace curtains in squeezed out the put on a stretcher to dry. Wonder if they still sell it? I just use the starch in the cans Spray & iron with another cloth on top until dry. But now going to try some of that vodka mix. Thanks for all the info.