Starch
#32
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
Originally Posted by libertykm
Ok here is a dumb question for you. How do you starch your material, in a sink, bath tub or just spray. And where do you air dry. Doesn't it make a mess where ever you dry it. I'm assuming you can't wring the material or it will stretch.
Sorry for the dumb questions.
Sorry for the dumb questions.
I personally do not starch fabric for the top (unless it is flannel) as it's too much work plus I wouldn't want to keep heavily starched fabric in storage for years (which is how long it takes me to use up some of the fabric). I do starch if the pattern is one that leaves bias edges on the blocks, but that is rare because I usually don't use those patterns any more.
I heavily starch backing fabric (1:1 solution) because it keeps the backing from puckering when I machine quilt. I also heavily starch fabric that is going to be cut into binding strips -- especially bias binding strips, but I also starch straight grain strips -- as this keeps it from stretching and distorting on me.
I spray starch tops before assembling into the quilt sandwich, but then I usually use commercial spray starch. That is a much lighter starching than what I use for backing and binding.
#33
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
Originally Posted by minstrel
How does it affect flannel? I make a lot of flannel quilts and I've not used starch on them before. Does it gunk up the fabric because of the fuzz/nap?
I have not made a rag flannel quilt, but I probably would not prewash the flannel or starch it for that kind of quilt.
#34
I use a hybrid of Prism's method. She posted on starch when I first started and asked. The only fabric I prewash is flannel because it shrinks so bad. I'm not trying to start a war on wash vs. no wash, it's just the way I do it.
I use a 1:1 solution exactly as Prism suggests above. I either spray it on with a spray bottle if it's a small piece, or I paint it on with a paint brush and toss it in the dryer. Then I press, NOT IRON, with a steam iron. I don't stitch on a single piece that hasn't been heavily starched.
I find the starch has greatly improved my accuracy both with rotary cutting and my 1/4" seam. My points are great and I am making more complex patterns. I consider the StaFlo just as important as a seam ripper, iron, cutting mat and rotary cutter.
I hand quilt almost everything. I've practiced machine quilting a couple times. I have absolutely zero problems handquilting. I can SID, echo or freehand with no problems. I wash everything AFTER it's been quilted.
I sure hope this helps.
I use a 1:1 solution exactly as Prism suggests above. I either spray it on with a spray bottle if it's a small piece, or I paint it on with a paint brush and toss it in the dryer. Then I press, NOT IRON, with a steam iron. I don't stitch on a single piece that hasn't been heavily starched.
I find the starch has greatly improved my accuracy both with rotary cutting and my 1/4" seam. My points are great and I am making more complex patterns. I consider the StaFlo just as important as a seam ripper, iron, cutting mat and rotary cutter.
I hand quilt almost everything. I've practiced machine quilting a couple times. I have absolutely zero problems handquilting. I can SID, echo or freehand with no problems. I wash everything AFTER it's been quilted.
I sure hope this helps.
#35
Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Palm Desert, CA
Posts: 113
I starch just before using a fabric for a project. First I wash it by color groups with a little detergent that I will be using in the future (to be sure any bleeding is eliminated) then when it is still wet/damp, put it in a painters tub with Sta Flo 1 to 1 mixture. I let it soak while I wash the next color set then I gently/firmly squeeze out (never twist) what I can (if it is a really large group of fabric, I sometimes ask my DH to squeeze it for me (he has really big hands) then I put it in the dryer and dry it really good. Now I know I won't have any more shrinkage. When I press it, I just use water in a spray bottle. Everything works better for me with this process.
#36
Banned
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,134
I don't pre-wash, and I starch my fabric to a consistency as close to cardboard as I can get :-D
I LOVE working with the fabric when it's like that.
My various longarmers sometimes complain because they have a hard time wrapping the tops on their machines because they are so stiff. :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
But I always, always wash the quilt when I get it back from the longarmer.
I use whatever heavy duty starch I can find on sale at the market - usually Niagra.
It's all about personal preference.
I LOVE working with the fabric when it's like that.
My various longarmers sometimes complain because they have a hard time wrapping the tops on their machines because they are so stiff. :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
But I always, always wash the quilt when I get it back from the longarmer.
I use whatever heavy duty starch I can find on sale at the market - usually Niagra.
It's all about personal preference.
#38
If anyone ever has a problem with silver fish in Upstate NY please let me know a.s.a.p. I have a tendency to overbuy and hate the thought of washing all the leftover fabric and then having to restarch when I want to use it again. What a inconvenience!
PS I haven't seen a silver fish in fifty years since we had them in our nursing school room in Indiana! Am I dating myself, or what??
PS I haven't seen a silver fish in fifty years since we had them in our nursing school room in Indiana! Am I dating myself, or what??
#39
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,586
Originally Posted by Cuilteanna
I've never found a decent starch over here, so I don't tend to use it. But I recently read about a water/vodka mixture I'm going to try!
#40
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Galveston Texas
Posts: 1,596
I didn't starch until I got on this board. It has made so much difference in my piecing, I love it. It makes points better, it is easier to match seams, it keeps the fabric from stretching out of shape. Sharon Schambers says to starch your backing before sandwiching the quilt. With her method it makes it so easy. I do not starch until I start using the fabric. One of my big mistakes when I started starching was to put starch on a block and press, I pressed it out of shape every time. Finally caught on to what I was doing and my blocks turned out much nicer. So starch before making the block.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
woohoowendy
Main
12
04-02-2011 02:02 AM