scrappycats

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.

kristen0112

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

cc

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

grann of 6

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.

steelecg

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.

Donna Hall

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.

sewcrafty

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.

Annz

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

Colbaltjars62

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:

earthwalker

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