LindaR

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

Ethel A

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

Scissor Queen

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.

SharonC

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.

BellaBoo

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.

lyndawn

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

bearisgray

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.

Lady Diana

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

Ninnie

I use Niagara Spray starch.

VBRAKE

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.