Starching little pieces; slick trick

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10-29-2012, 03:21 PM

#51

carol45

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Join Date: Sep 2009

Location: Pikesville, MD

Posts: 720

Here's what I do: I put all the little pieces in a zip-log bag and spray the starch into the bag. I close the bag, removing the air, so that the starch gets absorbed into everything. Once everything is wet, I take it out and press it on a sheet covering my ironing board.

10-29-2012, 04:26 PM

#52

lfstamper

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Join Date: Sep 2010

Location: Keller, TX

Posts: 7,417

I use my applique sheet to avoid sticking to the iron. Works great.

10-29-2012, 06:13 PM

#53

antylu

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Join Date: Jan 2012

Location: Brownsville, Oregon

Posts: 355

Quote:

Originally Posted by diamondee

I don' t know about wax for an iron, does it work like a polish so it glides over the fabric? what got me is the 1/2 inch log cabins. WOW

Oh my! I hope you didn't think the whole log cabin is 1/2 inch..........they are 1/2 inch strips after seam, so start out at 1 inch wide by 1 and 1/2 inch long and then longer ones. Still the smallest pieces were giving me fits and there were so many places the cabins meet point to point. I am new to quilting (this is my third quilt (second full size) so I may not have described too well.Yes, the wax makes the iron glide nicely; as other posters noted many people have done this for years and also used on sleds and slides to make them go faster. Thanks for reading and reply!

10-29-2012, 07:06 PM

#54

caspharm

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Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: Nevada

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Thanks for the tips.

10-29-2012, 08:12 PM

#55

katesnanna

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Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: Brisbane, Australia

Posts: 3,453

Antylu, I love this tip and it came at the right time. When I have finished the two quilts I'm working on I intend to make DH a red and white Courthouse Steps quilt. Red and White are the colours of his football team here in Aussie land.

10-30-2012, 12:03 AM

#56

ctipton

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Join Date: Jun 2012

Location: fruitland id.

Posts: 544

wax paper was the thing to use on older irons if they snagged or stuck . this was a tip I learned from my grand mother.Never had a problem with the wax Forgot i knew that

10-30-2012, 07:45 AM

#57

antylu

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Join Date: Jan 2012

Location: Brownsville, Oregon

Posts: 355

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peckish

Wax paper also works great for lubricating light bulbs, makes them easier to twist into the lamp. I've always liked to use parchment for ironing.

Also - I believe the only major difference between Best Press and regular spray starch is that Best Press has surfactants that help it absorb into the fabric faster. It still contains starch. I use non-aerosol Niagra spray starch and have found that if I simply let it soak into the fabric for a minute or two, I don't get any scorching or flakes.

Wow! Peckish, I had occasion this morning to try the wax paper on the light bulb before screwing in; it almost twirled itself in!!! I am impressed, thanks for that great tip!

10-30-2012, 07:59 AM

#58

postal packin' mama

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Join Date: Oct 2009

Location: Snohomish WA

Posts: 884

QUESTION:
any pro or con advice on irons with shiny steel ironing surface versus non-stick ??

10-30-2012, 08:56 AM

#59

antylu

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Join Date: Jan 2012

Location: Brownsville, Oregon

Posts: 355

Quote:

Originally Posted by postal packin' mama

QUESTION:
any pro or con advice on irons with shiny steel ironing surface versus non-stick ??

This is just my guess, but I don't think the non-stick irons have quite as much problem with the stickiness buildup as the stainless ones, mine is no-stick but I still do use the wax paper treatment.

10-30-2012, 08:58 AM

#60

Peckish

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Join Date: May 2011

Location: Pacific NW

Posts: 9,447

Quote:

Originally Posted by antylu

Wow! Peckish, I had occasion this morning to try the wax paper on the light bulb before screwing in; it almost twirled itself in!!! I am impressed, thanks for that great tip!

I learned that trick years ago when I worked at a clothing store. We rubbed wax paper on all the metal fixtures that the clothes hung on, which made the hangers slide easily. Drives me crazy now when I shop and the hangers don't slide, makes me want to wax them! lol.