I have seen some people starching their fabric. Does anyone do that and if so how?! I am unfamiliar with it.
Jesse ,I use Starch on occasion and I just use the stuff in the spray can, but I mostly use Best Press, the stuff is fantastic and comes in several nice fragrances and it is not as hard on your fabric as starch . Barbara
EAT!! SLEEP !! QUILT!!
It's good to use where your fabric might have a tendency to stretch as in bargello or watercolor quilts. Lots of small pieces next to each other do tend to stretch. I usually don't use starch, but I get very frustrated if I don't with those type of quilts. Seminole piecing could probably use it too, as some of the fabrics will be sewn on the bias and that really tends to stretch.
Patti
Chiliwist Valley
Thank ladies! :)
When my blocks have lots of pieces, I starch so they will lay flat. It gives them a nice finish, and then it's easier to piece the blocks together. I use spray starch. Best Finish got too expensive. I don't over spray. Just enough so they are flat and the seams go where I want them to.
I have started starching all my fabric. I find I get better seams and things match up better.
Life is like a quilt...bits & pieces, joy & sorrow, stitched with love
i never starch, just another step
gini in north idaho
I starch. I just gives better handling to my fabruc.
Thank you all for your responses! I think on my next quilt I am going to try it to see how it is!
Just to add one more reply, I LOVE Magic Sizing. To me, it really makes the fabric stiff and crisp, which makes cutting and sewing SO much easier.
However, with that said, I never use it anymore. It got too expensive. I don't care for Best Press, and here's why - To get the level of stiffness I like, I feel like I have to add a lot. I normally love scented things, but I feel like when I add enough to get it strong enough, the scent is too much (even for me).
So, I tend to make my own starch. I use cornstarch and water and just a drop or two of essential oil into an old best press bottle. I have to shake it up every time I use it, because the starch settles, but that's OK with me, since it's basically free this way. Also, if I end up not using it for a long time, I might throw it out and make some fresh, but that has only happened once!
My homemade starch is not nearly as crisp as MagicSizing, but it's a little better than Best Press and since it's free and I have all the supplies at home, I can't really see any reason to switch.
Are there instructions on the box on how much to use of the cornstarch and water?
I'll add my 2 cents in for what it's worth. I don't use too much starch unless I'm going to wash it when the quilt is finished. Starch will draw a certain type of icky bug because starch is edible. Sizing is not edible and doesn't draw that thingy. I use sizing when I have something that needs it to make it stiffer to cut and sew. I use sizing on flannel as well so it doesn't all stretch out and makes it easier to sew.
Diana (Bink) in East Tn.
I've never heard of sizing.
Bugs like starch so do not store projects that have starch in them. Magic sizing or something starch free is best.
Sizing is added to fabric as a protective layer or glaze. It is what makes the fabric feel crisp before it's washed.