Chytayzie

I've made my own starch for years. I use quite a bit since I like my fabric to be real stiff.

I bought quart spray bottles from Walmart. I mix 2 heaping tablespoons of corn starch and 1/2 cup alcohol. I strain the mix into my bottle and finish filling with water. It does settle, so you have to shake it before using. So far I've not had any problems of buildup on my iron. Sometimes I do get the white flakes on dark material, so I just starch the backside and that eliminates the flakes.

I use the 50% alcohol from Walmart. It costs 88 cents. A lot cheaper than Vodka, which has better uses than for ironing! Thru the years I've never had a batch go bad. But without the alcohol, it doesn't take long before it turns into a rotten stink that you can smell all over the house.

Terry in the ADK

One of my quilting teachers told us to be careful if you startch fabric which is to be stored as bugs, silverfish I think, like it to eat!

d.rickman

I believe the vodka, keeps the solutions from separating.

Mitty

I'll try the cook starch on some scratch fabric and use my old iron and see if I get the same results. I'll try to remember to post when I do.
Thanks for sharing your experience!

Mitty

Thank you for the tip! In my case I just want to starch it while I'm working on it and then will wash it out when the quilt is completed.

Mitty

Thanks to everyone who posted about the vodka and lemon juice starches. Being able to store it for a while would be very useful, and I will definitely experiment with different recipes. A little vinegar would probably be worth trying, too. I bought several spray bottles and I'll have to mix up batches of each type and start spraying some of my scrap fabric.

It might take me a little while to get to this (and by "little while" I mean possibly several months), but I'll try to post anything useful I learn.

Onebyone

The cornstarch flakes and will burn easy. No matter what recipe I used, the stuff starts to stink (may not be bad but it stinks) before I can use up a spray bottle full. I do make my own basting spray and like it a lot.

Peckish

You can prevent flaking by first spraying on the starch, then spraying a fine mist of water on top, then wait about 10-20 seconds.

The reason you get flaking is because some of the liquid hasn't soaked into the fabric. The spritz of water seems to help, in my experience.

Best Press, which is another starch product, has an added surfactant which helps it absorb into the fabric faster.

EasyPeezy

You have to be patient when using cornstarch. It's not for everyone.