Marsh

I've noticed lately that if I spray starch my fabric and then iron it, there are little (don't know right word to use)
waves, small bubble like places in middle of fabric - I'm not using steam to iron, just the starch. I think this impacts my strips or blocks when cutting. Anyone have this problem?

dunster

It sounds like you're stretching your fabric. Let the starch dry, or almost dry, before pressing, and see if that helps.

Lori S

I agree , it is very easy to stretch fabric that has any moisture in it. One other possiblity is that it was not evenly saturated with the starch and some dried .. some did not completely dry when you started to iron and you got uneven shrinkage.

PaperPrincess

Are you using a steam iron with no steam? Sometimes those little steam vents will show where you've pressed. That's why a dry iron is so nice. perfectly flat plate.

Prism99

You could be stretching the fabric, as suggested. However, it could also be that the fabric is shrinking where the starch falls on it. You might want to cut a square out of the fabric, measure it, soak it in water, dry and iron it, then re-measure to see if shrinkage is an issue.

NJ Quilter

Or are you referring to the area of the fold? If you are getting bubbles, etc. where the fold is, it could be that the fabric is not folded straight on grain. I try to press/iron my starched fabric from the fold to the open edges to prevent this problem.

Marsh

Not necessarily the fold, but I do press that out so I can get it straight on grain for my go cutter. I don't think I had this problem with best press, but I purchased Faultless Premium starch and love the way it stiffens the fabric. Better try the suggestion of letting it dry - but then what about when you want to use it for seams. Letting it dry will sure slow you down.

DogHouseMom

Marsh ... agree with the others, let the starched fabric set a while before pressing.

Also, are you ironing in one direction or do you move the around iron around in circular motion? When I iron yardarge I try to keep my ironing direction perpendicular to the LOF (the "tightest" weave). I get much less distortion that way.

Marsh

Yes Dog House Mom (wow, what a name)- I iron perpendicular to the LOF. This stuff drives me nuts---and my husband would have to comment - short drive.

irishrose

Is your ironing surface totally flat? It seems I used to have this problem with thinner fabric and my ironing board, but I made a flat ironing table and haven't seen it happen any more.