Weird experience with starch. Is this normal??
#31
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Paris, Texas
Posts: 170
I personally never starch. Even IF I prewash fabric I do not starch. Even fabric from WalMart and Joann's have starch in them. You are washing the starch out and then putting starch back on it. The only time I prewash is if the fabric is black or red. And you can prewash a swatch to see if the fabric is going to run. I also prewash my batiks, but I use a Shout color catcher which works great. I still do not starch the batiks. I know I am going against what many of you do, but I don't want to do more work than I have to.
#32
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Michigan. . .FINALLY!!!!
Posts: 6,726
Originally Posted by Donna Hall
I personally never starch. Even IF I prewash fabric I do not starch. Even fabric from WalMart and Joann's have starch in them. You are washing the starch out and then putting starch back on it. The only time I prewash is if the fabric is black or red. And you can prewash a swatch to see if the fabric is going to run. I also prewash my batiks, but I use a Shout color catcher which works great. I still do not starch the batiks. I know I am going against what many of you do, but I don't want to do more work than I have to.
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Delaware County, SW of Phila.
Posts: 610
I tried a regular spray starch and found it left a residue on my fabrics; I didn't like it. Switched to Mary Ellen's Best Press and have had no problems. I just shake the bottle; spray and press immediately. It works great. Interesting to see some people wait 5 minutes or more. For me, I get the right results just doing the pressing as soon as I spray. I love using it and think it is worth the little extra it cost.
#37
I do yards and yards at a time they take about a good hour to dry depending on where i dry them. (don't have a large space) It is normal though for them to take a bit of time. When I do yardage I will mix together the amounts in a spray bottle and then put fabric in a large mixing bowl and then dump the spray bottle into the bowl with the fabric. then move fabric and squeeze excess water out.it works real well that way and i always check to make sure it is nice and coated in the starch before hanging to dry.
#38
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Michigan. . .FINALLY!!!!
Posts: 6,726
Originally Posted by dcamarote
I tried a regular spray starch and found it left a residue on my fabrics; I didn't like it. Switched to Mary Ellen's Best Press and have had no problems. I just shake the bottle; spray and press immediately. It works great. Interesting to see some people wait 5 minutes or more. For me, I get the right results just doing the pressing as soon as I spray. I love using it and think it is worth the little extra it cost.
#39
I love Best Press for the fabulous scents - I would buy Caribbean Beach and Cherry Blossom in perfume form, if I could! :)
But I've found that I prefer liquid starch mixed 50/50 with water in a spray bottle for preparing fabric prior to cutting it.
I soak the fabric, let it almost dry, then steam press it to dry all the way.
When you spray unwashed new all-cotton fabric with any liquid, it's going to curl up and shrink to one extent or another. Some of them seem to hardly shrink at all while others look like Shrinky Dinks plastic in the oven!
What surprised me the most is the difference in shrinkage between the lengthwise and crosswise grain - some of my fabrics have shrunk twice as much along the crosswise as with the lengthwise. What could distortion like that do to your cut and sewn quilt block? :shock:
That's one of the reasons I starch beforehand - to get that shrinkage done before I cut and sew. (and, lazy me, so I don't have to pre-wash! :) )
But I've found that I prefer liquid starch mixed 50/50 with water in a spray bottle for preparing fabric prior to cutting it.
I soak the fabric, let it almost dry, then steam press it to dry all the way.
When you spray unwashed new all-cotton fabric with any liquid, it's going to curl up and shrink to one extent or another. Some of them seem to hardly shrink at all while others look like Shrinky Dinks plastic in the oven!
What surprised me the most is the difference in shrinkage between the lengthwise and crosswise grain - some of my fabrics have shrunk twice as much along the crosswise as with the lengthwise. What could distortion like that do to your cut and sewn quilt block? :shock:
That's one of the reasons I starch beforehand - to get that shrinkage done before I cut and sew. (and, lazy me, so I don't have to pre-wash! :) )
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