Avoid these mistakes when starching fabric for quilting 

I use Stayflo and dilute it in a spray container from the hardware store. It's one of the bottles you pump to build up pressure then pull the trigger and it sprays for days 😊

I will be trying the complete wet starching as you've shown because I made an illusion quilt where all the pieces need to meet, not my favorite, and that was a struggle, needless to say, lots of pieces don't line up perfectly. Of course I'm the only one who notices. So one more time. ** I have used best press and it's great BUT- it's so so so expensive, just can't make sense of continuing to use it.

OMGoodness. I’m sew very glad I came across this video. Using the spray can is so laborious! I’m definitely going to try this! Thank you!

99 cent store sells the hard plastic paint trays. They are a perfect size for most quilters for startching fabric. Thanks for the product recommendation.

Love the rack definitely gonna try this method in future with stayflo

I've been using Sta Flo to do starch pretty similar to what you showed here for a while now. One thing I would caution is if you are going to dry it in your bathtub, you run the risk of the starch residue that goes down your drain clogging the drain. Perhaps running a lot of hot water will help but I am not sure. Definitely don't want it clinging to the sides of your pipes!

My grandma taught me to put liquid starch in the washer for things like aprons etc that need ironing Ive tried spray starch and didn't like it ! Too inconsistent and got on floor and wall depending on where ironing board was So I think this method is better for small quantities of fabrics! I cant line dry, so I put a $$ store shower liner on floor in living room under ceiling fan ! 😂 Gotta be creative!

I'm the worst when it comes to starching 😫 I like super crinkly quilts so I don't prewash either, I want that shrinkage.

What did your 10 inch squares ending up being after starching?

Ok 👍🏾

Thanks for showing how you starch fabric. I recently started soaking my fabric in a plastic container of 1:1 Stayflo and water and it is a game changer! I love the stiffness, and cutting and sewing seems easier and more accurate. A tip that I do is after soaking the fabric I empty the container into the washing machine and use the spin only cycle to get some of the liquid out so it’s not so messy then I hang it up to dry. It dries faster that way too 😊🎉

I'm so glad to find that others do this technique too. I use a plastic bucket and separate the lights from the darks and reds, no matter the manufacturer, and then separate each piece so that they easily absorb the starch. I will use the same bucket of starch and do 2 batches, one for the light colors and one for the dark colors and I have also used this process for jelly rolls. It works just fine.

To many chemicals, i was given scraps. Highly starched fabric is the worst on my machine. Soaking is to much

I appreciate your honest information about what problems and solutions you found. I love learning from other people's experiences.

Thank you for doing the trial and error for us! This was very helpful. 😁

I use Flatter. Found it in a quilt store in Florida. I find it does the best job on my fabrics, both in getting rid of wrinkles before cutting and in getting the seams to lie flat in the finished quilt. I enjoyed your tutorial. I've not done my fabrics the way you demonstrated (immersing), but I do agree that many of the spray starches available just don't give me the results I'm looking for. Thank you for another idea to consider.

I love starched fabric! So glad to know I’m not alone!

Great tip, I follow Kimberly Jolly from Fat Quarter shop, starching your fabric is a game changer.

Thanks Tammy! I just subscribed and I got exactly the information I needed about starching from this video. Keep the videos coming.

Yaay, I was hoping somebody would actually show the ratio of starch to water that they used. Have you ever tried storing the spray bottles in the refrigerator? My understanding is it that prolong their life. Just an aside, if a fabric is going to bleed, Best Press will also make it bleed in a hurry. Great video!

I use StaFlow and dry in my bathtub. Starched fabric behaves very well. I always prewash my yardage because I don't want shrinkage or bleeding in my finished projects. Thank you.

I’m terrified to starch any precuts! So many of patterns require exactness from those precuts. You say there is about a 10% shrink. I’d love to see a side by side with a layer cake specifically. Would ironing cause more shrinkage? Can we iron after the hair dry? I have so many questions! 😂

I LOVE starched fabric!!! Thanks for this video! Kudos to you for promoting other creators!

I am using Linit and my stash of Sta-Flo starch. My mix is 1 part starch to 2 parts water. If I am doing some yardage, I’ll let it soak for about 10- 20 minutes to saturate fibers well. I just starched about 8 yards and I put it in my washer in the spin cycle. And then I dry it in the dryer. I take it out as soon as it dries and just neatly fold it before I can go iron it. To iron, i first dampen with water spray bottle and use my ElnaPress 850 on cotton setting. I have great results.

I am glad to see you simply put the fabric in the solution. Some people put the solution in spray bottle and spray all the fabric. I cannot do that much spraying.

Just have to say something that's going to sound bitchy- you and Kimberly need to understand that this will feed tiny little bugs on your fabrics. Just like you said you have to rinse your concrete because it attracts bugs, this will be an issue unless you wash your projects when complete- note that Kimberly fully laughs that she never washes her quilts and then she laments her allergies. I personally don't need my fabric that stiff, so I use either just plain steam, or I use vodka and water. I feel like the vodka is more repellant than attractant to bugs, but I also always wash my quilts as soon as the binding is done- I always gift them washed. No insult intended to you, Kimberly (love FQS) or anyone else! It's just I feel this is almost a public service to discuss.

Thank you comments on different starch products. I like to starch my fabric. It is good to know about the products. I have not seen Linit before. Thanks.

I use Staflo and water down with distilled water

I also sew on my vintage Singer. I have a 201, 301, 401, 404, and 503. Which model do you use?

I've been using spray, but I really like the liquid solution. Thanks for sharing!

Im a new sewer can you explain why to starch your fabric

Thank you!! I also starch with liquid, I like your ratio amounts. You are very good at describing everything!

I use corn starch. Super cheap! 😁

Thank you for sharing this info. I too did the spray can starch but didn’t like breathing it in and it hurt my hands with all the spraying. I was wondering if a liquid starch would work, so now I know. Thanks again!❤

I agree - I love Terial Magic but the smell is overwhelming, but since I ordered a large size container, I am mixing it with water for the time being.

Just get a misting spray bottle and pour Flatter or Best Oress into it. Or sew with batiks.

I don't understand the need for starching quilt fabric. Just spray with a water bottle and give it a good press!

I've used just about every product on the market for stiffening or flattening fabric. I don't usually starch fabric before sewing but I'm considering it. Kimberly (FQS) has many good suggestions and sewing routines, but they are not for everyone IMO. Thank you for the video 😊

I’ve been starching outside or in my garage with the door open. I’m in New Mexico and we have lots of sun and dry weather. I will dry on a drying rack in my kitchen with a towel underneath to catch the drips. Thanks for trying all the starches, as I’ve used the aerosol cans. Where do you buy the product? I’m definitely going to switch to Lin’s.

Thank you for the demonstration. i am going to begin starching fabric and this has helped answer several of my questions.

Since this is getting hard to find have you compared Linit to StayFlo which is more readily available?

Thank you for your review of different methods to starch. I use Sta-Flowbrand because it’s readily available at Walmart. I use one part liquid starch to two parts water although the instructions say different ratio. I dry on a rack just like you outside when I can but sometimes I have to move it into the shower stall. I have an Elna press to iron and I just dampen the Fabric very well and use my press iron. I guess you could use a steamer if you have one, but I don’t have one I agree I don’t like using the aerosol sprays, I start coughing and it impacts my lungs. thank you for such a great video. I hope to see more of your experiences.

Excellent tutorial~~~thank you for the video!❤

if I find I need to wash small pieces before sewing, I run a staystitch around it first....

I love starched fabric

When you starch the layer cake material do you have some shrinkage of the 10” squares?

Interesting...how do you starch yardage before you cut it? Thanks so much...

Excellent video. I appreciate your straightforward, informative style. You don't go off on goofy tangents and waste our time. I think your videos will become classic tutorials, so hang in there. It takes time to build up a channel.

Does this get all sparkly like Stay-flo?

Where is everyone finding starch???

thx