Recipe for making your own Spray Starch Cheaply

[Patti P.]

Homemade Spray Starch: Boil 1 quart of water. Dissolve 4 tablespoons of liquid starch into 2 cups of cold water; add to boiling water and return to a boil, then remove from heat immediately; add 2 more cups of cold water -- let it cool. Starch should be clear and not milky. Place it in a mist spray bottle and store extra starch in the refrigerator. Clean the iron with a wet terry towel or dryer sheets if starch starts to build up on your iron. This is extremely cost-effective--only 2 cents a quart no more clogging or inconsistent spraying!
When my first attempt at the star was stretching, Margo suggested to starch my fabric more. I made a heavier batch of starch, mixing half Sta-Flo and half water, following the same process as above, this batch was somewhat milky looking.

i.e. this is not my recipe but I have been making it so long that I do not remember who to give credit to, sorry.

[Patti P.]

I use the Sta-Flo liquid starch too (usually 50:50 mix for piecing), but I've never boiled it...just used tap water. Why do you boil it?

[Margo C.]

I've never heard of boiling the Sta-Flo, but decided years ago that I would rather pay for the prepared Sta-Flo than to boil my own starch, and also don't have to keep Sta-Flo in the fridge!

[Margo C.]

I use the Sta Flo starch but I use hot tap water and shake it up good I never put mine in the re frigerator because I only make up what I will use for the day. I guess it could sour after afew days if you made to much up at a time and this would not be good. I like the Stay Flo. I use fabric sheets if my iron get icky to it works great. Kathy

[Margo C.]

I think the Sta-Flo must have some kind of preservative in it. I've left mine in the spray bottle for over a week, and never had a problem with it getting sour or moldy.

[Denise L.]

Made a purse last weekend that called for me to spray starch the fabrics. WOW what a difference, I'm sold.

I had a bottle of Staflo - god knows for how long, mixed it 50:50 with water in a spray bottle. I'm a convert.

denise

[Denise L.]

Katazzz, you mentioned useing fabric sheets for cleaning the starch from your iron. Can you tell me how you do this?

Also, I have just started using spray sizing for stabilizing, and I love it, especially for triangles. What I usually do is spray the fabric before I cut my pieces, and then lightly spray the cut pieces again, when I press my seams. Can anyone tell me the difference in stability between the starch and sizing?

Thank you!
Kathy

[Margo C.]

Kathy, that is how I did mine too!! There are photos on my Webshots album.

http://good-times.webshots.com/album...ost=good-times

[Margo C.]

Kathy
To clean your iron with fabric sheets I heat my iron up on the cotton setting then iron across afew fabric sheets or you can rub the fabric sheets across the iron but try not to burn yourself in the process of doing this.

Margo
I didn't have any problem with the sta flo souring either and I used the same bottle for two weeks also. I like using this startch for small piecing. I've learnt the feeling of having scorched fingure tips,' ouchy' because I had never used such small piecing before
this bom quilt with starching.Quilting can be painful!lol. I have my quilt pinned but have had alot going on with my sister plus now my tummy is so darn sore from the colonoscopy.The other colonoscopys didn't effect me like this one,I'm very sore. Plus I'm still feeling acheyness from the spasms. I wanna sew!!!! I need to Sew Soon!!!!

Take Care everyone, Kathy Samson

[Beth A.]

I, too, use Magic Spray Sizing instead of starch because

1. It doesn't attract silverfish &

2. I love the smell.

If I ever get busted for drugs, it will be for "huffing" spray sizing!

LOL,

BethMI

[Beth A.]

I have a quilter in my group who starches. I just don't like any steps that I can't really see the benefit. BUT, I think I'm going to have to try it. Do you think it would make a difference when paper foundation piecing? I guess I'll have to try it and see. Since I use freezer paper, it will be interesting to see how the starched fabric folds. And being a hand quilter, is it harder to quilt?

[Margo C.]

Susan, did you watch today's episode #407 with Elsie Campbell? She really recommends starching, and is an award winning hand quilter. She is a TQS member, and you can send her an e-mail asking how the starch works with hand quilting. If you do, please let us know what she says!

[Susan B.]

Has anyone ever used Faultless Powder starch? What were your results?

[Anne B.]

I have a quilter in my group who starches. I just don't like any steps that I can't really see the benefit. BUT, I think I'm going to have to try it. Do you think it would make a difference when paper foundation piecing? I guess I'll have to try it and see. Since I use freezer paper, it will be interesting to see how the starched fabric folds. And being a hand quilter, is it harder to quilt?

I'm not sure what the point would be. Because the paper stabilizes the fabric, you don't need the stabilizing influence of starch. Unless I'm missing something . . . .

Anne in Vancouver, Canada

[Margo C.]

Anne, I starched all of my fabrics for the BOM, just to know that all of the fabrics have been treated the same. If I had not starched the PP blocks, but did all the rest, parts of the quilt top would be stiff and some would be limp. I do it for continuity.