If you have been a reader of this blog for a while, you know I am a strong advocate of starching my fabric before sewing with it. I like it because the fabric is stiffer and easier to work with, the edges don't fray, it presses nicer, my piecing is more accurate, and the crisp finished look of my blocks is appealing.
Every now and then someone will ask me about my starching technique. So here is what I do:
Starching is a bit of a mess, so I prefer to do it outside on my covered side porch. I spread a waterproof pad on my outdoor table, then cover that with an old beach towel.
I use Faultless Spray Starch in a can, which I buy by the dozens at Walmart. I use a ton of these cans. The fabric on the drying rack above took nearly three cans of starch.
Not the greatest picture, but you get the idea. I spray the starch over every inch of the fabric and get it soaking wet. I am starching fat eighths in this picture, but starch fat quarters, layer cake squares, jelly roll strips and even charm packs on occasion. There is some shrinkage of your fabric in the length of grain, so keep that in mind if you are worried about running short. For example, a jelly roll strip will still be 2.5" wide after starching, but the 42 inch length of the strip will come out a bit shorter. A 10" layer cake square will come out 10" x 9.5". For me, typically, this shrinkage is not an issue.
Once my fabric is soaked with the spray starch, I carefully drape it on my drying rack. I have a waterproof pad under the drying rack because the drips from the starch will mark my porch decking. On a sunny or breezy day in my low-humidity area of California, that fabric can be dry in as little as a half hour. Usually, it takes a bit longer.
In the top photo, you can see I have starched a larger piece, the background fabric. When starching larger pieces, I do one side at a time and have to kind of double up the fabric as I move along the length of the yardage. You can see how I have it looped through several rungs of the drying rack so it doesn't hit the ground and get soiled.
Honestly, it took longer to explain how I starch fabric than it did to actually get all that done!
I was happy to take a break from closet cleaning and do something sewing related!
Here is my sewing room, all cleared out. I've tried to leave out just the bare essentials so I can still do a few things up until the carpet installation day comes. Then I will just toss my basic kit into a box and have it all together to put back when the installers are gone.
This week I am in the thick of clearing out the dressers and closets in the downstairs bedrooms. Again, it is the sorting through things that is taking me so long. When I go to put things back I am sure I will be amazed at how much room I have!
9 Responses
We all need a good cleanout of our rooms! This is inspiring for sure.
I starch, but more lightly than you— I just spray a section that’s big enough for what I’m cutting and iron it dry. The Cali and Co fabric is beautiful and I finally succumbed and have a set of fat quarters. I do love the stitch-a-long, but hope I don’t start it! 🙂
You are a rock star with those closets! I would have to do strength training for weeks before tackling that. I am totally ashamed of our master bedroom closet— maybe you’re inspiring me! Not a lot of closet space in our house, so more important than ever to keep it organized, right?
I starch the same way except my drying rack is in the bathtub we rarely use. It really makes piecing easier and more accurate.
good morning. Question. Why don’t you iron the fabric dry and not hang to dry??
Interested to know why you don’t make your own spray from concentrated starch? It’s easy to make and pour into a spray bottle and much more economical. I agree that starching is the way to go for precision piecing.
I attended a quilting retreat a couple weeks ago.
Starching was quite the topic.
Prewashing fabric was also a big topic.
I don’t work with anything small or fussy any more, so I do not need to starch. When I did do small and fussy, long ago, we tended to paper piece. I appreciated the instructions, very interesting. (Bath tub suggestion seems like a good one).
But I have always washed and dried all fabric. It is amazing how much things shrink, flannel quilt backs in particular.
Vickie
I’m definitely Team Starch. It makes such a difference in accuracy for me when I cut my pieces. Pretty sure I picked up that tip right here many years ago! 😉
you’re moving. that’s what you’re doing. moving. I am experiencing anxiety just reading this. ;p
at least the sun is out and you got to do something enjoyable.
I still have porch envy. I will never not want your beautiful porch.
I too, use starch. I buy the same starch you do at the same place you do! It makes such a difference in the finished project! I love it that the fraying and the threads are so much less. I longarm quilt for some others and believe me, it makes a difference!