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Member since 2/17/06
Posts: 5558
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Posted on: 2/5/12 3:06 PM ET
I know there was a recent discussion on steaming while seaming, but what about when you are starching the fabric prior to cutting it?

I found recipes for homemade starch-but I have never used starch before.

I did pre-wash my fabric-my dog bed cover is going to be washed and washed repeatedly, I wanted the shrinking and color bleeding to happen before I put it together.

I am new to rotary cutting and sewing small pieces together, and starch seems to be a frequently mentioned aid to more precision, but do you spary the fabric then steam or dry iron it??
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Cathryn
  
Member since 4/11/02
Posts: 1507
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Posted on: 2/5/12 3:19 PM ET
I cook up my own starch, spray it on, then allow the fabric to dry before pressing/ironing. I use steam. If the fabric isn't quite dry, then steam is not necessary. The big problem with pressing if the fabric is too wet with starch, is that it may scorch and gunk up the soleplate of your iron.

BTW, I only starch uncut yardage. It is quite easy to iron at that stage without worrying about distorting the grain.

Jennifer in Calgary
  
Member since 2/17/06
Posts: 5558
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Posted on: 2/5/12 3:44 PM ET
In reply to Jennifer Hill
Quote: Jennifer Hill
I cook up my own starch, spray it on, then allow the fabric to dry before pressing/ironing. I use steam. If the fabric isn't quite dry, then steam is not necessary. The big problem with pressing if the fabric is too wet with starch, is that it may scorch and gunk up the soleplate of your iron.



BTW, I only starch uncut yardage. It is quite easy to iron at that stage without worrying about distorting the grain.



Jennifer in Calgary

OH!! DUH! me!

I was completely overlooking letting the fabric DRY after spraying it with the starch, then ironing it.

Thank you so much for answering so quickly and sparing me from fried fabric and having to clean up a gunked-up iron.

I am planning to starch it before cutting, I need little squares and need all the help I can get making them, well, square.

How much spray does it take? Should I get the fabric really wet or just a light misting? I am using homemade cornstarch and water with some lavender or cedar essentail oils.
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Cathryn
  
Member since 4/11/02
Posts: 1507
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Posted on: 2/5/12 4:17 PM ET
Depends how stiff you want it. But for simple squares, they shouldn't need to stand up by themselves. Have you pre-washed your fabric? If so, it soaks up the starch easier, you may not need as much of it, nor should you have to wait until it is totally dry. Unwashed fabrics have manufacturer's finishes in them that keeps them from "wetting" easily, and you may have to wait for the starch solution to really soak in and saturate the fibres.

Jennifer in Calgary
  
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