Month two

[lotti]

If i want my fabric light to Medium starched, i just put the liquid starch in my washing machine instead of fabric softener... I put as much as the container will hold... And wash the fabric as usual. If I want heavier starching, I'll add the same amount again after the last spin cycle, and just run the washing program from the point where the fabric softener is added ( last rinse), then spin and hang dry.

If I want a really heavy starch, I'll place a large bowl or a bucket with a starch/water mix inside my bathtub, put each length of fabric ( still wet from the wash as I per wash everything, or dry) in the bucket, make sure it is thoroughly drenched, hand wing this and then hang dry inside my bathtub as it will drip quite a bit. In summer this can easily be done outside, the worst thing to happen is that your lawn or pavement might have a few whitish spots until the next good rain.

I iron when almost dry, or spray a little bit of water on the fabric to just moisten before ironing if it dried completely.

I never measure the amount of starch, just like I cook and bake... I don't mind if my fabrics not all have exactly the same stiffness... With spraying it tends to be uneven too, and as I have carpet everywhere where I have enough space to lay out fabric or set up the ironing board, I don't like to work with spray starch too much.

[AndreeBergeron]

Good evening to all! Does anyone know where I can buy Sta-Flo in Canada? I couldn't find it at Wal-Mart - it seems as difficult to find as Reynold's Freezer paper, which I buy in the USA when I travel!

Thanks for your help!

Oh, and did anyone ever tried that homemade recipe that has vodka in it? does that really work? I read a few blogs on this, and I don't know if its just a joke!

Andrée

[Margo]

In case you haven't seen it, Diane Gaudynski has a great post about starch:
dianegaudynski.blogspot.com/2010/02/starch.html

I love Diane's work! She uses the Corn Starch recipe because she has severe allergies and this has no fragrances added, no preservative or additives.
Just be aware that it needs to be used in about a week or so, or it will turn moldy.

The Sta-Flo has never gotten moldy in my mister bottle, and I sometimes go several weeks between uses.

[idaho]

When I was a kid...Mom made just enough starch on wash day and we starched, rolled and put the
wash that was for ironing in the 'fridge waiting to be ironed as we had time. Just reg. corn starch..cooked on
the stove and thinned a bit when cooled. No mister/sprayer...just a pop bottle sprinkler ! Can't say I
liked that chore.!! :mrgreen: Funny...now I do that with the quilting cotton ..not the sheets ! :shock: :twisted:

[idaho]

Good evening to all! Does anyone know where I can buy Sta-Flo in Canada? I couldn't find it at Wal-Mart - it seems as difficult to find as Reynold's Freezer paper, which I buy in the USA when I travel!

Thanks for your help!

Oh, and did anyone ever tried that homemade recipe that has vodka in it? does that really work? I read a few blogs on this, and I don't know if its just a joke!

Andrée

I use home made spray. I take a spray bottle, add a shot glass of vodka and 1 or 2 of liquid starch. Then fill the bottle with water. You have to shake the bottle every time you use it. It works great and is way less expensive than the brand name spray. And I don't have the flaking problem.

Erica

[DixieH]

What is the vodka supposed to do?

[suehenyon]

It enables you to iron for long periods of time other than that, it acts as a preservative.

[denise-nh]

I have finished my Month 2 and took out the papers on the triangle units. I made sure they were left alone(not touched too much) and just before I attached them to the stripped units I pressed and starched with best press - both units.

When piecing the stripped section I made the mistake of not pressing as I went so I had a big job to do once I was done with the first small unit. For all the next units I pressed each seam open as I went and it worked much better. Having said that I was still 1/4 in short so I went back to the pressing station and carefully pressed again.

I marked the center of each strip on the units and then pinned the triangle section at the intersection so the points would be centered. This after I had ripped out a large unit because it didn't quite look right. The more units, the more likely they will shift a bit and look off when done.

I am very happy with the results which means, measure carefully, press carefully and mark & pin carefully to achieve success. This quilt is not a quick project. It's a way to hone our skills and figure out what works best for you. All these things we can use in the future and teach others along the way.

Happy Quilting.

denise

[AndreeBergeron]

Good evening to all! Does anyone know where I can buy Sta-Flo in Canada? I couldn't find it at Wal-Mart - it seems as difficult to find as Reynold's Freezer paper, which I buy in the USA when I travel!

Thanks for your help!

Oh, and did anyone ever tried that homemade recipe that has vodka in it? does that really work? I read a few blogs on this, and I don't know if its just a joke!

Andrée

I use home made spray. I take a spray bottle, add a shot glass of vodka and 1 or 2 of liquid starch. Then fill the bottle with water. You have to shake the bottle every time you use it. It works great and is way less expensive than the brand name spray. And I don't have the flaking problem.

Erica

Thank you Erica. My problem is that I can't find "liquid starch". I have "corn starch powder" (Benson's brand), can I mix this with water (until I buy a huge bottle in the USA)?
Andrée

[Margo]

When I was a kid...Mom made just enough starch on wash day and we starched, rolled and put the
wash that was for ironing in the 'fridge waiting to be ironed as we had time. Just reg. corn starch..cooked on
the stove and thinned a bit when cooled. No mister/sprayer...just a pop bottle sprinkler ! Can't say I
liked that chore.!! :mrgreen: Funny...now I do that with the quilting cotton ..not the sheets ! :shock: :twisted:

Me too Marilyn! In fact I still have Mother's "sprinkler"! The rubber on the cap is all dried out and doesn't stay in the bottle well enough to use it now, but it is a real treasure for me and stays with my ironing supplies. We also kept rolled up starched clothes in the 'fridge. Hanging clothes on the line on cold winter days was the worst!
I have a brother who is 14 years younger than I am, and hanging his diapers in the winter is something that I'll never forget!

[Margo]

It enables you to iron for long periods of time other than that, it acts as a preservative.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Margo]

Sounds like some of my memories of washing and starching and ironing. Don't remember the corn starch part. You all are so helpful to everyone. Love the quilt show......

[Reetzbobeetz]

It enables you to iron for long periods of time other than that, it acts as a preservative.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I had been thinking that with enough Vodka I wouldn't notice the wrinkles in the fabric much - or in my face either. :lol:

[idaho]

Oh ! This is such a good start to the day !! :lol: :lol: :lol:

[idaho]

Good evening to all! Does anyone know where I can buy Sta-Flo in Canada? I couldn't find it at Wal-Mart - it seems as difficult to find as Reynold's Freezer paper, which I buy in the USA when I travel!

Thanks for your help!

Oh, and did anyone ever tried that homemade recipe that has vodka in it? does that really work? I read a few blogs on this, and I don't know if its just a joke!

Andrée

I use home made spray. I take a spray bottle, add a shot glass of vodka and 1 or 2 of liquid starch. Then fill the bottle with water. You have to shake the bottle every time you use it. It works great and is way less expensive than the brand name spray. And I don't have the flaking problem.

Erica

Thank you Erica. My problem is that I can't find "liquid starch". I have "corn starch powder" (Benson's brand), can I mix this with water (until I buy a huge bottle in the USA)?
Andrée

I haven't used corn starch powder but hey it's worth a try. Try it out on a scrap of fabric and see if it works!
Erica