no its just if you want a nice crisp feel before you start cutting or like leigh said if you have stretchy fabric it helps keep it in place. actually I probably use it more after my blocks are done and before I sew them together. I will starch them and then square them all up and make sure they are all the same size and then sew them together. Jan thanks for the tip about the silverfish. I will not be using it anymore. Gonna have to find this Best press i guess. Can you find it in the grocery store?