When to Apply Fabric Starch (Best Press)

[Racing Nana]

OK, this weekend will be a marathon cutting of pieces for my 2 lap quilts.

There are a lot (I mean a lot) of HST's.

I love my Best Press, but since I am working with over 10 yrds of fabric, should I starch ALL of it before I cut, or just starch the length needed (40" X 60") to make the HST's from.
The rest of the fabric will just be cut into squares.

Should I then starch the HST's again, while they are laying flat, before opening them up and pressing to the dark side.

I might not even have enough Best Press to do all of the fabrics. ( 5.5 yrds + 2.5 yrds + 2.5 yrds) not to mention the time it would take to do all of this.

Suggestions anyone????

[New York Sue]

I usually starch my HST's prior to squaring up, but that's just me...

[Slokarma]

because, I tend to make mistakes, if it were me, I would work with sections, as you mentioned 40" x 60", starch and cut and then on to the next section. I have starched and ironed after piecing, but prefer to do it first off and then if i need to refreshen, hit it with some steam and the starch freshens up and if that's not enough you can always starch again.

So, section, spray and let it absorb, then press, then cut, piece and press again. I think that's what I would do.

[Suzyq]

I agree, am a big fan of starching...makes everything nice and crisp...if you don't want to use so much best press, you can make your own starch from recipes on the net. At my LQS, they refill best press bottles for free if the original one was purchased there...hope this helps...

[Hulamoon]

I do like Sue said, right before you square up. Spraying the whole fabric would be a waste to me.

[Sylvia H]

...... At my LQS, they refill best press bottles for free if the original one was purchased there...hope this helps...

That is an amazing service for its customers.

[Sylvia H]

I like to use Best Press for small pieces and HSTs. I would use it before cutting the HSTs particularly to help in preventing stretching on the bias cut.

[Vonnie]

Okay, here's my 2 cents worth!

Since you are low on starch, and you know what size fabric you need before you cut it into small pieces, cut the large piece and starch it. It takes less starch for a large piece than it does for the smaller pieces even though added together they equal the size of the large piece. I don't know about you, but it's hard to spray a small piece without over spraying. Plus it takes longer. You can always use steam in your iron to press the hst's and kind of reactivate the starch that's already there from spraying the large piece.

Once, I was low, I added some filtered water to my bottle. Worked just fine.

Okay, end of my 2 cents worth!

[JCY]

I don't overuse Best Press. I usually use it for pressing out stubborn wrinkles, esp. the fold in the middle. JCY

[Claire Hallman]

I don't use best press but I do use heavy starch. I use it on the yardage I am going to actually cut from for a quilt. I do not usually starch the entire piece if I have lots more than I need. I prefer not to keep starched fabric in my stash. I am not anal about this, don't throw away those scraps.
I do starch the large pieces, put them in a plastic bag and refrigerate until needed. I put them in the fridge to keep any possible mold from forming if I don't get them pressed in the next day or so.
I also usually starch and press the completed top and backing before sandwiching. It seems to make for a nicer sandwich.