hayevymae Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 I know I've seen this conversation on here before... between spray starch and sizing, which one are the silver fish (bugs) attracted to? Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stagecl Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 Starch attracts silverfish if you don't wash your quilts. Sizing does not. I use sizing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy4Quilting Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 I like to use Mary Ellen's Best Press. There is no flaking, it gets all the wrinkles out and makes the fabric smell so good. I buy it at Joann's with my 40 and 50 percent off coupons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgene Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 To help remember which attracts bugs, starch is mostly made of corn (corn starch), something critters can eat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 Originally posted by Crazy4Quilting I like to use Mary Ellen's Best Press. There is no flaking, it gets all the wrinkles out and makes the fabric smell so good. I buy it at Joann's with my 40 and 50 percent off coupons. Still has cornstarch as a base. So critters like this one as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doodlebug Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 i was just talking about this to a customer....i use Magic Sizing. My theory is that starch makes a fabric stiff, where sizing adds body ...also i think that a quilt that is heavily starched is hard to quilt....JMHO. Sizing helps a fabric keep shape, and be manipulated in the DSM as well as the LA... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 Funny to see what different people like. I'm a starch all the way kind a girl. It makes piecing so much more accurate and easy. I have never had a problem with a quilt on the frame that is starched. I use a medium heavy starch for my fabric. I've never had a problem with Silverfish. Some of my fabric has been around a long, long time and I starch everything. I guess you just have to decide what area you are in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayevymae Posted November 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 You gals are the greatest, I always know where I can get the best answers/advice! Thank you bunches! P.S. Doodlebug, I'm totally diggin your bug hat, awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinneaMarie Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 I'm with Heidi. I use spray starch all the time; have been for over 20 years. I've never had silver fish or any bugs. Of course, that could change, I know. I do not wash my fabrics before I start a quilt. (I'd be washing bolts and bolts) I do starch everything and then start cutting. It keeps the edges from fraying so much and everything stays much straighter; especially those pesky bias triangles!! JMHO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs.A Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 Another vote for the starch team. I'll often double or triple starch. Nancy in Tucson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnott Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 I have always used sizing since I heard how pests are attracted to starch....love the lavender pressing spray and I know that lavender is a natural pest repellant so then my hinderance was the cost.....until I found this recipe. http://www.aquiltingsheep.com/p/pressing-spray-recipe.html Enjoy....makes me happy to give back to all of you who inspire me (I stalk) everyday..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witha'K'quilting Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 sizing here...can't stand starch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted November 10, 2010 Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 I love using starch for piecing. I think it makes putting the blocks together easier. The other plus, I can starch and press those pesky blocks into the right shape (totally perfectly square).:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltjunkie Posted November 10, 2010 Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 Mary Ellen's Best is the best..when I teach at the LQS it's on my supply list if you want to take my class...dries quicker than regular starch or sizing...I have never seen any silverfish where I live but I think that's because it' too darn hot, also have never seen a flea on my cats because it's too darn hot...but lots of black widows, but they don't eat your quilts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted November 10, 2010 Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 Totally a heavy starch person here. Piecing a breeze and it whips all the wavy out before you even start quilting. Haven't had any trouble quilting, but I'm one who washs as soon as the binding is done. We did have silverfish in Reno but really didn't have any trouble with eating the fabric, but I did catch a couple in the folds a few times. I only starch when I'm constructing....although I would like to store it already starched. Would make cuttig a bit faster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marycontrary Posted November 10, 2010 Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 Question for all of you heavy starch users -- how do you avoid having it "flake off" and build up on your iron. And once it builds up, how do you get it off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayevymae Posted November 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 Thank You Mary, that would have been my next question! Thanks to everyone for their input on this, I really appreciate it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IBQLTN2 Posted November 10, 2010 Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 Another question I would ask probably of Bonnie as she is the Queen of the starch and steam process. Does sizing do the same job of shrinking those waving borders or is it just the starch that works for this. I recently had a pieced border that needed to be shaped into compliance and the starch process worked great. so I am wondering if sizing does the same trick? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pepsiperry Posted November 10, 2010 Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 I wash all my fabric first and starch only what I am going to use at the time but this is usually for embroidery.Quilters newsletter had a very good chapter on starch and sizing. The plus is I can get heavy spray starch at the $ store for a dollar. Ann Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chocoholic Posted November 11, 2010 Report Share Posted November 11, 2010 For those of you who live in silverfish country and have no trouble with them and starched fabric, it could be that if you don't wash your fabric before you use it, that the pesticides that are in the fabric from the manufacturer repel the silverfish. JMHO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted November 11, 2010 Report Share Posted November 11, 2010 Originally posted by marycontrary Question for all of you heavy starch users -- how do you avoid having it "flake off" and build up on your iron. And once it builds up, how do you get it off? Spray your starch on one side and iron on the other. I normally spray the wrong side and iron on the right side. I also spray all my fabric first and let it soak in a second or two, then iron. Sometimes I spray all my fabric lay it over my rails and let it dry (if I can possibly get ahead of the game) then iron with a steam iron. Works just the same. If I want it super heavy I will spray it until it is soaked and then throw in the dryer for a few minutes. Works like a charm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted November 11, 2010 Report Share Posted November 11, 2010 Originally posted by IBQLTN2 Another question I would ask probably of Bonnie as she is the Queen of the starch and steam process. Does sizing do the same job of shrinking those waving borders or is it just the starch that works for this. I recently had a pieced border that needed to be shaped into compliance and the starch process worked great. so I am wondering if sizing does the same trick? It does work, but you will get your best results with a HEAVY professional starch....both Niagra or Faultless have a version..... And to answer the flaking question....do as Heidi stated, but if you just let it dry a smig it will also stop the flakes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.