sizing and starch

I am working on a quilt that has lots of bias edges and would like some advice. When I first started quilting I used starch, but got so much gunk on my iron that I changed to sizing and that resolved the problem. However, with the bias edges in my current quilt I'm wondering if starch would have been better than the sizing. It is a little late for the question, but it would help with future quilts.

Thanks.

I don't know the difference between starch and sizing. When I first started quilting I used wayyy too much starch. I switched to mary ellens best press and find that it takes out wrinkles but doesn't really give any body to the fabric, I find I'm just not using anything. With a bias edge you will need something for sure.
Sharon Schamber suggests spray the wrong side of the fabric, turn it over and iron the right side, which she says forces the starch up into the fabric and you avoid all that flaking you get with regular starch.
I'd love to know the difference between sizing and starch, I'm not sure I've ever seen sizing.
My LAQ mixes her own.

acording to Google:


Q: What's the difference between spray starches and sizings?
A: Sizing was developed for synthetics and fabric blends. It restores the original
body to fabrics without stiffness and can be used on natural fabrics for a light finish.
Regular starch gives more body than sizing and can be used on natural fabrics and
blends that have a higher natural fiber contents. Heavy starch gives more body and
crispness - ideal for linens, jeans, and 100 percent cotton garments. Lemon starch
gives a fresh, lemon scent while ironing, but quickly dissipates after ironing. Spray
starch and sizing should not be used on items labeled dry clean only.

or for more info:

http://www.americandrycleaner.com/article.cfm?articleId=17826


I think because startch is a plant product, that is why they don't recomend storing fabric with starch on it, it attracts bugs.

On the can of Magic Sizing it says "makes ironing easier" and "light body without stiffness." I noticed that it's made by Faultless and I think they also make regular starch.

I just need help with the bias edges, or else need to be more careful handling them because I surely can get them out of shape. I'm piecing a quilt now that should be a good lesson to me to watch those bias edges. I think next time I'm shopping I'll buy a can of starch and try it on the wrong side of the fabric and iron it on the right side as Calico Chris mentioned.

Thanks for your help.

CC thats an interesting tip about spraying the wrong side, I dont use starch, havent for years but I used to mix it up I recall. Jill let us know how it goes, intersted to hear

Sizing is wonderful for quilting that is the stuff that is in our clothes when we buy them and they are all so pristene!!

Jill when you are working with bias it is mostly in the ironing, make sure you only press and not iron. When you are piecing make sure you are not pulling your fabric through your machine. I have worked with lots of bias edges piecing stack and whack quilts and one block wonders, if you handle your fabric carefully you don`t need either sizing or starch.
I would never use starch on my quilts, another product if you feel you need to use it is called Best Press but that is more expensive.
I find when people are using these sizing products they are ironing their fabric and stretching it out of shape before they even begin to cut, a light pressing just to get the wrinkles out. I also don`t wash my fabric when I am using bias cuts and use the sizing that is already in the fabric to my advantage.

The only time I use sizing is when I am appliqueing and then I will use the Karen Kay Buckley method of no melt templar you can look up her name and find info on her site.

hope this helps a little

So not washing your fabric is the key to those stack and whacks you do so well?
I bought the book but am chicken to try it!
I'm going to look up Karen Buckley, thanks.

The gals in my local quilt group are doing stack and wacks right now and they sure are coming out beautifully... each one has different fabrics and they do 12 blocks for a quilt.... they seem to be enjoying the experience... so go for it CC...

CC do not wash your fabric if you are doing Stack and Whack (S&W)for one thing the shrinkage may change the repeats, maybe offsetting them a bit and then you will have a hard time stacking your fabric and matching the motifs...

Its great doing stack and Whack with many people then you can see what a variety of fabrics will do rather than what you are doing. I was in a swap where we made 4patch posey( a great pattern to start with before you go to stack and whack if you have apprehensions on S&W you only need four (4) repeats of fabric rather than the 6 or 8 depends on the pattern) and I have about 45 blocks all different that I have to get together I am going to put them together like attic windows the blocks are 10in!! that is big.

Sorry Jill a little off topic...

That's fine, I'm glad you went off topic because I'm thinking about trying a S&W sometime this year and it's good information to have.

Well today I added the borders to my bias edges nightmare and next time I see a bias edge I'm going to chase it away with my rotary cutter. The quilt had 100 blocks and I do believe I've been far too careless with my handling and ironing/pressing.

Now I'll see if I can break myself from using sizing.


Jill

any questons I will be glad to help just lemme know.. I known around these parts as the S&W queen, used to teach it so got a good idea. When I walk into any store around here the owners always say I had a cliente come into asking about S&W they would ask the question and I would give them my response.

maybe we should do a session, and make a stack and whack together maybe in May.... just another crazy idea I am throwing out there..

Love sharing anything I know about quilting!!

betweens wrote:

any questons I will be glad to help just lemme know.. I known around these parts as the S&W queen, used to teach it so got a good idea. When I walk into any store around here the owners always say I had a cliente come into asking about S&W they would ask the question and I would give them my response.

maybe we should do a session, and make a stack and whack together maybe in May.... just another crazy idea I am throwing out there..

Love sharing anything I know about quilting!!

That's great you will share your knowledge because you never know what might be a little thing to you or a little tidbit of information is very helpful to someone else. I would be interested in doing a S&W (especially from the S&W queen!) and May would be a great time for me. I have several must do quilts because I'm having shoulder surgery in the summer--probably July--and I won't be able to sew or quilt for a while afterwards.

Oh no Jill that will be a great trauma for any quilter, looks like after surgery you will have to look at alot of eye candy and type with one hand.

I hope that your surgery goes well and that you heal well so you can quilt into the wee hours.

I will post a new topic when it gets closer to the time.

I have taught this on line before so should be able to do it again. My mom wants to make one too and she belongs to the group so I am sure she would be happy with that as well.

Thanks for the well wishes, and I have about six months to figure out how to quilt/sew with one hand. It will probably involve duct tape and any other adhesive I can imagine. When I go to physical therapy I'll have to meet with the occupational therapist to get additional help. :quilting1:


Jill

I have used sizing and starch on my quilts. I like starch much better as it will really hold the threads of the fabric well so they don't move about. I have known some quilters to actually dip their fabric into a starch bath (or send to dry cleaners to have them do this) let dry till damp and then iron. They wanted the fabric to be like paper stiff. Then they cut it out. After the quilt is done they then wash out all the starch. They really get some wonderful precise pieced quilts doing it this way. I have never attempted doing that. But when I know I might have an area that needs to be stable, I will starch it....spray on the wrong side, let sit till starch is soaked in, press till dry and don't move the fabric or block till it is cool. This has worked with me and I don't get the gunky build up or flaking. Also, I never wash my fabrics....I want the manufactures sizing left in the fabric to help with stabilization. If there is a fabric that I wonder about bleeding....I test it with a cup of hot water in a clear glass, put a snip of fabric in the water and let sit....if the water is tinted, then I wash the fabric and re-test it ...still tinted, I don't use that fabric. I have found most of the quilting fabric available now days, there is no or very little bleeding or shrinking of the fabric.

I too would be interested in doing a SW quilt ... have the books and the fabric...just never got around to doing it