How to Starch Fabric! (Mary Ellen's Best Press TUTORIAL!)

[@CarmenHyde]

I just bought this at my local shop and I’m so glad I found your tutorial! I’m new to starching and your tutorial was super helpful! Thank you!

[@deidrapowell8762]

Sew glad I am not the only one that prefers best press!!!

[@qltygrl3187]

I actually have a pattern that instructs me to starch my fabric before cutting. Glad I found your video as I’ve never done that before.

[@erica_arndt]

Yes, you can use this method, or you can starch using Sta-Flo or an aerosol starch. If I do Sta-Flo I mix it with 60% water + 40% Sta-Flo in my laundry sink. Then just dunk the fabrics until wet and hang dry on a laundry rack. Then just press and you're ready to go! I have a video on that coming soon :)

[@FanofFoulLanguage]

Love Mary Ellen’s, I buy it by the gallon!!

[@baseballquilter8984]

I also starch on my pressing board and iron board. I have had no issues when doing so. Thank you for the lesson. I prefer the pink 💗 bottle!

[@pennyh7808]

I love it too. I use my JoAnn coupon to buy gallon size and refill smaller bottle.

[@suejameson1517]

I agree with you about trying to protect the environment and this is a really good product. I haven’t starched both sides before but that’s a great idea!

[@catherinecearns9002]

Hi from South Aussie- I love Mary Ellen Best Press

[@saravopat8280]

I actually just got some of this today and it does exactly what Erica says it does!!

[@user-vk8ok1jz7i]

I love Best Press! Soak my fabric, haven't had any trouble with shrinking my fabric! Love how it makes my blocks .oo,! Highly recommend Best Press! Carol Hartman, Murphy, Texas

[@smatthews2984]

Your explanation and demonstration of bias was very helpful! I’ve never really understood it before. So thanks!

[@jokirk4781]

Thank you, I’m new to sewing and never understood why people starched, now managed to order some lavender best press from Amazon in the UK 🇬🇧 😊😊

[@Renuewspa]

I love the Lavender! This has been my only starch since 2005. I buy it by the gallon and refill my original bottle. Last year I gifted my husband an Oliso iron with 2 Spray Mist bottle one with Mary’s best and the other with distilled water. He loves the Mary’s best. Great video!

[@bhernandez4189]

I love Mary’s best press. It works great and doesn’t create a flaky mess like other spray starches. I also use it to square up my granny squares when crocheting. Another video of yours I absolutely love! I am a little disappointed in my local quilting shop as I believe I’ve only been offered the one scent. Looking forward to trying the others.

[@dianegonzales8958]

I especially loved the rolling stone pattern from 2022. I also made the wall hanging of the sewing machine pattern with 3 spools of thread at the top. It was a little challenging for me, but it came out great! I love your videos!

[@katrinaanddanielfisher1587]

Thanks, Erica! I’ve had Best Press for awhile, but was nervous to use it. Your tutorial showed me just how easy it is to use.

[@sarahtill3190]

Wow. I didn’t know to get both sides. Thanks.

[@ellenfuller4393]

After my first bottle of the lavender I bought a gallon! Thanks foe the video!

[@maplelassuk]

This is an excellent tutorial, and I did buy Best Press and love it. Thank you Erica!

[@puppiesfollowus]

I always use best press. I have actually been able to find really great sales at Menards on the gallon size. I haven’t actually ever tried a heavy starch - I have felt the need to try yet. So far - best press is my go to and I’m perfectly happy with the product 💕

[@kaylac3367]

Fantastic! Soo thankful for this. You answered my question in your video so I don't have to ask. It was about spraying your fabric on your ironing surface. I really like the fabric I have my board covered in and I wouldn't want to mess it up. Thanks again Erica!

[@amc8819]

Thank you for this demo I actually tried this same brand & scent on a project with a lot of small pieces and it worked perfectly!!!

[@bethdeck9825]

I love Best Press and use the lavender. I do the same, starch the little is the best! Thanks for the tutorial.

[@mjb9176]

Very helpful.

[@trumpwon8972]

Great video as always! 💛

[@MsHighpeaks]

Thank you. Great video. Never realised to spray on both sides xx

[@erica_arndt]

You don't have to, I don't always do both sides :)

[@jessieleighorsburn9712]

I found this video extremely helpful! Thank you so much for taking the time to create this video. I don’t know anything about ironing and I’m trying to learn and I’ve gotten the tools and ive gotten some project ideas but i wasn’t quite sure how to use all the things and your video helped explain what i needed and you taught me the bits i needed the most help with. Thank you very very much. I learned a lot from this one video and i am now walking away from this video with way more confidence in myself and my ability to do the project im wanting to do. Thank you so much! I hope you have a wonderful day and i hope you have a lovely week!

[@gayledebuhr8755]

Thanks Eric, Gayle

[@moosecraftusa]

I've only recently started using Best press.....and I LOVE it! :-) Years ago when I started starching my fabrics, I used the traditional starch. Not totally soaking it, but spraying, waiting for it to dry and then pressing. The main reason for me trying the Best Press is the "pre cut" kits that are now becoming more available. Those precut pieces are not starched and can be difficult to get accurate blocks....and of course if you starch when the block is finished, the blocks shrink... :-( So. I gave Best Press a try and now I have more accurately pieced and nice and flat blocks from the precut pieces! Chances are, once I used up my stash of regular spray starch, I will only use Best Press. Is it more expensive, Yes! However, I only make 2 lap quilts a year....or have 1 or 2 Block of the Months going on at a time... so, the price difference isn't all that much. Thanks for the video! Lavender Fields is my favorite scent too!

[@karenwood2928]

Wow, I haven’t been using my Best Press to it’s full potential. Thanks for this! FYI, I really like the Cherry Blossom scent. I tend not to like florals, it’s just a fresh scent.

[@erica_arndt]

Oh I haven't tried that one yet!!

[@paintedstars2]

I have a small (but very impressive) independently owned quilt store and instruction studio in my little town that carries maybe 6 fragrances. I picked up peach last month. Wonderful!

[@DeeAZstitcher]

Love Mary Ellen's Best Press, so far I've only used the unscented !!!

[@kathyaschenbach8081]

Love this! I think I would really like to try it!

[@trenaoquinn753]

❤❤❤❤❤❤ love this channel

[@susangenry6497]

Love that and I use Lavender one. Smells wonderful.

[@Charlie-cz3jh]

Great info. Thank you😃

[@grams5580461]

I use this all the time for getting out the crease marks in my fabrics. I can only use the unscented because of allergies, but I do think it is a good product.

[@debraholmes6290]

Love the Fresh Linen scent but my favorite Best Press scent is Peaches & Cream! Also seems to work better giving a more even spread when used in my misting bottle.

[@GlynnHogan-dy3ox]

Hello. Thank you for the video; it was very, very helpful. However, I do have one question. If you use Best Press on each piece before you sew the pieces together, should you use Best Press again, once the block is completed, spraying it over the entire block? Thank you.

[@joyfullyjustine]

Thanks for sharing!

[@lw7967]

I Love Mary Ellen's too but I usually just make my own with liquid starch because I use so much of it. A great heavy starch is 1 part Best Press to 3 parts liquid starch. Especially if you are doing triangles! Be very careful if you make homemade starch from cornstarch or flour. Bugs love to eat it & they do not care if they chew your cotton at the same time. Be sure to wash a quilt as soon as it is done. The store bought liquid starch also has cornstarch in it but the bugs do not like the extra chemicals that are also in there.

[@nancybrinkman4660]

Love Best Press - it does NOT activate my asthma when I use it. I accidentally sprayed too much at an open sew day so I let everyone know it was on the ironing board in case anyone else needed some starch. One of my quilt buddies ran over to ironing board to quickly press one of her blocks. It worked great. We all use it and there is usually a bottle at the ironing board all the time. Does not gum up the iron either.

[@nancyguss6739]

I love the quilt behind you. I love Best Press

[@AllisonNorris13]

This is great! Thank you ☮️💜

[@Kdcaswell]

I use best press but add water to it. Makes it a bit lighter starchy but that is perfect for me

[@erica_arndt]

I've had a few people say that! I might try it, plus it will make the Best Press last longer too!

[@cyndipryce9323]

I just made that mistake. I cut my whole jelly roll and then starched and everything was off. Oh well. Life lesson learned. I'm a very new quilter and I learned something. I'm gonna finish it anyway...... mistakes and all. Lol

[@rebeccamulkern1051]

I did the same when I first started, had a beautiful layer cake, starched some fabric and when it dried it wasn't same size as the unstarched ones, I was gutted as I had to reconfigure my quilt,so since that incident I vowed never to starch again. But this video made me want to try again, especially as the starch I used was a heavy duty spray one, so thanks Erica 💕

[@gayledebuhr8755]

When you press after using best press starch do you use steam? Or a dry iron? Thanks please reply, Gayle

[@erica_arndt]

I don't use steam anymore, the best press is fine, then I just dry iron after that.

[@joannelimoges1742]

Thank you for that help. What iron are you using that you leave laying down?

[@erica_arndt]

It's the Oliso Pro Smart, I love it!

[@Fattiapples]

Do we have to worry about the best press getting on our iron or pressing mat? Will it gunk up? Do I need to have a designated press mat when starching my fabric?

[@kathykumler1542]

Liked ur video! Good information! Can I ask where ur at that it’s cold as ur wearing a sweatshirt? It’s been so hot and humid here in Illinois!

[@erica_arndt]

It's cold here too. I filmed this a big ago, it just kept getting pushed out! :)

[@PatsyB]

l have both of these. Fat quarter shop had them in their daily deals.

[@ksn112r]

I used to use Magic Sizing years ago when I first started. When Mary Ellen's Best Pressed came out, I started using it, and I do love it! However, I've kinda gotten away from using it, but this tutorial has reopened my eyes to why I used it in the first place! Thanks so much...gonna go get mine out now. Question: when pressing your block, do you use steam or no steam? When I started years ago, the thinking was that steam stretched the fabric, but have been seeing some use steam. I'm a bit confused!

[@erica_arndt]

Hi, I don't use steam anymore. The Oliso is heavy enough on its own, and then if I have something that has a crease or needs extra help, I'll use the Best Press.

[@teresayoung4209]

The pink fabric your using for demo is soooo hard to find. It looks like it’s from Lori Holts Bake Sale collection. I’m currently working on the Let’s Bake quilt and it took me a long time to find this for sale. After months of google searching I finally found it. Hang onto whatever you have! Lol

[@eduardachi2571]

I LOVE BEST press its all i use i find it very expensive in canada any advice on what else i can use

[@erica_arndt]

Hi, check out my blog post I have a few other ideas, including a homemade recipe that's really easy! www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2022/07/how-to-starch-fabric-mary-ellens-best-press-tutorial.html

[@jackielin3838]

Hi Erica, do you use the steam function of your Oliso iron? If yes, can you please share how you clean the water chamber which I find difficult to clean. Thanks!

[@erica_arndt]

Hi, I don't use it very often because if ind the oliso heavy enough that I don't need to steam. But if you do, just empty the water reservoir when you're done sewing for the day. Do not leave the water in the iron overnight, or you'll get the brown gunk that spews out next time you use it. That goes for ALL irons though, not just Oliso.

[@jackielin3838]

@@erica_arndt Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my question! You are one of my favorite quilting KZbinrs 😊

[@ginamaria2579]

I have a question, wanting to stiffen some curtains to use as tie up shades and my material is flimsy can I use starch and not press???

[@erica_arndt]

You can use starch, but you'll still want to press it after it dries.

[@wfm5121954]

I have heard the term “sizing” a fabric to prepare it for whatever the project may be. I think it means stabilizing the fabric so it does not shrink after being washed. Can you provide any other information about stabilizing fabric? Is it the same as starching the fabric?

[@erica_arndt]

Starch is used to stiffen fabrics such as shirt collars and cuffs, while sizing is used to add body, “crispness” and “hand” to garments.

[@frickmom]

Actually, Mary Ellen's is sizing, not starch. It's great to give the fabric more body as Erica mentions. And bugs aren't attracted to it like they are to starch which is food for them.

[@maggieguidry556]

Do you iron with steam on or off?

[@erica_arndt]

You can do either, but I usually do steam off so it dries faster. My Laurastar iron has dry steam, so you can do it with steam and it dries really fast!

[@taraweeks8758]

Can you cut first then use Mary Ellen’s ?

[@erica_arndt]

You can do either way! Cut first then spray, or spray then cut. It doesn't shrink your fabric so it doesn't matter. I often will cut first, then spray.

[@taraweeks8758]

Thank you! This helps so much!

[@delwyngraham4033]

I just thought you use the starch when you finished your block, so your saying do before you cut is best?

[@erica_arndt]

It's usually better to do it before you cut your pieces, but I've done it after I cut them, and I've sprayed the finished block too! The Best Press isn't a heavy starch, it's technically a sizing spray, so it just gives body to the fabric but doesn't shrink it like a heavy starch will.

[@lisafreeman9240]

Thanks for this great info Erica! I sure appreciate you and your content!! 😊 This video brought up a question. Is the fabric your demonstrating on in this video pre-washed? Do you personally bother pre-washing your fabric? Thanks!!

[@patsydabney6556]

I was wondering the same thing. Do you prewash the fabric before you make quilt?

[@erica_arndt]

Hi, I do NOT Pre-wash my fabric :)

[@stacysfarmhouselife5845]

Should you starch your fabric when you hand Appliqué?

[@erica_arndt]

You definitely can especially if you are doing raw edge appliqué. If you're doing the sew and turn method you don't need to starch.

[@UsernameUnkwn21]

I'm just to opposite.. I don't like the lavender Best Press but luv the blue 1..

[@reneesmith2665]

Does that Best Press stain your iron board?

[@erica_arndt]

So far it hasn't stained it :)

[@kathyrackow880]

I use the unscented Best Press. It worked Great on Your Quilty Christmas Ornaments I Made Last Year. I didn't know that you should spray on both sides. Does It Make A Big Difference if I Only spray on one side And iron?

[@donnahillen9500]

Is it safe to starch anything for baby’s?

[@erica_arndt]

Yes, but I would wash it before using.

[@wfm5121954]

I notice that it says “sizing” on the front of the bottle.

[@frickmom]

Yes it is sizing, not starch.

[@lindawhitlow8892]

I prefer the linen scent to any of the others. Lavender puts me to sleep.

[@cathyparnellvance6474]

I’m allergic to Mary Ellen’s best press. It made me wonder what is in it and that info is not to be found anyplace. I also wonder what if anything it can be doing to fabric. Just my personal preference that I like to know what I’m using on and in my quilts.

[@jacquelynmolnar4608]

I sprayed my fabric with best press and let it dry and now it has brown spots on it.

[@erica_arndt]

I've only had that happen once, and it was because my iron was too hot. Did you press it, or did they it leave a spot from it getting wet?

[@kathyterrell1547]

I watched a lady on KZbin who said not to use Mary Ellen's starch on a wool mat. Do you know why?

[@erica_arndt]

I'm not sure, I believe you can use it, but some people say the wool mats get smelly when they get damp :)

[@nlenards]

I just ruined many blocks due to this issue. I didn't know I couldn't use Mary Ellen's BP and was spraying the pieces on the wool mat. Well, it eventually starting scorching the fabric and turning it brown. There was brown all over the wool mat. Then I noticed others on a forum saying you can't put starch or anything on the wool mat. I think there may be a wool mat that allows this but most of them sold will scorch.

[@kathyterrell1547]

@@nlenards Wow, now I know! Sorry about the hard lesson for you, but I will definitely remember why!

[@angelkr762]

Lovely video! We have missed the videos with ur daughter. Could you do some hair videos again ? Dying and cutting hair at home?❤️ Like and respond pls..❤️