What happens if I STARCH my fabric?

Have you ever wondered ic starch or steam causes your fabric to shrink? Well, it does, and in this video I’m going to demonstrate the effects that steam, flatter, and best press all have on fabric by using a few pieces from the same charm pack and pressing with those pressing aids. Join me in this video to see just how much shrinkage we have, and which of those pressing aids at the most body.
💻Links to things I mentioned in the Video:
❓What do I use? (in alphabetical order)
➝ Comic book boards: amzn.to/3OvupCt
➝ Cordless iron: amzn.to/3zyoAA3
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➝ Overhead & Machine cameras: amzn.to/3HfjBYd
➝ Project containers: amzn.to/3S42DAc
➝ Sewing cabinet: I use: Quilter’s Vision Sewing Cabinet
➝ Sewing machine: jukijunkies.com/product/juki-...
➝ Shelves: www.ikea.com/us/en/p/billy-bo...
➝ Starch pen: shrsl.com/408fy
➝ Wool mat: amzn.to/3z7WkD0
💌How to Find Me
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[@connieking9873]

I think this was one of the best videos. It gives us so much information. Love the visual. Thanks

[@sewbecca]

Thank you!!!

[@maryequilter31]

The Acorn products are truly game changers! If you think you have a flat seam, try this product on a flat seam and see the difference! Love it.

[@virginiareitz7949]

I have had patterns say if starching the fabric that it needs to be done before cutting. Makes since that you would not starch a precut if you need the whole amount. Thanks for the reminder.

[@marlenehinton5749]

I’ve heard people comment before that wetting fabric after it’s been cut to to size shrinks. But I’ve never seen it before. Thank you so much for showing this for us.

[@sewbecca]

You're welcome!

[@hollycaron3567]

Your middle school science project get an "A" great demo.

[@giovannacasadio9600]

I have been a seamstress for the last 38 years, and I have always WASHED cotton fabric before cutting it for clothing, I said wash because with soap, you get more shrinkage than with plan water. I just watched to give a bit of my experience. Great video love them. ❤️

[@sewbecca]

If I were making clothing, I would prewash entirely

[@tearose3763]

Loved your demonstration! I hope sewists learn to starch the bulk fabric before cutting. I have this pen..lol haven’t used it yet

[@shelleyclark4759]

Could be a difference in the fabric manufacturer as far as the amount of shrinkage. It would be interesting to see the same fabric with different sprays. Moisture definitely does cause shrinkage. So it’s a good demonstration to show that problem. Whether it is a full 1/8” or not, it still shrinks.

[@sewbecca]

This was the same fabric - it was all from the same charm pack from Moda.

[@dorisdunn9845]

I agree, I think the fabric color, collection should all be the same, but it’s a good idea.

[@peggersf9709]

👋👋 I starch everything, it’s a game changer. For the most part I use stay flo starch. I rarely by precuts except fat quarters. I do use the pen 👍🏻👍🏻. Thanks Becca

[@paulatharp5457]

@peggersf9709 I have recently learned that the company that makes Sta-Flo is discontinuing it. Better stock up if you find any more. It is already getting hard to find!

[@peggersf9709]

@@paulatharp5457 I’ve heard that 🥺. It’s always that way when you find something ya like. Oh well 🤷🏼 Happy quilting Paula

[@MarkCampbell553]

I found this to be true even with the fabric pens with starch in them.

[@bella-bee]

I’ve watched the lady on fat quarter shop starch her fabric before use, and her 10”squares went down to 9.5” wide, by 10”. So yes, quite a lot, and it’s the width that shrink. And I wouldn’t spray stuff onto my wool pressing mat ! To tell which way it will shrink once you’ve cut off the selvedges, stretch ever so gently. The long grain, parallel to the selvedge doesn’t stretch, but the cross grain does stretch.

[@paulatharp5457]

Thank you for this comparison video, Becca! Very informative! I know a lot of ladies use Sta-Flo liquid starch and I have recently learned that the company has decided to discontinue making Sta-Flo. If anyone used that brand, you might want to stock up if you can still find it.

[@sewbecca]

I heard that as well!

[@Joyti1517]

Great demo and explanation Becca

[@person2463]

I recall you doing this before. But this is very definitive on the effects of moisture/steam and unsearchable fabrics, thanks. Hugs, Chel 🌸

[@juliehertel21]

Thank you much for this video! Great education experiment. Iwas told by a fabric manufacturer years ago that machine board winding tends to stretch the fabric, even if only slightly. So makes sense that moisture would let fabric return to less stretched state. I still like pre-washing (if precuts, I just hand wash lightly), then allowing air drying (for precuts or small yardage cuts), then starch and press. Yes, have to trim precuts to size after, but I prefer the shrinkage to occur before I ,piece. And if I work on the diagonal, the starching seems to help keep the shape.

[@kristenlauster3746]

Thank you for showing this. Now that precuts are so much more popular, this information will help so many with the accuracy that is so very important in quilting. Great video!!! You have helped so many!! I too, love my Acorn pressing pen and use it all the time, especially for paper piecing, just be sure that the paper has dried completely if you are a little heavy handed with the pen.

[@aNewYorkBeauty]

My lesson learned for the day!

[@sewbecca]

It's always great to learn something new every day!

[@joybey8979]

Great demonstration! Thank you 😊

[@sewbecca]

You are so welcome!

[@joycecrosby4000]

Becca thanks so much for this video. I used to only use Best Press and recently switched to Flatter. A quilt shop owner once told me that Flatter was a better wrinkle remover. I was surprised that the Flatter had more shrinkage. I really want to invest in the starch pen. I have some Foundation Paper Piecing patterns that the pen would be great to use.

[@jackie-dbdstitchart4969]

Love the comparisons!

[@sewbecca]

Awesome that you're digging the comparisons!

[@janehollingsworth8108]

What an interesting, scientific comparison! Thank you for clear explanation of details.

[@sewbecca]

Who knew science could be so fun, right?

[@dorotheakominos1313]

Thank you for doing this demonstration. No starch for precuts for me. But I do starch fat quarters or yardage with best press.

[@sewbecca]

Same! Though, if I have a pre-cut package that needs to be cut smaller than what what the package is, I won't hesitate to grab some starch. :)

[@catherineandrews8244]

Great demo! I am not a starcher, but heading now to get a few acorn pens. Thanks again Becca

[@sewbecca]

You are so welcome!

[@coastalsands]

Great demo, game changer for my next quilting projects, diamond shaped.

[@sewbecca]

Glad it was helpful!

[@peachycheeks4394]

Great advice!!

[@rhondahallet8413]

I love tutorials like this. They answer the question and demonstrated the results. Excellent!

[@laurag8641]

That was fun! Thank you for sharing!!

[@peggybinette8605]

Helpful, interesting and smart content. Keep up the good work. So appreciated!

[@helenpeddycord2241]

Thanks Becca! Great demo and info

[@sewbecca]

You are so welcome!

[@lindaprice9242]

Thanks for the video!!

[@louisemcroke6715]

Thanks, Becca! Great video!

[@sewbecca]

You're so welcome!

[@s.a.whirley4559]

Love this test it was very helpful. Thank you!

[@alexandra-zaza-burns]

I was shocked just how much a block will shrink but not in both directions. Even steam will shrink fabric. I like to steam press so I always do it before I cut. If it’s a pre cut and I have to dry iron it always feels weird to me.

[@sewbecca]

Fabric shrinkage is like a magic trick - now you see it, now you don't!

[@rosannestandish1862]

Thank you for a great explanation and also on the wool pressing pad @

[@sewbecca]

Glad it was helpful!

[@robinmarie5180]

A wool mat distributes heat where an ironing board does not. You will get more shrinkage on an ironing board. Excellent video Becca

[@sewbecca]

Oof, I got 1/8" on a wool pressing mat - I hate to see what happens on the ironing board!

[@robinmarie5180]

@@sewbecca I've had up to 3/16".

[@FlickiChicki]

@@sewbeccaI don’t get any shrinkage on the wool mat if I keep my Oliso on 2 dots. If I go to 3 dots, even dry will shrink fabric.

[@jennystrahley927]

Great video and demonstration, Becca! Just a couple of days ago I searched your channel for the starch pen that I've seen you use on your videos. I found the video you made 3 years ago about this topic and it was helpful, but this recent video was terrific and so timely with current links. Thanks so much!

[@PiNkSpRinkLe1]

Yes

[@donnarichey144]

Wow! Amazing! Thanks for showing this? I wonder how the regular starch would do. I use that.

[@sewbecca]

Give it a shot and see if it gives you the same results. Cheers!

[@judyhammack6310]

I enjoyed watching this video. I am quite particular about my fabric as I wash all fabrics when I get them home and starch. Just something I love to do. I love sewing with starched pieces. If I am working on something with precut I might not starch unless it is something I can work with that does not require the exact measurement. Thanks for sharing. Will be watching more of your videos! Take care and God bless!❤

[@Sara.Stitches]

Great Video Becca I use Faultless and I starch heavy (Kimberly Jolly )and let dry in the Sun I wonder if it is less shrinkage because it’s not being hit within an iron, it’s being dried with the sun I did some Lori Holt Vegas strips before my surgery? I’m gonna get them out after dinner and check the sizing on them👏

[@tearose3763]

The fabric does have something like sizing on it doesnt it? Like whatever the chemicals are we wash off our clothing when we buy it…i wonder what that is…i do notice that some fabrics shrink more than others. Thank you for your demo! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@sewbecca]

It does, but my understanding is the chemicals that are placed on fabric aren't sizing/starch - it's more chemicals to help prevent fading/etc.

[@brendamartin8278]

I found this out the hard way! I starched an entire charm pack from a well known manufacturer, only to find each charm shrunk as much as a 1/2” in one direction! Seriously, 1/2”! I only used 40 of the 42, so measured the two remaining that didn’t get starched and those two were still 5” square. Lesson learned and I won’t do that again!

[@jeane.2722]

Thanks.

[@sewbecca]

You're welcome, but thank YOU for watching my videos!

[@lynniereeves2607]

Great video!

[@sewbecca]

Thanks!

[@sewbecca]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@MartyLawless-kh2jd]

I will starch jelly roll strips because the shrinkage doesn't affect the 2.5" width measurement.

[@sewbecca]

I'll starch Jelly Roll strips, too! Starch those strips like a boss and keep them in line even if they try to shrink away!

[@monataylor2600]

I have a question. What’s the secret to accurate stitch and flip corners? They are my nemesis. I try drawing the line, stitching on the line, slightly (one thread) right of the line, diagonal seam tape and Doug Leko’s corner angle ruler … and mine are still wonky.

[@sewbecca]

Draw the line, stitch next to the line and then flip. I demonstrate how I "test" my stitch & flips in several videos - most recently, I think the 'Pieceful Baskets' tutorials I did for block 1 and perhaps block 2 (though, I'm pretty sure Block 1 has it) demonstrates this!

[@monataylor2600]

Was the best press on a batik vs a woven? Nice job matching colors to spray!

[@sewbecca]

All fabrics were from the *same* Moda charm pack - it was just a regular quilting cotton, not batik.

[@bethkoch11]

When I was newer to quilting, I decided to starch my pieces after I cut them and before I sewed. Big mistake, and I'll never do that again! I have to say, I'm not a big fan of starch, but the Acorn pen is wonderful! If you want to wrestle those seams into submission, it works wonders!

[@colegoodwin4010]

Science!!

[@corinnehartrick6339]

Thank you Becca, I really appreciate everything you teach. Also can you tell me what Juki sewing machine you have and I saw one that Kimberly was using at her home. Looks like it might have been a computer one.

[@sewbecca]

Hi! I sew on a Juki TL-18

[@MonaDidWhat]

Interesting

[@sewbecca]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@cheryllittmann1670]

So isn’t it better to starch before you cut?

[@sewbecca]

Yes!

[@rebeccacraft3043]

I starch all my fabrics before cutting. Manufacturers do put a sizing in it to keep it neat on a bolt. If you cut straight from a bolt it shouldn't shrink but to get those creases out we usually have to starch. If I wash fabric for some reason, then it loses its crispness( flat). Then, needs starched n pressed. Good rule of thumb starch all in a project or starch none of the project.

[@vickybush9889]

Hi

[@sewbecca]

Hey there Vicky!

[@sandycampbell6087]

What happens if using steam only; wouldn’t that shrink fabric?

[@sewbecca]

I believe steam will cause shrinking, too - but you could test this for yourself!

[@MartyLawless-kh2jd]

When I spray starch fabric, I worry about getting a consistent amount evenly on the whole piece unless I saturate it. Suggestions?

[@sewbecca]

Well...I'm solidly in the 'I saturate it' camp, LOL

[@FlickiChicki]

I’ve never had a problem pressing Moda/Free Spirit with Best Press/water anymore than with high heat. Now, the evil AGF, that shrinks if you breathe on it. Well, it falls apart anyway.

[@sewbecca]

The charm pack I used in this video was Moda! :) Beware - even Moda shrinks!

[@FlickiChicki]

@@sewbecca I use a lot of Moda and have had shrinking until washing. But more recently, especially with getting into thrifted fabric, I prewash everything so shrinkage is a nonissue.

[@karenbrunette6314]

Try a block made without the starch pen and then another block using starch pen to see if any shrinkage by just doing starch on seams only inquiring minds want to know 😂😂

[@YomeidaGarza-ku4dx]

I was n strach e ery piece of frabi e i have