I make mine with 1 part vodka (cheapest I can find) and 3 or 4 parts of water. Work well, keeps forever and no refrigeration required.

You are the most resourceful quilter! Love your willingness to try new things that solve common problems. It’s like survival training for quilters! 😁

I’m literally pressing fabric with home made starch at this very moment. I’m a theatrical scenic painter, and I have a lot to say about starching fabric with home cooked corn starch. We use starch as a first layer on all of our painted backdrops. Our backdrops are MASSIVE, usually about twenty-five feet tall and fifty feet wide. At this point in my career, I joke that I’ve probably covered an area the size of Rhode Island with starch. If you make one change to your approach, I can promise you won’t have separation or white spots. Once you’ve dissolved your starch into water, and you’ve boiled your water, you should heat the starch mixture - stirring constantly - until the starch changes from looking milky white to a having a more translucent appearance. This should take just a few minutes. At my job, we cook starch in huge stockpots, but you could probably accomplish the same effect by dissolving your starch in really hot water, and then mixing the boiling water in slowly. If you combine the starch and the boiling water all at once, you’ll get terrible lumps. Let your starch cool, and if it’s too gelatinous, add more hot water. Then strain it through some kind of little tea strainer or small sieve held over your funnel, to remove any lumps. We do this on a huge scale. We spray with garden sprayers, and take off our shoes and walk on top of our backdrops when we starch and paint them. (You should see the sorry state of my work socks.) I should also mention that I worked at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival a million years ago, so I particularly love listening to the music in your voice. Thanks so much for the videos. Your channel is such a joy.

Thanks so much for the shout out! So glad my starch recipe is helping so many quilters. And thanks to @arteastquiltingco for sending me your video! Happy stitching

This is so fun! I grew up in an era where clothes were starched and put in the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight before ironing. I, too, have made spray starch but never had a problem with it going bad……..but there again I used it every single day and it probably didn’t have a chance to go bad. This was at a time when I was counting every single penny we had but praise Jesus He provided all that we needed and more! Keep up the great work!!! You are so awesome!

Thank you for this. We lost my 99 year old grandmother last summer. She made her own starch and ironed every Saturday. She ironed her sheets!! I remember wanting so bad to be old enough to help her, but by the time I was old enough, I didn’t want to help. I plan to make up a batch. There is no smell like hot, starched clothes! Thanks for the memories!

Another delightful portion of my day spent listening to your lovely lyrical voice and your cheeky sense of humour, you’re a joy, you really are!

I Love watching my kettle too! The bubbles rolling around in the blue light is mesmerizing!

Oh that was fabulous. I laughed out loud with the “It might feel like stirring glue because it’s glue” line. 🤣💕 I want to be serious for a moment and pitch a reason why making starch could be “easier” than buying it for some people. Not everyone is close to a store. The store might not be open. Not everyone has public transportation. Not everyone has a car. Not everyone has the mental health capacity to spur of the moment “go” or “just drive” because of anxiety, depression, and other hidden mental health issues. Having an option to at home to make starch can allow people to keep doing meaningful making in a quiet, peaceful way. 💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕. Also … team blue kettle. I don’t have the newer clear model but I do have a blue light and I love pre dawn tea. The blue light is a beacon of comfort. Thank you as always for sharing. 💕💕💕

Thank you! As always your videos are super helpful and enjoyable to watch. Keep them coming!

Yes! Thank you for the recipe🤗

Thank you for sharing this! My lavender smells good too!

Great video. So many great comments as well. 1) I agree with a comment about adding some alcohol to the mix but I would not go as far as 1:1 with the water. rather cut it back to 1:4 alcohol/water, testing out until you find where you don't have to refrigerate but use the least amount of alcohol. As for adding EO.... When I am making medicinal products, I use a 1-3% dilution which means about 6-12 drops per ounce. In this case you are using it for scent. I would cut it back to about 1-3 drps/ounce if it is too strong, cut it back more. If you use to much it can be way to strong for anyone to use. And lastly, I noticed in comments there was some confusion with this spray starch recipe with a basting spray. So to be clear. Spray starch is with Cornstarch. Basting spray is with Flour and Salt. Different chemistry...but both are great options. Thank you for shring...loved the video. Hope my comments are helpful.

Well, its much funner to diy anything so kudos to you! Ty for sharing

Thank you. Great info❤

Ooooh, Cathy, thanks, this was so interesting. And, from one lover of blue lighting (in any capacity) to another, I totally understand the fascination with the new boiler! I'm just so glad I found your site!

Great video. I have the same kettle and I also enjoy watching water boil

This is a wonderful, environmentally friendly, pocketbook friendly, and most importantly, lung and skin friendly option. I am allergic to store bought spray starches and they make my hands break out with dermatitis, even the scent free ones. The scented ones make my lungs feel like they are closing up on me and make my heart race. Its not good to breathe those fumes in! This is the smart alternative. ❤️

Thank you! I have always bought starch, but I might try this. You are helpful as always!

Love this diy! Thanks! ❤

Wow, Cathy. I have the same glowing blue kettle! Love it. Interesting video today. Fine mist spray--check.

What a great option. So useful in a starch emergency, or for those who live remotely (if not for those who prefer non-chemical options, or budget-conscious options). I’ve seen recipes that call for a titch of vodka as a preservative as well.

Just what I needed today as I was looking for quilting starch recommendations. Luckily I’m subscribed to your channel and this popped up. Thank you 🙏

❤ less toxic too, great I’m going to try this saves penny’s to pay for shirts. Thanks for sharing xx

Thank you so much! I'm going to try this spraystarch

Cathy, thank you. I'm new to quilting and during my learning came across so many videos made by people who heavily starched all their fabric. I just didn't understand. They didn't explain the why and how of it and I certainly didn't want to spend money on something I might not get along with. You answered all my questions about starching for quilting and gave me an affordable option. In hindsight the reason starching didn't make sense to me was that I used batiks on my first quilt. Batik still has residual wax in the fabric and definitely doesn't need starching. As always it's been an absolute pleasure watching you and learning from you. Thank you 🇬🇧

Another great video - I haven't used starch before but after using some shirt linen in a recent quilt I can see why it might be better! Going to have to give it a go. The environmental gains of just refilling a bottle, compared to buying another aerosol must be massive too 😊😊

Like others have commented, I love your ideas and resourcefulness. And I too, was thinking that the fabric would make a great pattern - it looks like a galaxy!

I also recently bought a clear glass kettle - with a blue light. I thought I was a bit odd because that kettle makes me happy. So glad to hear you make that comment about your kettle!

Good to know for reference and sounds like a cost-saving starch for those who use a lot. I have never gotten into regular use of starch of any kind but do keep a Best Press bottle. It is light and handy if pressing fold lines of fat quarters prior to cutting. Must say when quilters show piecing with starch, they always look perfect.

I don’t usually pre wash my fabric but I did pre wash the fabric of my latest project because the manufacturer highly recommends. Anywho, after washing, of course it needed ironed and I stated using Best Press for the first time. It was fine, had a pleasant smell but I had 9 yards of fabric to iron and my bottle of Best Press was almost gone by the time I was done. This will be so much more economical! Thanks!

Interesting - thank you for sharing.

Love your videos! Thanks

Thank you so much for this great tip !!! :)

Love the Irish Chain quilt behind you 🥰 Thanks for sharing the recipe 👍 I rarely use starch so I’m wondering if I should start 🤔🇬🇧

This is amazing! Thanks 😊

Hi Cathy! Great video as usual! I don't think I'll be making my own starch though. I buy mine by the gallon and refill my spray bottle as needed. Pretty sure if I had to keep it in the fridge it would drive me crazy! The fridge is WAY too far from my sewing room. And I know I would never remember to bring it up stairs with me in the first place! But if I ever run out of starch, and need some in a hurry, I will remember this video! Thanks for the info! Blue Christmas lights are my favorite! ❤

Thank you so much. I really enjoyed your video.

Love the experiment and sharing of the reality of using the starch. I used diluted starch with a mister with no spots or spoilage. About a tablespoon of the liquid product goes a long way!

I had to laugh, because several years ago I had a water kettle similar to yours with a blue light, and I also loved watching it boil!! Then I got a bright red electric water heater, and then a ceramic flowered one, so I don't have the blue light to watch any more! 😆

An A moment. Thanks so much 😊

Great Video!

Just made a batch tonight. Sprayed half of the fabric with the corn starch solution and half of the fabric with a commercial brand called faultless spray starch The corn starch version definitely I could feel a difference. The material was crispy and the other commercial brand it was almost as if I didn’t spray anything on the fabric. I definitely did wait until it was 95% dry and it was not done on dark fabric so that’ll be my next test

My grandmother ironed a sharp crease in everything. I remember her making starch in the kitchen. It probably was corn starch. She would spray the fabric, roll it up and store the fabric she planned to iron the next day in the refrigerator! I never knew why...now we know it was probably this or a similar recipe. Thank you for taking your time and sharing with us. 🇺🇸

Thank you !

Team Electric Kettle all the way, though mine does not have a pretty blue light. It's still a life saver! Tea, coffee, dried soup mixes, single-serve pasta, more tea, instant oatmeal, EVEN MORE TEA... is there anything it can't do? Made my coffee to drink with this video using it. And they make great gifts. In fact, I feel similarly about cornstarch for cooking and crafting (maybe not the gift part...), but I didn't know to use it like this. Woo!

Thank you, Cathy... I'm going to give it a go. For me, this recipe is so much less of a chemical hazard. I use an aerosol spray starch but put on goggles, and something heavy around my nose and mouth.. If anyone ever saw me🙄😂😂😜

This is good information for those of us who are sensitive to scents and have to be careful with the store-bought options. As a note, if you are making a quilt for someone and you use essential oils to scent your starch, you may want to check with them on their ability to handle the scent, which may not wash out as well as you think if your recipient is sensitive. Scent allergies and sensitivities are often overlooked in our society. Thanks for the information!

😂 I don’t know if I’ll make the effort to try this but it’s good to have an option. And I always enjoy learning from you. 😁Love the quilt on the wall behind you!

You are not alone with the blue light on the tea kettles. 😁 I use vodka and water with wild orange essential oil for my starch.

I've been waiting since you mentioned your home starch for this video! I knew you would share it. I made some of my own starch from a recipe that I believe was called moonshine starch. It started with liquid starch - also much less expensive than aerosols, but not as cheap as corn starch. Anyway I have to search out the recipe but it had some vodka in it. I believe that was partially as a preservative as the comment below with the citric acid. I'm going to try some and I'll let you know. Maybe I'll leave some in a jar in my sewing room and see if/when it goes bad just for science! Thank you!

Love your humor😂

I very seldom use starch but this was very interesting. Will write the recipe down for when...

THank you very much, i have just tried starch for the first time and my £3.00 can lasted about 2 minutes, so, thanks to you i have just been out to get corn flour (as we call it here in UK) and a spraybottle... you watch your kettle boil, im watching my starch cool 😂

I second this method. Light-colored fabrics scorch more easily, so turn the heat down to medium-high.

Great recipe! I might try scaling it down to a fraction of the quantity you made. To prevent it from turning into a sourdough starter, I wonder if we could add something like citric acid powder without ruining our fabric? It's a cheap powder preservative that I buy in the health food section of the grocery store. I add it to homemade cheese to help with curdling as well as to homemade bread to extend its freshness. My friend uses it for homegrown bean sprouts and microgreens. I'll have to Google it and go down that rabbit hole myself! Thanks!

Hi from 🇬🇧, love ur videos. It can be hard to buy starch in the uk as it’s not really used, supermarkets don’t sell it have to use Amazon. If it rots will it not rot in your fabric

We have all of our married life used a Paul Revere tea kettle until.....my husband filled it and turned it on at night and left it on! In the morning I wondered how he had started the kettle while still in bed. And I did start to pick it up but quickly dropped it. We now have an electric tea kettle like yours and also love.........and feel safer as it just turns itself off!

Looking forward to trying this very soon. I went through a whole bottle of spray starch today while cutting shirts for a quilt I am making, and finally thought, "Hmmm, what am I breathing in?..."

Did not know this. WOW 🤯. As for attracting pest, use an essential oil that pests don’t like. I know citrus or peppermint would repel some pests. Thanks for another great video.

Love Bobbie aka Geeky Bobbin! Also, have you ever tried Acorn products?? They make a pressing spray that is to die for. I use it to prep my fabric and on every seam I press to get things flat.

I’ve been making my own starch too, similar to what you have done, but one small addition. I haven’t tried adding essential oil, but I have added some rubbing alcohol to retard spoilage. My spray bottle of starch hasn’t spoiled even though it’s stored at room temperature. The fumes aren’t great, but I think I added too much the first time. I will start measuring my ingredients to see how little I can use. I ended up adding more water & it doesn’t have the alcohol fumes now. I will be adding a drop of lavender essential oil too. Thanks for your tips & tricks.

I found a recipe using (inexpensive potato based) vodka and water. I don't need to refrigerate or empty my spray bottle, which is definitely the right path for me (I'll often get interrupted and not get back to my sewing room for days)! It's probably more expensive than your recipe, but definitely much less expensive than the commercial options.

Oh you made this video so quick! Thank you, Cat :) This looks a lot like the homemade basting spray, you just use less corn starch The basting spray is made more long lasting by adding some rubbing alcohole (or vodka will do just as good) when it is cooled. Might help for the durability of the spray starch as well to substitute 1 cup of water with one cup of alcohole?

I make one that is similar but I add 1/2 cup of vodka (it makes it last better ) and I don't have lavender so I use a drop or 2 of my fav perfume. And my sewing smells like me!

Hey friend! Do you ever have trouble with the stored (refrigerated ) spray starch stopping up the sprayer? I have that trouble sometimes if I have used a commercial spray can but didn’t empty the can. When I return to use it the nozzle is stopped up. I have been looking for a good recipe for home made spray starch. Thank you for this!

That slurry can thicken your gravey. Gluten free 😊

I’m wondering if the mix can be frozen. I’m going to give that a try. Thanks Kathy!

This reminds me of many years ago when my mother made her own starch! She would starch the shirts and put them in the refrigerator overnight, then iron them the next day! Have you tried using one of the newer type mister bottles? I wonder if they would work better on the dark fabrics!?!?

Nice to know, if needed. Its ashame that it spoils. I always like diy solutions i.e. vinegar water & newspaper on my windows. But for my ironing needs im going to stick with the store bought can that doesn't spoil for now.

I use my electric kettle a lot!

Loved this tip Cathy. Quick question, do you use a dry iron after you starch? Have a great day.

I make my own best press. I go into Walmart and buy the cheapest bottle of vodka I can find. Then I poured it into a spray bottle about a third of the way full and I put a splash of that liquid starch you can buy in the jug at Walmart can’t remember the name now. And then I fill the rest up with water and put a few drops of essential oil in it and it is exactly like the, best price you spend a lot of money for in the quilting store.

This is great information! However I have a big bottle of Sta Flo starch. I put it with water in a spray bottle. It will last forever..... So, I guess I won't be using this recipe.

I'm working on my first ever quilt project (with shirts from the thrift store!). I've noticed many pieces are noticeably warped, maybe from the washing & drying process. I'm not sure how to get the fabric back to a neutral position so I can spray starch it in a non-stretched or warped state. Do you bother about this, or just let it be warped? Thanks!

I wonder if some of the water were replaced with vodka if it would last longer, or perhaps not be so prone to molding or becoming putrid.

If it smells because it rots like food what about after you spray it on your fabric?

I am curious, if the spray starch spoils from air exposure, have you ever had any issues on your cloth you have sprayed after time if you don’t get it washed soon?

Do you always wash your finished quilts before using or gifting. Then? Do you like the crinkly look?

It happened to me just started quilting made the same recipe and in south africa it can be hot. Used it went to quilt class sprayed my material and ironed, the stench was so bad we had to open all the windows and I needed new material so the it could be washed. Never been so embarrassed.

Do you have to wash it out of the quilt afterwards too? I'm afraid that it may go bad and ruin the quilt

I can watch sprinklers sprinkle all day. and watch the washing machine agitate. I'm sure there is a name for this compulsion. :) 😀

Thank you for this recipe. I pay minimum $6.00 for spray starch…if I can find it! 🇨🇦 I am wondering if you have a recipe for spray adhesive for sandwiching the layers?

I have to remain with stay-flo, does not have to be refrigerated.

Have you tried the vodka recipe?

I'll bet I know the reason to let the water cool before adding the essential oil. If you add the oil to the hot water, the heat will cause more of the scent/oil to evaporate before you can use it. Also, I'm betting you can extend the life a bit more by using a bacteria-retarding essential oil like clove or thyme.

Far further then two weeks …such a wild woman …hee hee…you crack me up!

I cook my starch in a pan all the way so it won't separate. It goes clear and gloopy. It'll still flake when you iron it, but if you saturate the fabric and air dry you don't get flaking and it'll stiffen up like cardstock on a quilting cotton. I did this for a bargello that I set aside as a UFO for at least seven years before picking it back up and finishing it yesterday. I didn't have any trouble with bugs, but I also don't have much trouble with anything but ants invading the kitchen anyway. I had the fabric spooled up on a cardboard tube for years and it came out just as crisp as when I put it away. I didn't scent the starch, and I used buckets of it to literally soak the yards and yards of fabric I needed for the queen sized quilt.

Could you half this recipe? I don't use starch often, but the quilt tops I rescue need searching after hand washing.

I used home made. My recipe called for bringing to boil on stove for a minute. No residue. Loved it. Then I bought some from the store, and the chemicals smell is so bad, I had to open the windows. Can't use it. Went back to homemade.

I have a feeling that my stinky lavender was really spoiled starch with lavender oil which couldn’t overcome the stench. I left it out just once overnight, and stuck it in the fridge thinking, oh I caught it before it was too late, surely…. I bet not after Donna’s story!

If you buy concentrated liquid starch and dilute it for spray bottle you don't have to worry about refrigeration or spoilage.

I have had great success with using Purex brand Sta-Flo liquid starch concentrate to make my starch spray. You can get it at Walmart for around $3.77 for 64 ounces, so it goes a long way when you dilute it with water to whatever strength you want. It has a pleasant smell and does not need to be refrigerated. I'll never go back to spray cans of starch or sizing, or Best Press. To me, Sta-Flo is the best, least expensive, and easiest alternative to spray starch. But if someday I can no longer find it at Walmart, I might have to resort to your cornstarch method. Thanks for the information.

The starch settles out because it is not all gelatinized. After making your slurry if you microwaved and stirred your mixture until it looked clear (maybe 20 seconds at a time), then it would stay dispersed and not settle out again.

If you live in the South bugs love cornstarch…..

can i ask .. how to give preservative for spray ..? to last

Once I put too much and the fabric "broke" when I pressed my seams 🤣🤣

I tried the corn starch and it ruined my iron.😢

100% Not leaving the house!!!

"Well I never." Meanwhile, I'd have to go to the store for the corn starch...