The Easiest Homemade Spray Starch Recipe for Quilting

Spray starch is a liquid solution that stiffens fabric, and quilters love it! Stiff fabric is easier to cut accurately, sew straight, and press flat. You can find it in quilt shops or the laundry aisle at most grocery stores. Mary Ellen's Best Press is a longtime favorite among quilters.

The problem? If you quilt regularly, spray starch costs add up fast. It's easy to use 16–32 ounces on a single quilt. On top of the cost, many commercial spray starches contain synthetic chemicals that leave residue on your fabric long after washing. Some people are also allergic to them.

If you want to save money or avoid introducing chemicals into your home, here’s a simple two-ingredient homemade spray starch that works just as well as anything you'd buy at the store.

DIY Spray Starch Recipe

Most homemade spray starch recipes call for rubbing alcohol or vodka as a preservative. This one doesn't. It’s just two simple ingredients you probably already have at home.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups water

Directions:

Combine the cornstarch and water in a small saucepan and stir until the cornstarch is fully dissolved. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture comes to a boil. Boiling makes the solution translucent and activates the starch. Remove from heat and allow it to cool completely before adding your essential oils.

Peppermint essential oil is a great choice. It smells fresh and has natural bug-repellent properties, which is a nice bonus for fabric storage.

Pour the cooled mixture into a spray bottle. An ultra-fine mist bottle works best and gives you more even coverage across your fabric.

A Few Tips

Prevent clogging. Some people find that homemade spray starch can clog the spray nozzle over time. To avoid this, turn your bottle upside down and spray until nothing comes out after each use, especially if you won't be using it again for a while.

Make only what you need. Since this recipe has no preservatives, it won't keep indefinitely. It's best to mix up a fresh batch for each quilt rather than storing a large amount.

How to use it. Mist your fabric and press with a hot iron. You don’t need to fully saturate it. The heat activates the starch and stiffens the fabric. Let it cool before cutting for the crispest results.

Some quilters swear by spray starch and won't cut fabric without it. Others think it's an unnecessary step. What do you think — do you use spray starch in your quilting process? Let me know in the comments!