Hardanger shirt from Early-Style Hardanger
I have a linen shirt that I want to starch. I took myself off to the supermarket yesterday and was going to purchase some spray starch. I stood in the aisle and read the backs of the cans. Good thing I did, because each one said it wasn’t suitable for use on linen fabric. I was quite surprised because I thought starching linen fabric was a reasonably common thing! If there’s any fabric you might want to get the wrinkles out of, it’s linen!
I’m in Australia, so the brands I saw were Fabulon, Crisp (both aerosol and trigger spray) and the Woolworths home brand one.
Can you suggest an alternative product? I’m particularly looking for Australian products, however, as I realise that my readers are not all in Australia, others might be able to suggest products that others can use in the same situation wherever they are in the world. If you have suggestions, please suggest them AND say what country you’re in.
But please, *I’m* particularly interested in Australian products or solutions I can use to starch my linen fabric shirt. I’m also happy to hear of more traditional starching methods (ones that don’t come in a can). Thanks!
White Threads is the blog of Yvette Stanton, the author, designer, publisher behind Vetty Creations' quality needlework books and embroidery products.
I’ve heard you can fill a spray bottle with corn starch and water and, after a couple of really good shakes, use that. Iron as you would normally. I haven’t done this in a while and I had mixed results.
Thanks Eve, that’s worth a try! 🙂
I’m searching because you made me curious….this article states “Linen has poor elasticity and does not spring back readily, explaining why it wrinkles so easily. Constant creasing, especially with starch, in the same place in sharp folds will tend to break the linen threads. This wear can show up in collars, hems, and any area that is iron creased regularly during laundering.” I’m still searching Source: http://www.fodors.com/community/travel-tips-trip-ideas/the-case-for-linen.cfm
Back in the days when you cooked rice by boiling it in a large volume of water, my mother used to save the rice cooking water and use that as starch. Maybe boil up some short-grain or other rice with gluggy tendencies and use the cooking liquid? From memory she used to dilute a little of the liquid to use in a final rinse, and then when the washing was dry use a steam iron for the ironing.
You could also buy ‘soluble starch’ in blue cardboard boxes; it looked like lumps of corn starch. From memory it had to be dissolved / broken up in boiling water. Maybe Eve’s mixed results with the corn starch and water in a spray bottle is because the starch grains need to be broken by boiling?
Beware silverfish.
Thanks, and excellent tip about the silverfish! 🙂
Very interesting, thank you Sandra.
An emailed response from Margaret (in Australia):
“I use either Red Robin or Blue Star powdered starch. It is really hard work though. I mix up a light starch by mixing the powder with a little cold water, then finishing off the mix with boiling water. Cool, then immerse damp item in starch and allow to dry until damp, then iron, using a pressing cloth. If I don’t get the item until after it has dried, then I spray with water and roll and leave for half an hour, then iron.
There is also a mixture which does not starch but does assist body – 1 dsp borax dissolved in 1 ltr warm water and sprayed onto garment/item, then ironed.”
Thanks Margaret!
I am still searching and found a site that tells about caring for altar linen. They suggest items should be “ironed up wet” (not dried and damped), without starch.
Thanks Sandra. I do iron when damp, and that helps with the creases and wrinkles, but the reason I’m wanting to use starch is actually for the “body” and stiffness it provides, not the anti-wrinkle-ness!
I have a packet of “silver star” starch. Pretty sure I got it at my local IGA, and pretty sure it is still available. I confess to not having read the instructions (reading them would be wildly un-Australian), so can’t comment on suitability for linen….though that was what I bought it for!
I would not want you to be un-Australian, Joanne! LOL! Thanks for the recommendation. 🙂
The Anchor Manual of Needlework (1970 translated from 1950s Italian book)says for Simple Starch: “Dissolve grains of starch in cold water until milky, dip embroidery into this and squeeze well. Wrap in clean cloth for an hour, then press with a very hot iron.” It mentions boiled starch (method as Margaret gives). It also mentions rice water “… a slight stiffness without becoming too rigid. Cook a little rice in water and strain through muslin. Use the water tepid for white fabrics and cold for coloured.” Same starching process as the Simple Starch instructions.
Thanks Sue!
Try making your own starch. One part wheat starch (or tapioca or corn starch) with 6-8 parts water (depending on the consistency you want). Heat over a stove (do not microwave) and stir constantly until the solution became clear to translucent. Apply onto fabric and iron with light steam. You can make the solution very dilute and dunk the whole garment in the starch solution, then iron, but the garment will be very stiff. Good luck.
Thanks Ruth! So many good ideas. 🙂
The tapioca flour starch sounds excellent. I have tried the rice method in the past and was very disappointed with the result.
Here are websites I found with basic starch recipes:
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2013/08/how-to-make-your-own-spray-starch.html
http://craftingagreenworld.com/2011/07/21/diy-natural-fabric-stiffeners/
http://brendid.com/3-ways-make-non-toxic-spray-starch/
I suspect that the problems with some homemade starch centre around insects. Garment bags might be one way of keeping moths, silverfish, cockroaches, and ants away. Maybe put bay leaves in a sachet in the bags??? (My own garment bags are embroidered.)
The vodka method looks as if the experimenting could be the best part!!! Guess what I’m trying today.
Thanks Louise. Yes, the critters attracted by the traditional methods do concern me…
Starch does attract insects.an alternative is to spread the linen over a sheet of pvc plastic while it is wet and smooth it out with your fingers. Let it dry with out moving it. It will dry as stiff as a starched item. Regards Clare
Thanks Clare, it’s actually not the flatness that I’m after, it’s the body provided by the starch, to make my collar stay standing up.
A favorite starch used by quilters and crafters in the US is Mary Ellen’s. It is a liquid aerosol that comes in a variety of scents. I have used it on linen with nice results though I do not know if the starch will affect the linen fibers long term. http://maryellenproducts.com/ Sue in Indiana
Hi Yvette, sorry for the late reply but just came across your entry! Susan has suggested Mary Ellen’s, and that would be mine. It is readily available at quilt shops in Australia. I have used to hold fabrics when piecing for quilts, and also for applique, so may be okay for what you need.
Thanks to Susan and Teresa! Your recommendation is well noted. 🙂