Receta Homemade Starch...
Monkey see. Monkey do. Especially when THIS monkey saw what Freda's Hive cooked up...she is always creating something wonderful in her hive! When I read her post about homemade starch I decided I would make myself a batch...but then, since I was going to be hosting my quilt group I decided they should have homemade starch, too! It was so easy and fast - and it smells exactly like Mary Ellen's Best Press, but at a fraction of the cost!
There are MANY recipes on the internet for homemade starch - which is basically cornstarch and water. See? easy! I added lavender essential oil - just two drops per bottle - it's scent will carry me to the lavender fields of Provence while I'm ironing!! (Oh, for those of you who know me, you'll scoff at this because you THINK I never iron...but I do iron my clothes...and I DO iron my quilt tops - AFTER they are completely pieced...I'm not crazy!)
One recipe I read said to add vodka to the mix! It said since the essential oil and water won't mix, the vodka would "make it"...and then the very next recipe I read said to SKIP adding the vodka, instead, pour it over a glass of ice and drink it! Then you won't care if your clothes are ironed or not! I didn't add vodka...but you do have to shake this before you use it as the cornstarch settles on the bottom of the bottle. Two drops of essential oil in a bottle this size is not enough to worry about after it's been shaken...and it starches like a dream!
Once I added a label my homemade starch was ready to go! Wooden Valentine's are optional. My quilt group ladies all took one home - now I'll be anxiously waiting to hear how they like it since they all iron like fiends!
- Homemade Cornstarch
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of cornstarch, the regular grocery store variety that you use to thicken gravy/soups
- 3 1/3 cups cool water
- 2 drops lavender essential oil (I purchased mine at L'Occitaine for $18)
plastic spray bottle
Pour water into bottle, add cornstarch and essential oil drops, Put top on and shake. The end.
Wasn't it lucky I found bottles with PINK sprayers! This starch recipe makes a medium-lite starch. If you wanted a heavier starch you would add more cornstarch. I would suggest that you go on-line and look at all the recipes - some are quite unusual and funny - but most of them have the ingredients listed above and all of the reviews are pretty great. Just remember to shake it before you use it!