To starch or not to starch!!

I signed up (in a moment of weakness) for a Primitive Gatherings summer block of the week. That's a misnomer if ever there was one!!  This program has 44 blocks each week, for 12 weeks!! Really!! What was I thinking??!!

Anyway, Lisa Bonjean is a big proponent of the starch method before piecing. My Wisconsin friends are already sold on it.  I hate for their blocks to look better than mine (no, I'm not competitive) so I gave it a try!  I mean, I need all the help I can get! Vbg

First poured starch into a bowl

Used the non aerosol variety!

Then I put the strips into the starch and squished them around. I did have help from the 6 yr old who is a great squisher!

Then I put them outside to dry to stiffen them up!  This is a very special tray given to me as a gift by my friend DarLynn. It's perfect for this task!

After they were dry, I pressed them. Stiff as a board although some were stiffer than others!

I made one block and I think it's pretty darn good!

I'll do it for this project and see how I like it. Pretty labor intensive, though. 

Have you ever tried this? What did you think?

I also did my Circa 2016 blocks, sans starch!  They're ok but might've been better with a little Niagra. 

My other week's progress has been on my Under the Big Top blocks. I'll just show you one:

One more round of triangles and it'll be ready to put together!  Fun fun fun

There are a lot of extra hsts so I'll be looking for ideas!

We are heading up to the cabin tomorrow with the 3 grands so I doubt I'll get much sewing done. Small price to pay to have the darlings with us for a week before their parents come!!

Have a great weekend!