Had time to invisible-applique the handle and it looks really good. I'm not sure if I could have done such small scale work without the starch but it did keep me from getting all that paper removed when I was finished. Only got some of it out. That's not a big deal. I suppose I could soak it and dry it and pull the rest out if it really bothered me, but who would know. Just tiny parts, lying flat.
Invisible-applique is Ami Simms' term for a ladder stitch between two fabrics, so that the thread doesn't show.