Next to the sewing machine, the iron is one of
the most used tools when making quilts, garments or home décor. If you are doing anything with fabric, you
are going to use an iron.
Here are our
favorite basic ironing and pressing tips:
1. Iron with straight, back and forth strokes. Ironing with a circular motion can stretch
out your fabrics.
2. Wait for the iron to heat up completely before
you use the steam feature. If the iron
is not heated it could drip water on your materials.
3. To iron embroidery, applique or other raised
designs, cover your ironing board with a towel and lay the fabric face down,
then iron.
4. Regularly clean your iron to prevent marks on
your materials, and for better performance. You can find hot iron cleaners in the notions department.
5. Pressing is different than ironing. When ironing you are moving the iron back and
forth, to press you will lift the iron up and put it back down. Pressing will prevent the fabrics from
stretching.
7. Press seams in garments from the right side of
the fabric, with the iron running parallel to the straight of grain to avoid
pressing tucks into the seam.
8. Press bias seams with the iron at an angle to
the seam so that you are pressing along the straight of grain. This will help to prevent stretching.
9. To hold pleats in place while ironing or
pressing, use paper clips or clothespins.
10. Test your iron settings on a small scrap of
fabric, or in an inconspicuous place to make sure the fabric can accept heat
and steam.
If you would like to learn
more about irons, and ironing equipment we recommend this video from Threads
Magazine “Pressing Equipment 101”
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