A bad stitcher can press away many mistakes, but a good stitcher who doesn't press will have lumpy unpolished looking projects. Apart from your sewing machine, your iron is really a Stitcher's best friend
When choosing an iron, you need to have a little bit of weight to the iron. You are "pressing" not ironing. I find ceramic sole-plates are easy to clean should you get gunk there. You don't need to spend a fortune, but don't expect the £5 Argos iron to do the job either.
Couple of my fav irons
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tefal-Ultraglide-FV4355-Steam-Watts/dp/B001GJR2NM/ref=sr_1_5?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1315571000&sr=1-5
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tefal-Ultraglide-FV4375-Steam-Watts/dp/B001P3NWOW/ref=sr_1_8?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1315571123&sr=1-8
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Morphy-Richards-40668-Turbosteam-Mulberry/dp/B002NPC0SA/ref=dp_cp_ob_kh_title_2
Your ironing board choice is also important. I like a large board, and i usually add an additional layer of foam under the cover to give a nice thick pressing surface. Ironing board covers get marked and scorched. Generally you want to replace a scorched board to prevent transfer onto your lovely new sewing project. I have spent some time over the years attempting to remove the horrid brown transfer from newly pressed items.
Once you've got your iron and board, I suggest cutting up some old muslin/lightweight cotton to use as a pressing cloth. You can buy these as a gadget, but personally I think it's a con! Pressing cloths are very useful when you don't want fabric to go shiny/melt or scorch. I usually use one when pressing a garment on the right side.
I am a self confessed gadget- aholic. For home stitchers however I really do recommend the following 2 gadgets.
A tailors ham- Used for pressing all differently sized curves. My best friend.....
This is my ham in use pressing the bust darts on a fitted bombshell Dress
My other favourite pressing gadget that I really do recommend purchasing is a sleeve board. I have a vintage one that I love, but if space is tight get a collapsable one, that should only set you back about £10.
Sleeve boards are great for pressing hems, sleeve seams and all those tricky places you can't get to on your regular ironing board
My sleeve board in action pressing a sleeve cuff
After taking these pictures I have made my sleeve board a new cover. I used the good bits from a scorched ironing board cover i was replacing. Waste not, want not......
Fantastic post and timely advice for me. I'm thinking about a new iron and I'm definitely on the hunt for a new ironing board. The one I have is small and wobbly is becomes a safety issue when I press large pieces of cloth.
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