was about not a whole lot. I could lie and say I had an exciting week but not much except the ordinary was going on. Don’t you love that about spring and summertime? That and the fact that it’s popsicle season! Life ebbs and flows slowly. It takes awhile for Friday to arrive but at the same time, Monday rolls around at an infinitesimal rate. To-do lists are tackled even if each bullet point contains an a), b), and c). There is even enough time to watch a movie during and play around on Instagram. I’m ending this week on the cusp of revealing some exciting things. Bras I’ve sewn (super cute ones too), books I’ve read, and interviews I’ve conducted – a lot has been hidden in my bag that’s about to spill over. The weekend is between now and then and I have visitors coming to town. On the agenda is a tour at a local brewery and… well… that’s as far as our plans go. I wonder if they want want to learn how to sew a bra (that is a joke, people)?

May I ask what you’re up to?

Customer reviews, item descriptions, and technical specs – they all help when choosing an iron. Personally though, I trust the advice or testimonial of someone I know versus someone I don’t and who gave an online review. You never know what their situation is or was – they could have been drunk reviewing (you know… like drunk dialing or drunk texting). So what iron are other sewing ladies using? I’ll let them tell you (click on their names to be connected to their blogs)…

  I own the “Black & Decker: The Classic Steam/Dry Iron”, mainly because it’s a reproduction of an old vintage iron I found at an estate sale in LA. I love the weight of it but like it’s vintage ancestor, it spits out steam if you leave water in it for too long. So, it’s mostly a dry iron…

  My current iron is a Rowenta Focus. I purchased this iron because I’ve always had a pretty good experience with Rowentas and it’s one of the few irons without auto-shutoff. Personally I HATE auto-shutoff, I need that iron to be ready to roll for hours at a time. Unfortunately this is a home iron which means I burn through the heating components pretty quickly keeping it on for so long. Bummer.

My dream iron is a Sapporo Gravity Iron. This is the iron we use at work and it’s a dreamboat. It’s on 7 hours a day, 5 days a week and we’ve had the same one for at least the last 4 years – the one before it met it’s maker when it was dropped on the floor. These irons are meant for heavy duty pressing and they do an amazing job. The only reason I don’t have one is that you need to hang the water tank and I don’t have a permanent place to iron at the moment. As soon as I get a studio outside of my living space though, it’s on!

 I currently use a Rowenta Professional DX8800 iron. I don’t have a lot to compare it to (previously, I was using irons that I found in the dumpster at Vanderbilt – yep, crazy kids throwing away brand new stuff. Ugh!) but it is pretty amazing. My mom bought it for me as a birthday gift about 5-6 years ago after insisting that I upgrade from the dumpster irons. It’s not a cheap iron by any means but it has definitely held up quite well over the years. I really love the steam on it – it gives a HUGE burst of steam, and it gets super hot, really fast. It also has a nice weight – whether or not it has water in it – which is good for pressing seams. Not a huge fan of the auto shut-off feature, although I think it’s pretty par for the course when it comes to home irons. I also tend to forget to turn my iron off (I purposefully hooked it up to a power strip that also turns lights on/off so I’m reminded to shut it off when I’m done for the day. But… y’know… shit happens and I’m super forgetful) so it’s probably a good thing. It doesn’t take long to heat up after it shuts off, so that’s nice. I wish the water reservoir was bigger because I blast through it SO FAST since I steam everything. But I’ve tried the ones with a tank (my mom has one) and I don’t like the way the iron feels – it’s almost too light-weight and the sole plate feels weird. Maybe it’s just because I’m used to mine.

Eventually, I’d like to try a gravity-feed iron but that’s going to have to wait, at least until my current iron bites the dust. It’s starting to leak water so maybe that will be sooner than later! I don’t have any reason for wanting a gravity-feed other than I heard they are really awesome and that they look cool as shit. Ha!

 My iron and my sewing machine are my favorite sewing investments. I use a Reliable steam generator iron. I know that sounds hardcore! I saw a lot more of these types of irons when I was living in Europe–I don’t know why they haven’t caught on as much here. About four years ago I had a “last straw” moment with regular irons when my cheap Target-purchased iron spit all over a leather project (and I didn’t have the steam on). It totally ruined the handbag I was working on. And it was my first leather project, so you can imagine how frustrating that must have been! I had some Amazon gift cards saved up so I went for the steam generator after a lot of research. The actual iron itself is slim and is connected to a small boiler. I love that I have steam at any temperature–and very controlled steam. I always hated pressing before I bought this iron but I really love it now. I also use it as a steamer to preshrink things that can’t be washed (like wool or a silk on which I don’t wish to get wet–I don’t like how charmuese loses some of its shine after washing). As a steamer it’s genius. I can’t think of anything I don’t like about it. I’ve had it for four years now and no problems!

P.S. This is a sewing blogger from Montreal – I’ve been reading her blog for some time and she recently posted about this same iron, if you’re curious!

I still have a horrible, cheap iron that I bought in college at a thrift store 10 years ago.  I keep waiting for it to just die so that I can buy a new, fancy iron but of course, it just won’t.  Still, I dream of a nice iron and here are the things that are very important to me.

a – weight – I really think that a nice iron with a good amount of weight behind it makes a big difference.  Especially when hemming thick fabric like jeans. It’s only going to look professional if there is some serious weight behind the press.

b – auto shut-off – I know, a lot of sewers hate this feature, but for me it’s essential.  I am  notorious for leaving the iron on all day and with two small children running around, I need some back up.

c – mounting system – This one kinda goes with the last one but think about it.  Is there anything more dangerous than a heavy metal object that is pointy at one end, gets extremely hot, and has a long cord so it can easily be pulled on top of a child’s head?  I have nightmares just thinking about the possibilities.  So I need somewhere to set the iron so that it’s safer and less likely to fall over.

d – steam – There are two things about steam that I care about.  First that it steams well and doesn’t leak.  Secondly that the tank it large enough that I am not refilling it all of the time.  Such a bother.

OK I think that is my list.  I havn’t done enough research to know exactly what my dream iron looks like but I have always heard that Rowenta is the Bernina of irons.  Perhaps I should look into it more and put it on my Christmas list.

I take pride in pressing and I follow almost all of the rules. I press throughout the course of a project (instead of at the end) and I use the right temperature settings for the fabric (instead of burning the crap out of each seam). I also lift and press instead of glide the iron, which is the difference between pressing and iron (super important to know seamstresses!). But do I know a lot about irons and their features? I don’t, or didn’t, have a clue until I started researching for this post.

Just like a microwave, the iron has a lot of hidden tools that can be beneficial to seamstresses (I use the example of a microwave because how many of you use the popcorn button for way more than popcorn?). Learning about the neat tricks of each, I’m about to make a mad dash to Target for an upgrade. Yes, I have a lousy (and sometimes lazy) iron – a Shark.

Before getting into features, let’s talk money. A home iron in the $50-100 price range works just as well as a $250 ironing system. But stay away from anything under $40, especially if it’s labeled as lightweight. It’s cheap and will not have many of the essential features needed for sewing. Even Megan agrees with me on this one. She recommends the Black and Decker D2030 (pictured top left).

 Searching for information for this post, I asked other sewing bloggers what irons they used. Marci, always one to have a clever response – even if she doesn’t know it, said that she uses a Black and Decker that she bought at an estate sale. Her iron is a reproduction of a vintage iron and has a nice weight to it – it’s heavy.

Weight – it is something to think about when purchasing. The latest models are built to be light, weighing between 3-4 lbs, but this might not be a good thing. I have an old sewing iron that has spent the last three years in the closet and when Marci brought up the subject of weight and irons, I brought it out to test press a seam. The heaviness of the it made it a lot easier to press the seam, which was sewn using a thick fabric – wool houndstooth. Vintage irons are super cheap and with summer reaching this side of the equator (sorry Aussie folks), you can pick one up for less than $10 bucks at a yard sale. In this case, spending that amount of money on an iron is okay because this will be an extra iron that is used for seams that need the extra weight more than the extra features. Also, and just like Laurie said, many vintage irons are dry irons, meaning they don’t emit steam – which is good when your iron gets snooty and snotty. They also get a lot hotter than modern day irons, which is a huge plus when it comes to pressing and ironing linen and cottons.

Some hate this feature and some love it. Almost all modern day irons automatically shut off if they haven’t been used for a long period of time. Don’t hate on this feature. It’s like auto insurance – you don’t need it most of the time but when you do, it’s a life saver.

Folks, there is a lot to learn about steam. Steam is essential for a seamstress. It is used for fusing, shaping, and fine tailoring. Steam can be shot vertically or horizontally and steam can be pressured or surged into fabrics. Irons with vents at the tip of the sole plate only give a burst of steam. Yes, it gives off steam but there is less control over the direction of the steam – it simply shoots horizontally. Irons with vents placed throughout the sole plate push steam into the garment, which is needed in order for interfacing to stick and for garments to take shape (side note: irons should be used on an ironing board that allows steam to pass through the surface, otherwise moisture will collect underneath the garment). Also, irons with vertical steam capabilities, such as the Rowenta DW8080 (pictured bottom right) and DW5080 (pictured bottom left), allow you to steam hanging garments.

Is an iron with a separate reservoir or chamber necessary? Does it make an iron better? Although it holds more water and creates steam under more pressure, the difference between and iron and ironing system, or one withe a separate container for water, is insignificant. In my opinion, you can save a ton of money by choosing an iron without this feature.

In sewing, the term press rather than iron is used. To press means to move the iron up and down in a lifting and pressing movement. Ironing, which is done after clothes are washed to remove wrinkles and creases, means to slide, or glide, the iron across the fabric with a back and forth motion. Ironing may distort the shape of the garment; pressing won’t. Also, pressing builds shape and structure while constructing a garment, flatten seams, fuses interfacing, and even sets pleats.

A widely accepted rule in sewing is “press as you go,” which means to first press a seam before crossing another. This doesn’t mean you have to be at the ironing board as much as you are in front of the sewing machine. Work on several different sections of the garment at the same time, sewing as far as you can on each section, and then press.

Just like choosing a sewing machine, choose an iron based on your needs. Don’t have the money to spend on a $100+ iron? Then don’t. Or maybe you don’t sew enough that you can warrant buying an iron that is labeled “eco intelligent” (pictured top right). That’s okay, it’s not essential. But if you have the cash to buy an iron with a separate reservoir, good for you! Because it holds a lot of water, you’ll spend less time filling more more time pressing, shaping, or interfacing your garment.

Two weeks ago, I hosted a giveaway of the book Streamlined Irons where contestants were asked to submit their best iron stories (example: burn a hole through the carpet). When I sent the names and addresses of the three winners to Jay, the author of the book, he asked if I was going to post about the winner’s stories. Duh! Why didn’t I think of that?! So here are the winners and their tales. If you have a story that can top theirs, let’s hear it!

  “Oh irons, what would we do without you?? I’m constantly asking my husband if I can iron his shirts. I’ve, luckily, never been burnt by my iron. But one time I had the ironing board set up with the iron set on top, full heat and steam going, when out of the corner of my eye I saw the ironing board beginning to collapse. I don’t know how I did it, but I crossed the room at lightning speed and caught the board underneath to support it, then stood that way for a good while trying to figure out what to do. If the iron fell I’d be burned! I ended up doing this weird kind of slow dance, snake charmer thing, as I slowly guided the ironing board, and balanced iron, down to the floor. Kinda wish someone had been watching so they could tell me how ridiculous I looked!!”

 ”I have to admit that since I’ve started sewing I have left the iron on overnight on more than one occasion! So dangerous – we’re lucky I didn’t burn the place down! I quite like ironing – always have and since sewing it’s only gotten worse because you can see how much ironing and pressing can affect the look of a garment.”

 ”I am one of those rare people who like ironing. Get the ironing board set up in front of the TV, pick out some DVD’s and get to it.

My favorite ironing story, there are a few. A friend of my husband’s lived with us for a few months and I would iron his shirts along with my husbands (he had never worn an ironed shirt before and loved the way they looked). Several months later (after he moved out), he dropped by after work and I commented on his shirt being ironed. He told me it wasn’t but that all his poly cotton shirts now looked ironed after being removed from the dryer. In effect I had “improved” his permanent press shirts.

My favourite iron, a 1957 General Electric iron I found at a garage sale in the original box with the warranty card. It is a non steam iron and gets a lot hotter than any other iron I have ever owned. Perfect for ironing linen and cotton. I love this iron and live in dread of the day it dies.”