Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Tuesday Tips: Don't forget about steam!


This isn't so much a tip as it is me admitting a bad habit. I'm unnaturally paranoid about burning myself. You know about Ove Gloves? Yeah, those are for people like me (I have two). This fear carries over into sewing, and I don't keep water in my iron. I rarely steam anything and almost always use a dry iron. Shame on me!

Recently I decided it was time to get over myself. I haven't gone so far as to put water in my iron (I DO have a curious toddler to think about) but I am trying to get into the habit of using a wet press cloth. And wouldn't you know it, it works! For example, do you ever topstitch knits and pull your hair out over wavy puckering?





I've tried pressing these waves out with a dry iron and it usually doesn't work well. I tried it with a wet press cloth (WHOOSH steam!) and viola! No more waviness.


Need another example? Here's the same garment (a gift, so I can't show it off too much) at the hemline:

Whoa sorry about the color...

After pressing with a wet press cloth?


BOOM! Waves, be gone! Now tell me, is there anyone else out there that doesn't use steam? Any other unnatural fears of being burned? Spill!

3 comments:

  1. I too have an irrational fear of burning myself. I will put water in the iron, but I hate, hate, hate it when the steam curls up from the project and burns my fingers! I am going to try the wet press cloth and see if that works any better!

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    Replies
    1. There's still steam with a wet presscloth, but it doesn't seem quite as scary! Glad I'm not the only one :)

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  2. Hope you have overcome your ironing fears. Some of the new irons are scary the leak so much hot water. I had an iron that wouldn't steam. Instead of a big spray bottle I picked up a couple travel size pump hair spray bottled. They hold 3-4 oz. of water and make a fine mist in a small area (don't spray all over heck and gone). They are great for sewing projects. they hold enough water to last through any sewing session and only wet a small area at a time which is great of pressing things like collars and cuffs etc. Plus, if needed, they are virtually toddler proof. Surprisingly they have out lasted any other spray bottles I've bought for different purposes. Maybe check'em out. ;)

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