For as long as I can remember, it’s been fashionable to declare a deep hatred of ironing. ‘I don’t even own an iron,’ a friend proudly tells me. So much of what we wear today is manufactured in the service of the iron-averse (non-iron school uniform is a particular triumph), that the Sunday basketful has dwindled to a couple of pieces with creases that can be just about smoothed with a touch of body heat.
Is this such a bad thing? In theory, no. I don’t have any grudge against creases and I’ve never been one to iron my clothes if I can get away with it.
Of course, there’s a big caveat: if you make your own clothes then the iron is non-negotiable for a good finish. So if ironing is not your first love, what can be done to (excuse the pun) smooth the process? Happily there are a few companies out there constantly beavering away trying to make life easier for us all, so here’s a roundup of what they’ve come up with…
Clover Hot Hemmer
This felt square marked in inches is great for quilters – ideal for pressing all sizes of wedges for Dresden quilt blocks, geometric appliqué, miter corners and hemming. The hemmer is heat resistant, thin and accurate. Its non-slip surface holds fabric in place for precise results. To use, you fold the fabric over the ruler, matching the edge to the size needed, and press.
Clover Hot Ruler
If, like me, you use a sewing gauge to measure and pin hems as you press, the Clover Hot Ruler will make life a lot simpler. This is a long thin oblong ruler made in the same heat resistant felty stuff as the Hot Hemmer Square. It’s a bit more up the garment/homewares sewing street: ideal for hemming and double hemming.
Again, measure, mark, fold and press. It works with deep hems, long hems, home decor and miter corners. Heat resistant, you press directly onto the ruler with either dry or steam iron. The non-slip surface holds fabric in place for precise results.
Clover Hold It Precision Stiletto and Clover Roll and Press
More genius from Clover – this is the number one cause of burns when I’m sewing: holding something in position with a finger and trying to get to it with the point of my iron. The stiletto keeps your fingers out of the way when it counts. The Roll and Press, meanwhile, is a handy way to quickly press small fiddly areas mid-sew without having to resort to the iron at all – a great alternative to finger pressing and really useful when shirt making. Find out more about Clover sewing tools and gadgets visit https://www.youtube.com/@cloverneedlecraft and instagram.com/cloverusa
Ironing gloves
You can get various heat resistant gloves – they’re not always designed specifically for sewing, so it’s worth looking around as sometimes non-branded versions can be a lot more affordable. I sometimes use the glove that came with a pair of hair curlers, but most of the time I can’t be bothered to faff around pulling the tiny slithery thing on and naturally burn all my fingers as a result. A slightly less fiddly option would be something like the Rayen 6186 Ironing Mitt. These days I’m more inclined to use the Clover Stiletto (see above).
Finger guards
These silicon guards are made by Prym. Though you can get cheaper options with more finger guards included on Amazon. Prym also does an ironing set which includes these, a silicon Iron rest, iron cleaner, pressing mat and an iron shoe.
Vlieseline Iron On
This is a cloth for protecting the outer fabric when ironing on fusible interlinings. It’s ideal for preventing glossy spots on heat-sensitive or dark fabrics. Each pack comes with two sheets. You can also use a piece of cotton cloth (the muslins used for babies are handy to have around) for heavy duty pressing or a piece of silk Organza for anything that requires a lighter touch.
Find out more about Vlieseline products and how to use them over at www.youtube.com/c/vlieseline-freudenberg and at the website www.vlieseline.com
Tailor’s ham
The ham is the most useful, but the sleeve roll is a nice item to have in your kit. You can get them fairly cheap from a range of stores including Dunelm. You can also make your own if you have a readily available source of sawdust!
Wooden clapper
Wood and steam are fantastic tools for moulding collars and perfecting collar points. The wood holds the steam and gently releases it into the cloth as you press. It’s great for delicate fabrics which might shine with too much pressure from an iron. And the clapper is brilliant for tapping flat stubbornly thick seams when coat or jeans making.
Milward clapper from Dunelm currently on sale for £18 here.
Mini irons
These are in no way a necessity but they make light quick work of fiddly details and are really handy when you just want to do a quick press of a seam and roll on with your sewing. Prym do a nifty version, for retailers click here.
Taking care
While all these handy gadgets take care of you and your fabric, don’t forget to look after your iron! You can buy all sorts of specialist cleaners but you really don’t need to. I’m a big fan of Nancy Birtwhistle’s green cleaning methods. She recommends descaling your iron with equal parts lemon juice and water (see Clean and Green, pages 43-5 or her highlights on iron care on Instagram) and cleaning your iron with a bicarb and water paste. It works a treat.
If you have any favourite tools that make ironing and pressing a bit easier, please share in the comments below!
Grinlow Studio 