One of the most effective things you can do with your sewing is to make sure you are using your iron. I know, I know, I don’t like ironing either. However, pressing your seams makes all the difference in how the finished product looks.
But is there a difference between pressing and ironing? Don’t they mean just sticking a hot iron on fabric to get wrinkles out? They are different! Let’s look at how.
Pressing
Pressing is literally…pressing. You aren’t going to move the iron by sliding it around the fabric. You are going to raise and lower the iron onto the area that needs the heat, without moving it on the fabric itself. This is generally used on seams to help them set or to help a garment gets its shape during the construction process.
Ironing
This is the back and forth sliding motion that most of us think about when we think about using an iron. Its purpose is to get wrinkles out of the fabric or garment.
So why is the difference important?
They both use a hot iron, who cares how you do it right? Not exactly!
When a garment is being created, we use pressing to set seams, give it shape, or even to create a sharp edge. We use the up and down motion to make sure the fabric is not stretching or being otherwise distorted by the movement of the iron. When we are ironing, the garment is finished, so the movement of the iron is much less likely to have an impact on the way the fabric is put together.
Did you know this difference? Did you know why it’s important to use the right technique in the right situation? Tell us your ironing mishaps in the comments below!