Sew Hot: The Ultimate Guide to Sewing Pressing Tools
Ever wondered why your sewn garments don't look as polished as you'd like? It might be time to press your luck with some must-have sewing pressing tools! When it comes to sewing, the right pressing tools can take your projects from "homemade" to "handcrafted masterpiece." Let's iron out all the details on what you need in your pressing arsenal to make your projects crisp, smooth, and oh-so professional.
1. The Steam/Spray Iron: A Pressing Essential
A good steam iron is an absolute must-have for sewing. It helps set seams, remove wrinkles, and shape fabric as needed. Opt for a steam iron with adjustable heat settings and a steam burst feature to tackle stubborn creases. Some come with a spray function to lightly mist fabrics before pressing, which can help with those tough-to-flatten fabrics.
Pro Tip: Use distilled water in your iron to avoid mineral build-up, and always test a small patch of fabric to ensure the heat setting won’t scorch it.
2. Press Cloth: Your Fabric’s Best Friend
A press cloth is a simple but indispensable tool that protects delicate fabrics from scorching, shiny marks, or melting. Use it as a barrier between the iron and your fabric, especially for synthetic materials, velvet, and wool.
Pro Tip: A piece of muslin or an old, clean cotton dish towel can double as a press cloth. Just make sure it's free of dyes or lint.
3. Teflon Coated Plate Guard: No More Sticky Situations
The Teflon coated plate guard fits over your iron’s soleplate, preventing sticking and scorching. It’s especially useful for pressing fusible interfacing or working with fabrics that have a synthetic content that might melt.
Pro Tip: Let your iron cool down a bit before fitting the guard, or you'll find yourself in hot water.
4. Pressing Ham: The Curves Have It!
The pressing ham is a stuffed, oval-shaped tool that mimics the curves of the body, making it perfect for pressing curved seams like darts, sleeve caps, and princess seams. It helps to maintain the shape of the fabric while applying pressure, resulting in smoother, more natural curves.
Pro Tip: Use the wool side for wool fabrics or high-heat pressing, and the cotton side for lighter materials. Get ham-bitious with your curves!
5. Seam Roll: A Rolled-Up Classic
A seam roll is similar to a pressing ham but in a cylindrical shape, making it ideal for pressing seams open on pant legs, sleeves, or any narrow tubular item. It prevents the seam's impression from showing through on the right side of the fabric.
Pro Tip: Place the seam roll under the seam you’re pressing open to keep other parts of the fabric from getting unnecessary creases.
6. Sleeve Board: Little Board, Big Impact
A sleeve board is a mini ironing board that helps you press narrow or small areas of a project. It's perfect for sleeves, of course, but also works wonders on collars, cuffs, and children's clothing.
Pro Tip: Use a sleeve board when pressing tricky details on fitted garments. It’s like having a tiny helper who loves your sleeves as much as you do.
7. Tailor's Clapper: The Cool Finisher
The tailor's clapper is a wooden tool used to press seams flat and keep them crisp. After using the steam iron, press the clapper down onto the fabric, which helps absorb moisture and trap heat for a sharp crease. This tool is especially useful for tailored projects like jackets and pants.
Pro Tip: You can also use the edge of the clapper to help set tight creases or folds, like pleats.
8. Point Presser: Sharpens Those Edges
The point presser is designed for pressing seams open in hard-to-reach corners and narrow edges, such as collars and cuffs. It’s typically made of wood and has a tapered end for precision pressing.
Pro Tip: Use the point presser to shape delicate details on collars and lapels, helping you achieve that sharp tailored look.
9. Spray Bottle: Light as Mist
A spray bottle filled with water can work wonders when you need to dampen fabric for more effective pressing. Lightly spritz fabrics before pressing to relax fibers and eliminate stubborn wrinkles.
Pro Tip: For an added touch of luxury, fill your spray bottle with a homemade linen water blend, like lavender or eucalyptus, to give your fabric a refreshing scent while pressing.
Pressing Tips to Keep in Mind
Press, Don’t Iron: Always lift and press down your iron rather than dragging it across the fabric to avoid stretching or distorting.
Temperature Matters: Adjust the heat setting for different fabric types, and use a press cloth for extra protection.
Steam Wisely: Too much steam can cause fabric to warp or stretch, so use it sparingly on delicate materials.
Final Press
With the right tools in your sewing studio, you’ll be able to press your projects to perfection. Whether you're smoothing out seams, shaping curves, or setting crisp edges, these pressing tools will have your fabric looking sew good. Don't let your sewing skills wrinkle up—add these to your toolkit and press on!