I don't like to put water in my iron. I was going through many irons, then I read on (I think Bonnie Hunters blog) that water is not the best for your iron. So with my new iron I decided to have a rule of no water in the iron. My iron is now well over 1 year old & going great, so that is the longest I have had an iron. If I have stubborn seams or creases I use water from a spray bottle.
I am a confirmed 'no steam' quilter. There is nothing better than a hot, dry iron to flatten those seam allowances. I shared information about my favorite iron in this post: http://www.karenssewingroom.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2013-02-01T06:56:00-05:00&max-results=7
I was a steam addict, and yes I heard the same story about distortion as you did. I've only recently given it up, when my 4th Rowenta Steam Iron gave up in less than a year. At $169 a pop, I am done playing with Rowenta. I have a regular iron with no steam now, and I've adapted, under duress, to not using steam! :-)
No steam. I simply don't like the dampness and the spitting iron. And without water, the iron is not so heavy. If a seam don't want to lie flat, I have a little water spray bottle next to the ironing board. I do this when ironing clothes, too.
I use steam. Nothing gets the wrinkles out like steam. Yes I'm careful, but if something gets distorted, I just trim it straight. I do free piecing so whatever size it comes out is usually fine with me. Yes, I know water is bad for an iron, so I never buy expensive irons, and I never leave the water in it when I'm finished working. So shoot me!
I didn't use steam until my first paper piecing workshop where the instructor urged us to use steam. The difference was amazing. Now I use steam judiciously.
As happened to MooseStash, I had three bummer experiences with Rowenta steam irons and decided to try dry ironing. It works for little things to be done quickly, but when I get serious, I haul out a spray bottle!
Thank you so much for asking his question! Am going to try steam but very carefully. I gave it up due to distortion but find a dry iron doesn't do as well. I use a spray bottle for non-paper piecing but can't use it on paper piecing or my printer ink will run onto my fabric. Been there, done that ;)
I use steam, the more the better. A dry iron doesn't seem to press as well. I had no idea that water was bad for irons. I have had the same Black and Decker iron for almost 14 years and it still works great.
I do use steam to PRESS not iron. I never use steam for paper piecing it distorts the paper. Have had two Rowenta Irons in the past 24 years. Traded up from my old one and it is still going strong at retreats. The new one is fabulous. I use filtered water in my irons - always have.
I used to steam, but no longer. It distorts the blocks and makes them harder to square, so now its a dry iron for me. If I have a stubborn crease or wrinkle I use Best Pressed to get it out.
I've always used steam. It works great for me. And I do have to replace my iron every year or two, but I get cheap irons at Target and they work fine. The steam works so much better than just heat alone.
I fall in the prewash camp. I steam and starch however much fabric I need to cut. I only fingerpress during block construction and top assembly. The I steam the completed top like crazy.
I used to use steam all the time. Then the steam button broke on my iron, and I was too lazy to go to the store and replace it. So I started using Best Press and no steam. My blocks are a lot more accurate now that I'm not using steam, so that's the way I do it.
No steam here. I like others use a little bit of spritz whenever I need to press out a wrinkle. And about the Rowenta? I've had mine since 1997 and it is still going strong. But I never put water in it.
I use steam. and, I press. and, I use 1950s-era irons! I have four of them, and they all work great! yes, they're heavy, but that helps make them effective and it builds muscles!
I use steam. It works for me and I have never had a problem using it. Would not use it for freezer paper though or any other paper. Just do what works best and for me it is steam.
Definitely steam! But I do try to be careful to press and not iron.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you Karen, Steam for me, but I am a little careful
ReplyDeleteI don't like to put water in my iron. I was going through many irons, then I read on (I think Bonnie Hunters blog) that water is not the best for your iron. So with my new iron I decided to have a rule of no water in the iron. My iron is now well over 1 year old & going great, so that is the longest I have had an iron. If I have stubborn seams or creases I use water from a spray bottle.
ReplyDeleteI am a confirmed 'no steam' quilter. There is nothing better than a hot, dry iron to flatten those seam allowances. I shared information about my favorite iron in this post:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.karenssewingroom.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2013-02-01T06:56:00-05:00&max-results=7
I was a steam addict, and yes I heard the same story about distortion as you did. I've only recently given it up, when my 4th Rowenta Steam Iron gave up in less than a year. At $169 a pop, I am done playing with Rowenta. I have a regular iron with no steam now, and I've adapted, under duress, to not using steam! :-)
ReplyDeleteNo steam. I simply don't like the dampness and the spitting iron.
ReplyDeleteAnd without water, the iron is not so heavy. If a seam don't want to lie flat, I have a little water spray bottle next to the ironing board. I do this when ironing clothes, too.
Steam but not as much as I used to. Now many times I use a light spray of starch and no steam, even on the completed top!
ReplyDeleteNo steam. Like others,I have a mister near the ironing board for those stubborn creases or seams.
ReplyDeleteI use steam. Nothing gets the wrinkles out like steam. Yes I'm careful, but if something gets distorted, I just trim it straight. I do free piecing so whatever size it comes out is usually fine with me. Yes, I know water is bad for an iron, so I never buy expensive irons, and I never leave the water in it when I'm finished working. So shoot me!
ReplyDeleteI'm a no steam girl, mostly because I'm too lazy to keep filling up the iron with water. I started using starch about a year ago instead.
ReplyDeleteSteam, ever!
ReplyDeleteMe, too. Steam, but I press and don't iron.
ReplyDeleteLots of steam! I don't feel like my iron gets hot enough to do a good press without it.
ReplyDeleteI love steam - the more steam the better.
ReplyDeleteI didn't use steam until my first paper piecing workshop where the instructor urged us to use steam. The difference was amazing. Now I use steam judiciously.
ReplyDeleteAlways steam! Gentle handling of the fabric will not create distortion. Heavy handed people need dry irons, careful people can use steam.
ReplyDeleteAs happened to MooseStash, I had three bummer experiences with Rowenta steam irons and decided to try dry ironing. It works for little things to be done quickly, but when I get serious, I haul out a spray bottle!
ReplyDeleteI steam fabric into submission!!!!
ReplyDeleteSteam, steam, and more steam! Pressing not ironing is key. I am not afraid of using steam on bias quilt tops either like the mountain zig zags.
ReplyDeleteSteam!
ReplyDeleteI love a little steam.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for asking his question! Am going to try steam but very carefully. I gave it up due to distortion but find a dry iron doesn't do as well. I use a spray bottle for non-paper piecing but can't use it on paper piecing or my printer ink will run onto my fabric. Been there, done that ;)
ReplyDeleteI use steam, the more the better. A dry iron doesn't seem to press as well. I had no idea that water was bad for irons. I have had the same Black and Decker iron for almost 14 years and it still works great.
ReplyDeleteI do use steam to PRESS not iron. I never use steam for paper piecing it distorts the paper. Have had two Rowenta Irons in the past 24 years. Traded up from my old one and it is still going strong at retreats. The new one is fabulous. I use filtered water in my irons - always have.
ReplyDeleteI'm a Steamer!
ReplyDeleteI used to steam, but no longer. It distorts the blocks and makes them harder to square, so now its a dry iron for me. If I have a stubborn crease or wrinkle I use Best Pressed to get it out.
ReplyDeleteI've always used steam. It works great for me. And I do have to replace my iron every year or two, but I get cheap irons at Target and they work fine. The steam works so much better than just heat alone.
ReplyDeleteI fall in the prewash camp.
ReplyDeleteI steam and starch however much fabric I need to cut.
I only fingerpress during block construction and top assembly.
The I steam the completed top like crazy.
Is that a yes or a no?
I used to use steam all the time. Then the steam button broke on my iron, and I was too lazy to go to the store and replace it. So I started using Best Press and no steam. My blocks are a lot more accurate now that I'm not using steam, so that's the way I do it.
ReplyDeleteNo steam here. I like others use a little bit of spritz whenever I need to press out a wrinkle. And about the Rowenta? I've had mine since 1997 and it is still going strong. But I never put water in it.
ReplyDeleteI use steam. and, I press. and, I use 1950s-era irons! I have four of them, and they all work great! yes, they're heavy, but that helps make them effective and it builds muscles!
ReplyDeleteSteam all the way, baby.
ReplyDeleteI use steam. It works for me and I have never had a problem using it. Would not use it for freezer paper though or any other paper. Just do what works best and for me it is steam.
ReplyDelete