Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Do You Prefer Steam or No Steam?


When you're piecing quilt tops do you prefer steam or no steam?
I've read dry ironing is better because steam can distort raw edges, but I use steam...the more the better.
How about you?


33 comments:

Sara said...

Definitely steam! But I do try to be careful to press and not iron.

Seams Sew Together said...

I'm with you Karen, Steam for me, but I am a little careful

Leeanne said...

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.

Karen M said...

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

Calicojoan said...

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! :-)

Steffi´s Candy Quilts said...

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.

Mary Ann said...

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!

June Calender said...

No steam. Like others,I have a mister near the ironing board for those stubborn creases or seams.

Millie said...

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!

Tina Craig said...

I'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.

Unknown said...

Steam, ever!

Aliceart said...

Me, too. Steam, but I press and don't iron.

Jessim said...

Lots of steam! I don't feel like my iron gets hot enough to do a good press without it.

Melinda said...

I love steam - the more steam the better.

Unknown said...

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.

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

Always steam! Gentle handling of the fabric will not create distortion. Heavy handed people need dry irons, careful people can use steam.

Taos Sunflower said...

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!

Pieces of Time said...

I steam fabric into submission!!!!

patty a. said...

Steam, 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.

FlourishingPalms said...

Steam!

Pam said...

I love a little steam.

elnorac said...

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 ;)

Carolyn said...

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.

Dianne said...

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.

Julianne said...

I'm a Steamer!

janequiltsslowly said...

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.

Sharon said...

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.

Sharyn Mallow Woerz said...

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.

Is that a yes or a no?

Laura said...

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.

Jocelyn said...

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.

Laurie said...

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!

quilter501 said...

Steam all the way, baby.

Shirley said...

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.