Tip: Pretty Pink Press Cloth & Why You Need One

I just don’t know what’s got into me but I’ve had a strange fascination with all things ironing lately. I guess that I love sewing and sewing means pressing and if I have to press I want a clean iron, a nice ironing board and a good press cloth.

A press cloth is a wonderful thing. It’s essentially just a piece of fabric you put between the thing you are about to press and the iron. Ever pressed something and made it go all shiny? Or left the shape of an iron on a delicate fabric? Or had gunk come out of the iron and leave a mark? Or worst of all kinda melted the fabric? A press cloth helps to protect against all of that.

 Plus if you sew it will protect against fabric distortion and raveling and protects your iron from the adhesives on fusibles. I keep a separate press cloth for fusibles and mark one side so that I am keeping the adhesive on that side.

 

A new but washed 100% cotton or linen tea towel (like the Ikea ones above)will certainly do the trick but don’t use a tea towel from the kitchen! I can tell you from experience that even very old, very small chocolate stains can ruin a garment. Old sheets and pillow cases can work well too. Try to pick fabrics that don’t have too much texture, you don’t want press the pattern of the weave into your garment. The bonus of this kind of cloth is that it can be dampened before use to create extra steam.

 

But if you want a fabulous press cloth, silk organza in white or ivory, can’t be beaten!  Silk organza makes a great press cloth very convenient is that it is sheer and withstands heat. After all it’s kinda handy to be able to see what you’re pressing. Just make sure it is 100% silk and not polyester or it will melt! I know it sounds expensive but I bought just short of a metre for $4.50 on eBay and you really only need about 40cm x 40cm. I overlocked the edge in pink (it frays like crazy!) and added a loop of pink grosgrain ribbon in the middle of the long side. The loop is handy for hanging it up when I’m not using it and big enough to go around my wrist so I don’t lose it when I’m pressing lots of fiddly bits.

So let me know if you use a press cloth, here on Facebook, I love to know what you use. Check out this post if your iron needs a clean, have a look at my vintage ironing board or make your own ironing board cover xxx