Pressing matters

You will find it very tricky to sew anything properly if you don’t own an iron. If you don’t have much space you can use a mat for on your table or floor. I use a wool pressing mat a lot, and you can buy tiny irons that produce steam and get properly hot. You really will need an iron to set darts, attach interfacing, press seams etc.

In the video below I will explain the difference between ironing and pressing!

Even with a steam iron to hand I often still also use a spray bottle with water in. It is useful for really stubborn creases or a very guided jet.

There are many extra pressing tools you can buy (or make) and some may prove invaluable when dressmaking or bag making. Things like a tailor’s ham (picture above) for pressing curves, a sleeve roll for pressing sleeves, a clapper for pressing thick seams, and the pictured hem guide (to the left) are all very useful when you get further in to your sewing journey.