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.

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.