Thread: Another Pressing Questions - Shine spot.

So I have 7 different irons in this house. Husband keeps looking at them and shaking his head. One more and I may get committed. The reason: shiny thick points. So let's say you put a 4 patch together - the middle seam has a think point. Sometimes I'm getting a shine spot there. I've tried with and without steam - doesn't seem to matter. Turning the iron very low all the way to the cotton setting - again no difference. With and with out various starches and Best Press - also didn't matter. I'm pressing not ironing. I pick up and put down. Same problem on the thicker spot.

Grrr... Made myself a big board, which resides on a table. Tried a regular ironing board and my portable June Tailor board same issues, so I don't think it's the board. I know I'm being very picky. You won't be able to see most of these little spots from a galloping horse, but still... it just bugs me. Any ideas why I'm getting that slight spot? Anyone else getting that little spot? OK, so I know I must be "melting" it, but how do I get it to stop?

I've got one block for a sampler quilt in the pictures that had to be put together on the bias and I used a light red and it shined up horrible. The ladies at the quilt shop said - just leave it... you won't notice when it's quilted, but you know it bugs the heck out of me.

The marks are being caused by either the very hot iron reacting with the finishing chemicals if you haven't pre-washed, or any slight residue of soap if you have. It's really like a scorch, but will more than likely disappear when you wash it.
The best way to avoid this is by using a pressing cloth on 'lumpy' pieces - either a piece of thin muslin or a store bought one. I use a store bought one that is made up of some kind of mesh fabric so I can see what's underneath.

Ok - I haven't tried a pressing cloth. I have one somewhere. I'll have to have a look. If I can't find it, I'll head over to JoAnn's tomorrow. I haven't been pre-washing(anymore), so that's my next thing to try too. I have a few older pieces I pre-washed, I'll dig those out as well.

At least I'm glad I'm not alone. I'm going to a quilt show today, so I will have a close inspection of the quilts hanging up.

I hope it washes out. I'm working on Farmer's Wife also and there is one block in there that has it. I don't want to add any more rows until I know for sure it will wash out, in case I have to make a new one of those as well. I didn't seem to notice this before. I've only been quilting for 2 years (in October) though and seem to be getting fussier and fussier about my work.

It's a combination of what others have already said...the iron is 'melting' the finish/starch/sizing (not melting the fabric) on the high spots and the solution is a pressing cloth...which can be any washed piece of fabric. Dampen one of your spots and see if it's gone when it dries.

ETA: Hammering high spots is not healthy for fabrics or anything made from them. Instead, press your seams so they lie flatter and don't bunch up. You'll get that shine on any spot that's higher than one layer of fabric, so hammering won't solve the problem anyway. Why break threads trying?