Estelle

No, mine does not leak - I would take it back if it leaks - that would be a pain in the neck.
The iron is just the right size to have beside the sewing machine to press blocks as you sew.

Tiffany

This is my suggestion too. Speaking of which, my iron broke (got dropped at a charity sew in) and I need to get a new one so I need to hit a few Thrift Stores.

Dawn - my g/f absolutely loves her Rowenta iron also, but I have to be honest, I don't like it. The end is rather blunt, which makes pressing into corners soemthing of a pain and I absolutely and completely despise the feature of it setting down on the ironing board instead of sitting upright. For those who haven't used one, whenever you grab the handle the iron 'lowers' itself down onto the fabric, ready for ironing. This sounds great, except if you let go it automatically raises and that is the part I cannot stand. I will often make berries with the mylar washers, which means I need the iron to sit on the fabric for a good 30+ seconds. I will usually set the iron on one piece while preparing the next. With the Rowenta iron, I must stand there and hold the handle to keep it from popping up. I think if I never did applique or anything fusible this would be a good iron for me, but at over $100 it simply would drive me insane and force me to take longer to get a quilt together.
~Tiffany

stay-at-home

tiffany- what are berries witht he mylar washers??? so curious.
Jeanne

stay-at-home

ooooh great idea about the travel iron. i have one but never thought of using it that way.
thanks for the tip

barberette

Thanks so much for all the info on the irons, some I haven't even thought about..I have a Shark and I get so frustrated when I'm working on my quilting and it keeps shutting off..Soozie :x

barberette

Wendy, That ironing board video is hillarious !!! Loved it...Soozie

Tiffany

Berries, grapes, anything circular can be made using mylar washers. They're heat tolerant plastic circles and you basically baste the fabric around the mylar washer and pull the basting stitches tight, then spray the holy heck out of it with spray starch or magic sizing and then set it with the iron for 30 to 60 seconds. Let cool (obviously) and then gently loosen the basting stitches, remove the washer, and retighten the basting stitches. Touch up with the iron if needed. These produce the most perfect circles and is the number one way most professionals are doing their circles now days. I've included a picture to show what type of circles you can make. The block is by Beverly Hindman, a national applique instructor. (Must give credit!) I have mylar washers that will do miniscule berries and circles of up to 2 inches across. If you cannot picture it let me know and I'll go downstairs and take a picture for you.
~Tiffany

Tiffany

I missed this the first time I read through the Thread. Not sure how but I did. I'm glad I went back and caught it. I love Brian Regan and I thought I'd heard most of his stuff but this I hadn't heard before. Thanks for sharing!
~Tiffany

Rose Marie

Mine will leak once in awhile, I think it is self cleaning when it does. The instructions say to use tap water in it. But I use filtered water and it dosnt sputter to clean itself anymore.

stay-at-home

what a terrific idea. thanks for sharing. now the obvious question - are these washers from the hardware store or the sewing store??