I am a beginner quilter and I have been using a steam iron that my DH bought for me when I started...OMG I just want to throw it out the window. It is never hot enough and doesn't do the job right! So what kind should I buy and does anyone have a suggestion? thank you and Happy Quilting!

I have a $12 iron from Walmart, plenty of steam and it gets very hot.
It also does NOT have the auto shut off :D:D:D

Just got a Shark at Wal-Mart. It does the job.

Here is a thread I started a little while back. It's full of good information:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-66334-1.htm

I have a Black and Decker iron and it heats up really quick.

I have a great little Rowenta travel iron that I bought at Hancocks. I like using steam and this does it well. It doesn't have an auto shut off so if you want that feature this isn't for you. I find it is easier to work with than my larger Rowenta was but I wouldn't want to use it to iron my jeans (kind of small for that type of ironing).

Lowes sell Rowenta they have two sizes I just got the smaller one but it still has some weight to it $29 I don't like all those light weight makes me press too hard.

I have a Rowenta with the auto-shut off feature. I love it, it does a great job. Got it at Bed, Bath and Beyond with a 20% off coupon.

me, too, I've nearly worn the teflon coating off (cleaning the starch off it) and leave it plugged in for hours and hours at a time. I had one of the auto shut off ones, threw that thing hard as I could when it wouldn't heat up enough and wouldn't stay on while I stitched a little 2 1/2 inch seam. Cheaper the better, teflon coating not necessary.

I am on a different boat here. I hate steam, and I hate when the corners of my small pieces get stuck in the holes at the bottom of the iron. So, a couple of years ago, I got me a smaller iron from Home Depot (on-line only). It is dry and has no holes at the plate. I love it, but I only use it for quilting. It gets real hot and it doesn't have auto shut off. Love it.

Gotta look for one of those. I don't use steam when quilting, I only use it pressing fabrics before cutting if I'm not using starch.

I have 2 Sharks at the prison for the program & we all love them. I have a so-so Sunbeam at home. Am thinking about the Shark for home, too.

I looked my iron up. It is called the Rowenta First Class Travel Iron. The steam holes are really small which was a radical change from my older iron. (See pictures)

I turn the steam off when paper piecing. I'm still learning about the different fusible webs so I follow manufacturer directions.

My iron just bit the dust - the thermostat went into overdrive (it melted cotton). Now I am using the Shark and the automatic off feature is not making me happy. I'll have to go read the other thread too. My old one was a Rowenta.

Melted cotton, Martina? WOW! You are fortunate it didn't start a fire in your home. Roy used to be annoyed with me leaving the iron plugged in and on all day while I was sewing but he gave up nagging when I pointed to all his electrical taped gadgets.

I'm going to look at a smaller iron, burned my arm last month when I had it near the sewing machine while putting blocks together. :roll:

I have a Rowenta that I bought at my local True Value Store. I would never use anything else again!

Me too and I love it !! Heard this weekend that they are making all manuf. put auto shut offs on all irons. Will be at WM today to see what they have left of the ones that stay on.

What is the brand name

I have 5 vintage irons with the smooth sole plate and no steam holes. I got them originally to iron linen tablecloths. The newer steam irons just didn't get hot enough. Now I use them for everything. When I need steam I just use a small spray bottle before pressing. These babies are heavy and I use them as weights when I want seams to be really flat.

I get the $6.oo steam iron from Walmart use it until it dies & go get another. Lots of steam & heat from these little irons.

I bought a Shark recently. I love the iron and the steam is great, but the auto shutoff (while safer I am sure) is a pain at times.

Jen

I have an inexpensive Black and Decker that works well for dry and steam.

Wow what brand is it. I would love to have an iron without the shut off mode. Tired of shaking my iron.

My old one did not have the automatic off option and I was very careful about turning it off. When the temp selector fell off (cheap China crap) DH super-glued it back together. It worked but it got REALLY hot. At first I would turn it down, but then I heard that on/off click when it was turned off. So Pat checked it and told me the thermostat was gone. He also lost a shirt to the Ueberheat.

Hi, I have an expensive iron and it has never seemed to work as good as I thought it should for the price. Then I got my own sewing room or just my room for I am all over the room. Anyway I bought a table top ironing board and an iron. The iron was the cheapest,$6.00, at Walmart. It is not heavy, stays hot, has good controls and steams like a dream. (If dreams steamed.) I know there will be a lot of "Top Notch Quilters" that will probably point you to the high end iron. Before going there, blow 6 bucks and try the Walmart cheapy. If it works you saved a bundle, and if not you just blew 6 bucks.
Happy ironing.
Rita at
[email protected]

I just got a new iron bout a month ago. It was a T-fal. Works beautifully and is very hot. The one I got was approx. $40.00 at BJs wholesale club.

I just bought a Black & Decker at Walmart. It has spray AND steam .... and the buttons for those drives me whacky. I use my thumb to steam, and the buttons are left-spray and right-steam. I use steam more than spray (who doesn't?) .. so I'm constantly fumbling to find the steam button. It also doesn't seem to be hot enough, and you have to "coax" it to heat back up after it auto shuts-off. It was under $20, and I don't like it! This was the THIRD iron I bought and returned. Am I too fussy? I think not!

Seems that everyone likes the Shark. I'll have to read the other thread too.

Iam on my second T Fal, only because son dropped the first one and messed it up. The sole plate is fabulous and if something should stick, it will wipe right off when cool!

I have a small B&D travel iron with a flat stainless steel bottom and a water container in the handle. I use it for all my piecing and applique as it gets very hot and doesn't shut off. ALSO, I have several spray water bottles with plain water, light, medium, heavy and BRICK starch (homemade) in them to keep near my sewing station. Depending on what I'm working on, I just grab the appropriate water bottle and spray! I got so tired of having to refill my Rowenta constantly to have adequate steam for pressing, so the above was my solution. Also, when I bring new fabric in after it's washed and semi-dryed, I do use a larger iron (Sunbeam) to slightly press out the wrinkles before folding and storing. I struggled thru 4 irons before I came up with this workable solution for me, so don't give up. You'll find a perfect one for you also.

Josi in FL

I have "The Classic" by Black & Decker, and I love it! Best $30.00 I spent!

I have a wal-mart iron. I bought it for $10.00 and it works like a charm. I have dropped that iron more times then I care to admitt and it still works great. It is a sunbeam.

my best iron is from Wal mart i think it cost me 12.00

I have a 4( steam/dry iron from Walgreens. Had a more expensive one, but too heavy - gave it away.

After having difficulty for years trying to find an iron I could really use for quilting, I was at WalMart in early August when they had back-to-school items on sale and I found a steam iron for $6.00. It's been one of the best purchases I've ever made. It heats up very quickly & because of the cheap price I don't worry about getting anything on it. no teflon but it cleans very easily. I do think they now sell for $12.00 but still a bargain.

My Shark just bit the dust so I am using my Rowenta. I really liked the Shark better. It does have the auto cut off, but I don't mind, For me it is safer and it heats up pretty fast.

This doesn't apply to buying an iron, but we had the scare of our lives, and luckily, we were home. At the time we had teenagers. One of them had left the iron plugged into the wall socket. There was nothing else plugged into this wall socket except the iron. The iron was OFF and cold, but the fire started in the wall within the wall socket! The utility room was in the daylight basement in this particular home. we smelled smoke and went down to check. Because we caught it in time, the Fire Dept. quickly put it out with minor damage. From this experience, I never leave an iron plugged in, unless I am nearby and using it. Even if the iron is off, as in our case, apparently it can still be a fire hazard.

Ilove my Rowwenta,It's the best iron Iv'e ever had.

I also have the Black and Decker Travel Iron. I just love it for piecing. I have 2 other irons, and took this one out of the RV after watching a learning video and the teacher had one just like mine! So light weight, but gets really hot quickly. I don't use steam, but it will steam if I wanted it to.

I have a question too about an iron. I have a Rowent and I'm not thrilled. For what I paid for it (Joanne's of course won't allow a coupon). Any way, my question is. I keep getting fusible stuck to the bottom of it and it smells bad and I'm concerned it will come off on my fabric. HOW DO I CLEAN THE BOTTOM OF THE IRON. I did purchase some stuff @ Joanne's I think that cleans the bottom of the iron but I will have to buy stock in the company at the rate I'm using it. I finally started using a teflon sheet when fusing. Any ideas or suggestions? I love this site and all the tips so I know someone will be able to help me.

I am just the opposite I like a heavy iron if it's to light I tend to push harder. I just killed my subeam and bought a roenta haven't used it yet