I am making a baby quilt from a kit. Instructions read to use a pressing cloth when pressing. What exactly is a pressing cloth? Can I just use muslin, or should I use a towel or flannel, or is it something specific?
Thanks, Julie

I use a flour sack towel.

Maria

Maybe a double layer of muslin, single layer may be too thin. Any cotton fabric would work.

I use a plain tea towel for a pressing cloth. one that has no pattern woven in.

I put an old towel on my ironing board and use a big piece of an old sheet as pressing cloth

I've never heard of a 'pressing cloth' before, why do you use one?
Sorry Julie, I am no help for you.

The pressing cloth I bought from JoAnn's is very thin.

I think a pressing cloth is used to prevent "shine" on the fabric from the iron. Shine does not develop on quilting cotton fabrics, so the only reason to use a pressing cloth on cotton would be to protect against scorching if you have a very hot iron. Fabrics with other-than-cotton content, and fabrics with a nap, can look funny if pressed directly with an iron.

You can always test a piece of fabric with and without a pressing cloth to see if it is needed.

Thanks Prism99! :-)

I was born in the 50's so I grew up using a pressing cloth. You use it on material that shouldn't take direct heat. When I used it, I would get my pressing cloth wet and then wring it out before I put it over the item on the ironing board.

I still use a pressing cloth. I like to use the old type of dish towels. (The ones that were like muslin. I agree that the muslin might be too thin so if you do use muslin, double it for protection.

[You can still buy flour sack towels at Walmart./quote]

What department do you buy them in?