Does anyone use one of these. I had purchased one a while back and only used it once and the next time I got it out which was months later, it didn't work. I'm going to be doing an appllique quilt and wonder if any of you use them with the heat resistant mylar for doing applique. What is your favorite method?

My favorite method is freezer paper. I cut out the shape, iron the freezer paper to the wrong side of the fabric, cut out about 1/8" around, then use Elmer's school paste (comes in a jar, smells like peppermint) and my finger to smear paste and turn the edge under.

Later, after the entire quilt top is done, I remove the paper by first cutting out the background paper about 1/4" from my machine sewing line. (The freezer paper makes it very easy to catch just the background paper with the scissors.) Then I "paint" each edge where the glue is with water, let the whole thing sit until the paste has softened, then remove all the papers at one time.

To make multiple freezer paper shapes, I first trace a shape onto freezer paper using a Sharpie permanent marker. Then I layer this on top of 5 other sheets of freezer paper (all of them with waxy side facing down) and iron all around the drawn shape. This holds the 6 layers of freezer paper while I cut around the drawn shape. With this method I get 6 shapes cut out for a single tracing and cutting.

I have a little iron and heat-resistant mylar. Just could never get the hang of working with either one.

I've read on this board that the little iron should be turned on, turned off, turned on, turn off (maybe several times) - to really work. Maybe that's because it didn't get hot enough, as opposed to not working at all ... but I thought I would share others' tip.

I've heard the same thing. Hope I remember when I use the one I bought.

I have 2 of those..one with the changeable heads and I find they are awkward to use. I'm thinking of investing in one of the sealing irons. Does anyone have one?

i have used one but found it hard to cope with the stand[even a great home made one]until on this very board the suggestion was to put the hot tip in a heavy earthenware vase /jar---problem solved

I have both the tiny clover iron, and the sealing iron. I mostly use the sealing iron. My clover iron is an older one, before they had the extra tips, so maybe I would use that one more?

What is a sealing iron?????

I use my Clover mini-iron for paper piecing. I press after every seam. I keep it in a heavy coffee mug. I never even tried to use the little plastic stand it came with. Mine has worked perfectly for several years.

From Prism: "To make multiple freezer paper shapes, I first trace a shape onto freezer paper using a Sharpie permanent marker. Then I layer this on top of 5 other sheets of freezer paper (all of them with waxy side facing down) and iron all around the drawn shape. This holds the 6 layers of freezer paper while I cut around the drawn shape. With this method I get 6 shapes cut out for a single tracing and cutting."

Thank you for this tip. Hadn't heard this one before and can use it!

Here is info about the hobbico sealing iron:

http://www.hobbico.com/tools/hcar8000.html