My great grandmother was a seamstress - she sewed clothes and made hats. She was a small woman (4'9") and she had an iron that was a bit smaller than the travel irons of today. I was told she used it for small areas, it set on the stove. Since my mom sewed for us, she ended up with it, I have it now. Unfortunately she is not around to ask, but I cannot image that she would sew a seam and get up to iron it.