Originally Posted by
charlottequilts
Could someone explain why the dry irons are good for quilting? Is there less fabric distortion? Do you spray any water on the fabric? Just curious.
I think it's primarily because steam irons eventually develop problems with spitting and sputtering. I have had one stain a fabric I was ironing! You can use a steam iron dry, but then there is no reason to have the holes. Holes are places where the iron is not delivering heat. Also, when using a steam iron in one place to cement a fusible to the fabric, the areas where the holes are will not be fused. It's just simpler to use a dry iron and get a smooth, flat surface for ironing.
Some quilters prefer to iron dry because steam (in combination with heavy handedness) can distort fabrics -- especially bias cuts. Many quilters like to spray mist when using a dry iron. It's all a matter of personal preference.