Do any of you on this board use the Clover mini iron for pressing seams when quilting? If so, how do you like it, pro's and con's. I got a Joann's gift certificate for Mother's Day and am thinking about buying one. Thanks!!

Blessings,

I'm so glad u asked this question. I'll be interested in the responses. I was thinking about getting one too.

I have had a clover mini iron for a long time and if they have not improved it then you don't need one. I have the one that is round shaped and has the little iron surface on the end. It gets quite hot and it will not set where you put it and I have gotten burned several times. I won't use it again and I would never give it or sell it to someone else. Plus, I like steam. Hope this helps.

I have one and don't use it much. It doesn't seem to get hot enough.

I use mine for piecing in the hoop and paper piecing. I like it for both of these things. I don't think it is practical for large amounts of pressing.
It does get very hot, and I have burned myself and melted the little plastic stand that it comes with.

I bought one at JoAnns that had multiple heads with it. I used it on a background that was built on those foundations that you iron on the fabric and then sew on the lines. It was little squares and as I was planning on doing iron on applique I wanted the back a unlumpy (is that a word-lol) as possible.

It worked well but did get toasty hot. I used the head that was pointed. Have not used it since!! (and obtw - have not finished the applique either :-( )

I have mini iron with several different heads. It get hot and does a good. Only problem I have is I forget to use it.
Get iron if you have good coupon, don't pay full price.

I have one and have hardly used it, because I like to press hard, and you can't do that with these little irons. I prefer (and always use now) a small travel iron. I'm not bothered about steam, because I spritz with a bottle of water if I want that.

I have one but only find it useful for adhereing the bias tape with the fusible web .. the type used in stainglass. Using it for pressing seams in quilt blocks was more trouble than it was worth, and I always ended up using the 'big" iron anyway.

I use an old large ceramic mug to rest the iron in. Just stand it in the cup upright between using. Yes, it gets very hot, I also have a few burn scars on my fingers from it, but it comes in handy for time piece pressing and seams.

I have one, and don't use it very much. I also keep it in a ceramic mug. I can't say why I don't use it. It gets hot enough.

I received one as a gift. Was quite happy to get it but I never use it. At least I know exactly where it is. I did burn my fingers a time or two on it, so it does get hot enough.

I have had one for about 4 years now, and have never used it more than a couple of times, both times burning myself. I use a little travel iron, much more useful.

I love mine for paper piecing and fusible bias for stained glass. It gets VERY hot and had a burn on my thigh for a while when I used it while wearing shorts and I dropped it. Ouch. Just like all our tools, you have to be careful. Rotary cutters, seam rippers, sharp scissors, etc. We have a dangerous vocation. :-)

I had one and actually sold it on one of my groups. I prefer my little travel iron (which is steam also). Only $10 at Wallgreems.

I have one of the older ones, small head, white handle, and use it more then I thought I would. It takes the iron a few times after being turned to the hottest sitting to reach the full temp. After that it gets hot very fast. I bought the holder made for it and there is no problem with it falling over. One thing, if the cord is not put on right, the lay of the cord will twist making the iron wanting to twist. Keep taking it back until you find one that has the right cord lay. It took me four tries. You'd think Clover would have better quality control on the assembly line. I burned myself one time. For some reason I used my finger to push the head of the iron down on a seam. I haven't done that again.

My problem was it wouldn't stay put, even w the little "stand" that came w it.

I use mine for in the hoop pressing. It doesn't do very well for me with the seam work. It is a little unstable when you go to lay it down but I always use the stand that came with it and have avoided burns.

I only use mine on very small pieces which isn't a lot but I like it when I have those tiny pieces

The stand that comes with is is not worth having. The wooden ones like this work great.

http://www.brewersewing.com/bqss_con...asp?item=7340A

I have one and use it for applique when I also use the no melt plastic to turn the edges over as well as use a pellon type template to turn edges over. I don't use it for presing seams.

i love mine for small fusible applique. when i was working at a call center, i used to take the mini iron to work and do my applique blocks there. sure helped in the Christmas rush :-)

I LOVE LOVE LOVE mine. I use it for paper piecing & quilt bindings (gluing). I've been using mine for years, dropped it on the hard tile floor a few times & it still keeps on going.
I have a new one for a back up, just in case :) :) :)

i use mine for applique and i'm very happy with it. if it broke i would certainly buy another the next day.

bought one brand new at a garage sale. Used it when taking an applique class. Couldn't get it to stand up in a mug (mug kept tipping over), found a glass "corn on the cob" dish at Goodwill. It lays nicely in the corn cob shape.

Pat

I have the red one with different head attachments and I love it. I use it all the time. I feel it is most useful when piecing, especially triangle squares, by using it I don't stretch the triangles on the seams like one could with a big iron. I chain piece and than iron all seams. I have it sitting next to me on one of the June Taylor reversible iron surface/cutting mat. It is square. I have a ceramic little dish holding little iron holder with a piece of tape underneath it. Works great. I have showed other gals this and they love it too. Wonderful gadget. And don't we all love those gadgets......C.

I use mine for small piecing .... and I 'stand' it in a tall ceramic coffee mug .... works great!

I have one....really don't like it. I like steam....it's easy to get burned...and really can't press very hard. Would be ok to use in a pinch.

I have to agree with you. I have one, and it sits in the drawer. #1 it takes too long to heat up, won't sit flat in the little wooden slot meant to hold it, and just doesn't flatten the seams enough. Works okay for small iron-on applique, but I rarely do that kind of stuff. Use your money for something else, as far as I'm concerned.

Last year when I was contemplating purchasing one of the Clover irons, I read comments online and was scared away by the many, many people who were burned when they grabbed the shaft instead of the actual handle.

So, instead I got a Dritz Petite Press (at Joann's with coupon). The whole handle/shaft is enclosed so you can only burn yourself with the sole of the iron-just like with a "normal" iron. Have used it for turning under applique edges and works fine. No burns so far :).

I have had one a few years. I like it. i feel it gets hot enough I have burned myself as well. I like because if i'm doing piecing I can have it beside me and not get up & down as much to press the seams. then when the block is done I press it with the regular iron. I have the pointed on. I also do not use the stand. i use a binder clip I like that better.

i have one and use it for all sorts of stuff including my avatar

I use mine for pressing seams open, or for binding. You have to be very careful with it because it does get very HOT. My fingers don't have prints at times because of the burns. LOL

I have had mine for a few years now. Also have the stand but the iron fell over and melted the plastic on one of my machines when it hit the front of it. Have a few burn marks on my fingers too. Haven't used it lately.

I have one but right away I burned a nice little iron shape on my worktable surface. It is hand for seams but it does get very hot. You need a stable prop for the stand, don't just lay it down.

I do not like mine. Does not get hot enough. The idea is great, but it misses the mark. A waste of money.

I don't think it gets hot enough and I seem to remember that the cord got in the way or it was heavier then the iron and made the iron difficult to handle.

I also have the Hobbico iron that I have seen Eleanor Burns use on TV. It gets very hot, has a nice point -- does not have auto shut-off so I have scorched my ironing board cover a few times.

The skinny one? I hated mine and gave it away. It just didn't set on the holder correctly and I burned my hand more than once. I have a miniature regular shaped iron that I like much better.

I can't answer you about the iron but just noticed your avatar. Can you tell me which pattern you used? It is beautiful.

I use it when I'm piecing, to save trips back and forth to the ironing board, but once I've got the block done, I find I really need to give it a "good" pressing with the iron. Maybe that's just me though. It's a handy tool, and it's terrific as a "take-along" for classes where there are usually people lined up to use the irons.