Difference between pressing and ironing?
 

I read all the time where people say to be careful to PRESS when quilting instead of IRONING. Now, I've been sewing for 50 years, and have done things from doll clothes to wedding gowns, from lingerie to auto upholstery and lots of alterations. I started quilting in the last few years.

And I still can not figure out what the difference between ironing and pressing is. I do not think I use my iron any differently with quilting than other types of sewing, except that I prefer a dry iron when quilting. I also never use starch.

So - what is the difference between ironing and pressing? I'm starting to think I only know how to press, and have never learned how to iron.

When you are pressing, you are coming straight down onto the fabric. You are taught not to press like you would a man's shirt since you can distort the exact size of a block especially if the edges are bias. Hope that makes sense.

When you iron you are moving your iron from side to side. This moves the fabric and can stretch the fabric out of shape. If you see a block and have all your cutting and seams accurate you can end up with a block that is not squared up after ironing. Pressing is setting your seams to the side or open without stretching the fabric. I found that if I use the tip or edge of my iron on these seams I get less distortions

With ironing, you move the iron with the weight of the iron on the fabric. I iron my fabric along the length of grain when preparing it for cutting.

With pressing, you don't move the iron with the weight of the iron on the fabric. You lift the iron off the fabric to move it, place it down in one position, and then lift it again to move it to a different position.

when I iron/press, I give the fabric a bit of a shake and let it rest. Like when I had to iron pillowcases and the tops of flat sheets while still home. God bless the perma/press inventor. Never understood because we had bedspreads to cover entire bed.

I think of "pressing" as bringing the iron down to one spot - and leaving it on that spot for a few seconds - then lifting it up and putting it down in another spot.

When it comes to my quilting pieces - I "press" to set the seams - and then turn the piece to the right side to "iron" the seam to one side (usually). Because I am a fanatic about grain lines - and iron "with the grain" - I seldom have distortions on my blocks.

Pressing is putting the iron down and then lifting it up. No movement. Like you were using a pants press. .
I have this one and it is wonderful for quilting. http://www.walmart.com/ip/17167251?w...118271&veh=sem I bought one on the clearance aisle for $39.99 several years ago. Keep a look out for one at sales. It's worth having.

As others have said, ironing is back and forth and pressing is up & down.

If there is a stubborn seam and it needs extra heat but you are afraid the iron will burn your fabric, you can also use a wooden clapper after lifting the iron, just set the clapper down and it holds the heat in.

The reason that scrubbing is a bad thing is because the bias is very temperamental. It can sometimes stretch/distort a block by the smallest motion. Many quilters don't use steam for the same reason.

Here's a very interesting video on how to press HST's.
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CynQMi2IQ18

I use a clapper when I press seams. A clapper is an essential tool for tailors so it's a fact it works and it's a must for flat seams. Taking care of the small details will show in the finished product.

Take a square of fabric, say 12x12 or even a fat quarter. Put it on your board, and set your iron straight down on it, without moving up or down or sideways. Lift iron, move to different section of your square, set it down again, until you've "pressed" the entire square smooth. Your square should still be square, not distorted. That's pressing.

Now, same square, but rumple or wad it up to create some wrinkles: Put the square on your board, set your iron down on it, slide the iron forward to the corner of the square, then back. Then slide it forward to the adjacent corner. While sliding, you press down somewhat on your iron. Continue to slide the iron in all directions until the square is smooth. When the square is smooth, you'll probably find it is also somewhat distorted, depending on the fabric quality and weave. That's ironing.

All my growing up life my mother worked in a laundry, running a shirt press. She taught me to iron and boy could she iron! She was a master at it; no wrinkles left in her wake. Learning to "press" instead was a bit of a challenge for me because my instinct is to "iron"...with a vengeance!

:)

Exactly said, you do not move your iron in a free flowing motion. The iron comes straight down first and then I pick it up slightly to go to next spot. I do use steam and starch occasionally and I really like how the starch works on some blocks.