How many of us would buy
 

an iron with a rectangular soleplate, for ironing fabrics? I would dearly love to have one, so as not to have to keep ironing over the part that the pointed end doesn't dry as efficiently.

I found one, called a "lining iron", at a .uk site, but the price is prohibitive. I wonder if American manufacturers have researched it and decided that there wouldn't be enough buyers.

Daffy

I have often thought I would like to have had my mom's large pressing machine that she used to iron the linen table clothes and napkins. It was great and it had a roller so all you had to do was put the item in, hold it to feed it in straight. She donated to a church when she decided it was not worth the effort any more. (She kept it in the basement and hated to use it down there.) Also, we weren't using the heavy linen anymore, she found the light weight tablecloths to use instead. I don't think I would like a square iron, the point makes it glide easier through the wrinkles.

Personally, I wouldn't like it. It would be good for the purpose that you want but I do many kinds of sewing and ironing and I like an nice point for opening seams and getting in the little hard to get places.

Quiltingcandy, I use not having a press as an excuse that I have to take the big tablecloths to the dry cleaners :D

I washed four loads of backing fabric. I wasn't about to press all that so I took it to the cleaners. They pressed and had it hung neatly on hangers for me. I would by a square or rounded iron if it was a reasonable price. Would be efficient!

I never thought to bring a large backing to the cleaners for pressing. What do they charge for this service?

I agree with what cash mom said.

[QUOTE=cashs_mom;7628692]Personally, I wouldn't like it. It would be good for the purpose that you want but I do many kinds of sewing and ironing and I like an nice point for opening seams and getting in the little hard to get places.

Oh, I definitely agree that the point is needed in most cases. My question was more of having an iron dedicated just for ironing fabrics (I already have an iron without steam holes for that purpose, but of course it has the point).

I used to use one of these removable sole plates on my iron many, many years ago. They have a little spring that holds it on to your regular iron plate. It would be nice to have a square/rectangular one that is removable.

http://dupray.com/cleaning-accessori...lon-soleplate/

A few times I've just turned my iron around and ironed backwards.

I really don't know. The fabric came home with DH when he picked up the clothes. I just asked him and he said he doesn't remember, he slept since then.

I would buy one in a heart beat. I've tried ironing backwards only to burn myself. If I can buy a pointless ironing board why not a pointless iron?

If it is from the UK, can it be used with the US electrical hookups

well, aren't you clever? That is not something I would have ever thought to do.

Daphne - my mom also had one of those big ironing machines back in the 60's and I've often thought how great that would be for ironing fabrics. Haven't seen one for over 50 years.

Hey,tessagin, that is so smart. Now if I could just find a way to get rid of the steam hole imprints when I iron on fusible interfacing. I wish I had kept that old Sunbeam dry iron.

You could always just buy a home press. I used to have one I bought used for not too much. It would press large areas quickly.

If the iron is labeled "dual voltage", it could be used in the U.S. with a plug adapter. However, it might not work as well or last as long. If it isn't dual voltage, you would need an electrical current converter to use it in the U.S. and again, it probably wouldn't work as well or last as long. The converter would add to the price as well.

Me too! :-)

I have an Ironrite ironer. Never thought of using it to iron fabrics. Do you want to purchase one?

My mother also had a "mangle" and it lived in the basement too. She sure loved that thing and she was one of those people who even ironed her "unders", believe it or not.

Only reason I don't have my old Sunbeam dry iron is because it literally blew up on me. Scared the crap out of me and then I cried/laughed and cried again.

My Grandmother had a mangle that she ironed her crocheted pieces and large linens on. She had a crocheted bedspread she put over a dark blue satin spread and many crocheted doilies that I now have. I put mangle in my browser and mangles are for sale ... even on Amazon ...not sure if it will work but here's what I got.

http://www.bing.com/search?q=mangle+...9CF6&FORM=QBLH

a litter of kittens playing on my keyboard makes it hard to type.

Gabrielle >>Birmingham, Alabama Roll Tide >>>War Eagle

I had an aunt who had one of those rolling-pin types of irons. When I got into quilting, I actually did a search for one of them. Found them, but they were several hundred dollars. At the time, I couldn't even afford a quilting machine with a large throat. Would still love to have one. Still can't afford it (retired now).

They were called mangles. MY mother had one as did many of the neighbors whom I worked for as a young girl. I loved them and got quite proficient at using one. I've always hated to iron!

My aunt had one of those back in the 1940s and I loved it. She would crease the legs on a pair of trousers and then just roll it through and release it when it got to the top of the pants. She got to where she could iron shirts, dresses, etc. on her machine. I think it was made by Bendix. I would love to have one of those today.

I love this place.

Aileen

My Grandmother ironed hers also, as well as the sheets and pillowcases. I do not have that much energy. Sheets go from the dryer to the bed.

We also had a mangle in the late 50's. Used it on almost everything! Ours also lived in the basement!

my "boyfriend's" (we were 5) mom had both a roller and a mangle in her laundry room. she was a whiz at both of them. i asked my mom why they called it a "mangle", and she replied, "because that's what it will do to your hand if you get caught in it." mom swore by her dry iron, a sprinkling bottle, and (before they were on the mass market) two large plastic bags she'd made from a heavy duty plastic tablecloth. yep. early 50s. and when she sprinkled, if she couldn't iron right away, the clothes went in the fridge, so they wouldn't mold or mildew. i'm so grateful for wash and wear clothes, and am happy to press quilt fabric. but that "taking it to the cleaners" thing sounds extremely pleasant!