Just wondering...
 

As I sit here casually sewing tiny pieces and equally tiny blocks together and using the tiny iron I have set up right next to my machine so I don't have to get up to press between each seam, it got me to wondering what our fore-mothers did when they pressed. I picture their heavy cast iron IRON, sitting on top of the wood stove in the little log cabin, but wonder about the PRESSING process back then. I certainly have heard/read more about the quilting and piecing process than the ironing. Anyone know?

Many used a bone folder or finger pressed the fabric back. The way we do things today is so much more efficient and time-saving. Years ago they hand sewed everything and used scraps from other projects to make quilts with Cardboard templates, drawing around them and eye balling the quarter inch and dutifully sewing each with a needle and thread. That is why when you see a very old spectacular qulit the hours and hours of work should amaze you. It sure does me. What takes us days/weeks took them months.

I too, learned to quilt in the dark ages of cardboard templates, so am familiar with this process, but I'd just never given any thought to the historical pressing aspect of my favorite craft!

My grandmother had a small smooth piece of wood. It looked like a tongue depressor on one end and was pointed on the other. The pointed end she used to turn points and corners, the rounded end she used to press down her seams. She held the seam against a table top and rubbed the wood over it until it was fairly flat. You can still buy wood presses. They also had a wooden presser that looked more like an iron and they would sort of pound down their seams. If you click on the little pictures you can see both. https://www.etsy.com/listing/219505364/cherry-wood-sewing-stilletoseam-presser

When I visited the house where my Grandmother grew up, I saw all sorts of neat things in the attic including an iron that was heats on the stove-top. I am so glad that the days of cardboard cut templates are a part of my past. I believe that the rotary cutter, acrylic rulers and self healing mats are the best inventions for us quilters since the sewing machine was created.

My grandmother used the handle of a knife. My grandfather planed it to a wedge for her.

I doubt any of the utility quilt pieces were ironed. Maybe a wedding quilt was given special attention.

Finger pressing was usually adequate for hand pieced blocks while it was a work in progress,

very interesting. i imagine the finger pressing did a good job. i imagine it was crisp enough. Maybe they ironed as a whole cloth, and then when cut down to pieces, pressing wasn't needed.