Small (Portable) Iron Question
 

I am considering buying a small portable iron to use next to my sewing machine, so I don't have to constantly be getting up I down to do my pressing. I am looking at 2 possibilities. The 1st is the Petite Press Portable Iron @$39.99 & the 2nd is the Steam Fast Portable iron @$19.99. If you could give me any help & advice I would be so appreciative. I can't afford to waste $'s so I want to make wise choices. Thanks for your time & help. Can't make it without ya'll's help.

I have owned several mini irons (including the Clover mini, which I hated) and BY FAR my absolute favorite is the Dritz Petite Press. I'm not sure if this is the same one as Joanns (your link just goes to their main page). I love it so much I bought one for my friend and a second one as a backup for myself. The head is adjustable, so you can change angles, and there are 4 heat settings. The highest is very hot. I got mine at Joann's when they had the Notions wall at 50% off, so I paid $20. For some reason, they don't stock this with the irons, they stock it with the notions.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...L._SL1200_.jpg

I have had this one for some years and it works great, gets very hot and is just the right size. http://www.nancysnotions.com/product...travel+iron.do

I found it at Tuesday Mornings store marked down to $9.99. I see them there from time to time.

Yup. I have one just like the link BellaBoo shows and I just love it. I think I got it online, and it's called Steam Fast. So handy to put beside the machine on my June Tailor ironing pad for quick press of seams when I'm piecing. I let little kids use it when I teach them to sew and they do just fine with it too. Very easy on the hands if you have arthritis, too. I've had it a couple of years, I think and it's still going fine.

I've got 4-5(6) irons. As to why, dont know. I know 4 of them are a lght weight, and 1 is a Rowenta, a little heavy. The 1 I like is a sunbeam. Nothing fance. It has a red blinking light,(on top) to let me know, it need to be turned on to get hot, and when the blinking red light is blinking, the iron, is still kept warm. When I'm tru ironing, I shut it off.

I have the Petite press and I hate it. It is too lightweight so I have to press down to get a seam to lay flat.

I thought the clover would be good and only used it a couple times. I think it would be great for applique.

I prefer using a travel iron and recently purchased a Conair from Amazon. I like it really well. The end comes to a nice point for pressing seams, although I usually press with a wood tool a little bit first.

I use a travel iron that I bought years ago and it works great.

Dont get a Rowenta. They have a leaking problem both the travel and the regular iron.

The little Clover wand iron is great for the starch method of applique. For right next to my machine, I covered the top of a wooden tv table with batt and canvas and I use a little Sharptek "baby" iron - no steam, pretty darn hot, works great for pressing seams and for the applique. $8 at Joann.

I just bought that Petite Press but it's still in the package, so thanks for the review. I'll get that puppy out and put it to use. :)

I bought this little steam iron from Target and I liked it so much that I bought a second one for the RV....right size, priced right and it is wonderful.
http://www.amazon.com/Sunbeam-2630-H.../dp/B002N0ZLJU

just my 2 cents.....sewing/ quilting can become a (sedentary) activity---sometimes the only exercise we get is getting up to walk to the ironing board.
i have a couple small irons- i use mainly (next to my machine) for applique & paper piecing...and i always (regret it later) because i find i have spent hours sitting there-working and am stiff & sore...so, tempting as it (seems) i find i am better off getting up for those pressing moments