Steady Betty?
 

Apparently along with not being able to keep a 1/4 inch seam, I can't press properly either. After I pressed my blocks they seemed to have grown. Not all over just on the corners.
I was wondering if a Steady Betty would help. They are kinda pricey but with a coupon it wouldn't be too bad. What do you that have one think?

What is a Steady Betty? I'm confused. Are you ironing or just pressing. I found out when I stopped ironing my blocks didn't grow. I use steam and do the seams first and then press to one side. Let the iron do the work and don't move it with pressure.

I have a Steady Betty and it's wonderful, however, I agree with Debra. You are ironing not pressing. I use starch and let it span in, set my seam and then just press with no side to side movement. Try that and see if it works

Yeah, what is a Steady Betty?

Pressing would solve the growing problem. no side to side or back and forth motion. Just press, then lift.

Love steady betty products.

I have a Steady Betty...love it! Actually wish I had not waited so long to get one.

I LOVE my Steady Betty!

I use a towel on my ironing board . The friction of the terry cloth helps to keep the fabric from stretching. An added bonus is when it gets linty I toss it in the wash.

Starch and press Before you cut.

While piecing don't use steam.

I have a steady Betty and use it for all sorts besides pressing.the surface is a kind of foam.

l enjoy my a lot I use it for pressing and also stacking my fabric pieces for sewing, steady betty keeps them from shifting and ready to sew

I have used a Steady Betty since high school. A friend of my granmother was dressmaker and she had a work surface covered in the foam fabric. She gave my grandmother a large piece of the fabric to cover her ironing board. It wasn't called Steady Betty back then. This fabric use to be common to find. It's foam backed vinyl. Very fine foam like, not thick. It doesn't melt or burn like you think. It keeps the fabric from stretching or moving when you press it. The Steady Betty board is well made and you use both sides. I need to wash mine, it's getting grungy with starch and glue dribbles.

THANKS for this idea Lori S. I am ending up with a lot a threads from starching that is sticking to my ironing board. Don't want anything too bulky but then I shouldn't have any trouble finding a cheap towel !! :)

Wow! Just looked at the site, very expensive. If you are just pressing apply pressure, if you are ironing use a light touch. Before I upset anyone, check out Jenny form MSQ. She irons but never stretches her blocks. I don't think I've ever seen her press.

Is the Steady Betty good for regular ironing or does it hold the fabric too well?

How do you wash it?

At that price, it had better work well. Very well.

If you are like me, perhaps your seams get a bit narrower at end of the seam. I have to really pay attention when I am coming to the end as the fabric just seems to move over ever so slightly.. This too will cause distortion.

Buy it half priced or buy one and get one free.
I used a 50% off coupon from JoAnns to buy it to try it out and bought another one when the next 50% coupon showed up. That is the same as buy one get one free. I have two so the dirty one is going in the dishwasher, it may work or it may not. I'll find out. I'll wash the free one first. LOLOLOL

I use a piece of headliner (like in the roof of a car) and it works perfectly. You can get it at Joann's for around $12 per yard. Get with a couple of other gals and split it up. You only need a piece about 12 x 12. It's much cheaper than SB.

Steady Betty
 

I hate to think quilters are open to the next clever money making idea,but I too have bought rulers etc. that with a little thought are no better than my basic rulers.They say 'don't teach Grandma to suck eggs ' Press, don't iron is a simple , and free rule.I guess if you can afford to spend,sped, spend,then o.k.otherwise save your cash to buy fabric -- there are so many practical ideas here on the board to avoid the latest gimmick.Love Letty.

The headliner fabric I bought at a car body shop melted when I ironed it LOL. I was making a car pillow. The headliner fabric sold in fabric stores may be not the same headliner fabric used in vehicles. A new iron and wasted fabric cost more then the Steady Betty. Sometimes making do for less is a bad idea. I have learned to buy the product made for the job and that saves me frustration, time and money.

I have a Steady Betty and it does help, but I would say you can do without. First, as others have said, press not iron. This means you lift the iron up and down on the fabric, do not swipe the iron across the fabric. Second, I've discovered that a plain cotton duck cover on your ironing surface will hold the fabric as well as a Steady Betty, and it's much less expensive.

I've totally noticed the same thing on Jenny's tutorials. She really moves that iron around, and uses steam. It's her SURFACE that doesn't move. I've found that a nice, firm ironing surface without a bunch of padding, and a covering like cotton duck is key. I use steam and love it, but that's personal preference. Also, let your piece COOL before picking it up, at least several seconds if you can't wait for it to cool completely. Also, starch.

I'm planning to purchase a Steady Betty, but had two questions. It appears that the 12 X 12 size may be more popular than the 16 X 16. Pricing aside, which would you recommend? I will not make blocks larger than 12 X 12, but wondered if a larger space would be more convenient. Secondly, what are your thoughts regarding the Pin and Press option?

I don't know yet if I'm going to buy one but if I do I'll get the 16x16. I think I'll try some of the pressing suggestions first.