To steam or not to steam when ironing?
 

Do you use steam when you iron? I have been using steam for 3 years, but last week my iron pushed out some rusty water or something, as the block I was ironing was stained. I was, of course, on a white part of the block.

So, now I have quit using steam, but I am not so sure I am ironing as "flat" as I did with steam.

So, do you use steam? Is it just my imagination that the seams don't iron as flat?

Dina

I've never felt like steam was necessary. I can understand how different it must feel to you though.

I have always used steam, it works better for me.

I don't usually use steam, but if I do, it's after the whole top is pieced, just before sandwiching.

I learned somewhere (?) to use dry iron and a spray water bottle. Then it presses down just fine and no chance of rusty water from the iron.

I use steam..

I also (try to) remember to clean my iron, regularly. Just like changing blades, needles and cleaning our machine regularly. Our irons needs some TLC, too.

I remember a saying from way back ~ "Take care of your tools and they will take care of you."

Okay, maybe I need to figure out how to clean my iron. I have never done that. Could be my problem? :) May have to research, as I know I don't still have the instructions to this iron.

Thanks for your responses. For now, I am not steaming, but I do miss it.

Dina

Was your iron a Rowenta? They are NOTORIOUS for doing this little number on our work.:mad:

I use steam because I want the seams pressed flat enough to look like they were woven together rather than sewn together, I'm kinda anal about it! Stopping to pick up a spray bottle *every* time would just drive me nuts. (Did I mention I'm anal/abit crazy?!) I do use a spray bottle, just not when I'm generally pressing a seam.

I feel that the distortion 'caused by steam' is actually caused by the ironer rather than the iron. :) When fabric is pressed correctly, carefully, on straight grain, not pushing the fabric, there is very little if any distortion with steam.

Jan in VA

I use steam but have never put water in my iron--I never figured out how to fill it. I use a small spray bottle from the dollar store and lightly spray the seams. If I'm paperpiecing, I spray my finger and run it over the seam. (I'm really anal about flat seams LOL).

Just read the "other" Jan's post---is anality (?) a Jan thing???

I usually use steam when I "press" my seams. I don't iron. I feel it makes the seam lay flatter. Using a spray bottle with a dry iron is a pain in the ***.