Elna press for quilting
 

Hi there,
I saw a post on Facebook from a local sewing group. Somebody is selling an Elna press 2000 for a great price (150$) and I wonder if it would be useful for me? I'm doing some very large queen size quilt these days and I'm quite struggling with pressing those big piece of fabric. Anyone using something like this for quilting?
Thanks,
Annie

I don't think that kind of press works well for large pieces.

And how about pressing block? Any advantage over an ordinary iron?

I don't think so. With an iron you can fussy-press seams. With the press, there's no way you can hold a seam open or to the side while pressing, so there's more chance of pressing a little fold-over into a seam. I just don't see a press as being useful for quilting.

I think where a press would be useful for quilting would be pressing yardage before making your first cut, or possible pressing scraps.

years ago Eleanor Burns used a large press like cleaners have but it didn't last long on her show.

I have an Elna Press and use it for applique. I don't use it for pressing blocks or large pieces of fabric.

As I make mostly large quilts I hated to have to press them before I put them onto the frame so finally made a larger presser station to place over my ironing board. Would love a larger station but no room for it. I used a piece of .75" plywood 24" x 48, added brackets underneath to keep the board from shifting and covered it with cotton batting and ticking fabric. It sure saves me time when pressing large pieces of fabrics. True it still takes time to press those large quilts but now I can press 1/2 side down the length, then turn it around and press the other side. I'm in love with my pressing station.

Added note is I can still iron my shirts and open type skirts without having to remove the board. Only dresses do I have to do remove it so I'm even more happy.

Like Snooze2978 I had my DH cut a board 24" x 48" with skids so I can pick it up easily if I want to. I covered it with Insulbrite, then cotton batting, then canvas, stapling to the back. I then made 2 muslin covers with rounded corners and casing edges to run a cord through so I can wash periodically, as I use starch. To make them taut on the board I used elasticized clips sold at bedding places with garter like clips at each end (something like we used to use to keep mittens from getting lost on kids jackets, only longer elastic) Here is a picture: I just put my cutting board on top when I need to use it, rather than remove the ironing board. Hope this helps. I can press an entire width of fabric or half a quilt.
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What a lovely and functional pressing table you have, EmiliasNana. Now, I want one of those. I have a Elna Press, but don't use it much. Since I use recycled fabrics, it can be used to help on days when I am whipping my fabrics in shape.