Confession

[Sitara]

As much as you hate it, get to be friends with your iron.  Pressing seams as you go along really does make things lay better and therefore look nicer.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

How one cannot sew with a good iron is beyond me.

A serger helps too!!

[Lady Rebecca]

I'm facing that problem right now. I think I will have to break down and buy an iron and board. Any recommendations?

[Rani Zemirah]

I have a tiny travel iron that I use, and the small half size table top ironing board, as well... and the only things I ever iron are things I'm about to sew!  

[Kate XXXXXX]

As big and sturdy and ironing board as you can find, and a steam generator iron.  I have a lovely Morph Richards job now, and am loving it.

[LadyStitch]

Gem,  I tend to lurk on PatternReview.com unless i have something come up. I still review any and all patterns there.  Some of the advise I have learned there about tailored coats has helped me make the Pink Pirate's coat alot better. 

All of the advise people have given has been wondeful.  I will second the basting.  There are many projects where I would rather baste something than deal with the pins.  I will also second the "right needle for the right job" comment.  Yes it does matter if you are using a twill needle on a sheer fabric. There IS a difference.

All of us are learning something new each day with our sewing.  This week it was that Men's ties are NOT as easy as you might think, especially on very little sleep.
Also this month, I learned that pleather can be both fun, and a nightmare to work with. 

As long as you are having fun that is what matters. 

[Anna Iram]

Rebecca, I have a Euro Pro Select. I dont know if it stacks up to a professional steam iron. but I love it. Nice features are it has both veriticle and horizontal steam and it detaches from its corded base so I can go to the project even if it's too far from a plug. I've had it for years, but I dont recall that it was crazy expensive.

[ArielCallista]

If you get a modern enough of an iron it should have a chart on the iron itself telling you what settings to use for different types of fabrics. cotton polyester etc. That should help prevent melting so long as you check the tags first or when making something make sure you read the bolt to know what it is. My iron came from walmart as did my ironing board. The iron is a proctor-silex and has the chart i refered to and has steam. nothing fancy but works just fine.

Serger is basically a type of sewing machine, if you look at how tshirt sleeves are attached on the inside it sews kind of like that basically.

Princess seams are a seam on womens clothing that arcs from where the front half and back half meet under the arms down to the bottom...not ren HA but used in alot of modern patterns to allow space for a female chest.

Also a sewing buddy with more experience is a vital resource. If theres anyone near you or any fabric stores with classes or anything like that I HIGHLY suggest you make use of them. that way they can answer any questions you have/talk you through anything you arent familiar with. If you can find someone familiar with garb that'd be best cuz they'd be more familiar with the best way to do all the historical things that modern seamstresses wouldn't necessarily be familiar with.

If theres no one near by who can help feel free to ask as many questions as necessary. I agree about the sewing section being one of the best here at RF. All of us here help each other out no matter if you need help with anything from basics all the way up thru the pros that have been sewing for 30+ years.

[Tink]

All of us here help each other out no matter if you need help with anything from basics all the way up thru the pros that have been sewing for 30+ years.

This is why I continue to visit the forums.  I have never felt so welcomed and accepted as I do here!

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

I'm facing that problem right now. I think I will have to break down and buy an iron and board. Any recommendations?

I bought a nice Shark Iron. Ran me a bundle, but steams nicely.

[Lady Lil]

I have worked on several pieces for myself, and I have gotten good at taking out seams and resewing over and over again. I am new at this. I tried to make my husband a simple vest the other day, and I'm not sure how I did it but one arm hole ended up in the center of his chest, and the other out his back. It was too funny. He put it on and he looked like he was doing the "Walk Like An Egyptian" dance. Then next one I did turned out just right! Oh well I'll live and learn with help from the forum

[Kate XXXXXX]

Now that's a good one!   

[LadyStitch]

Soon as my grandmother  heard that I was doing sewing professionally she dragged me out to a store and bought me a REALLY nice Rowena Iron.  I think it set her back like $100!  For her that was a fortune, but that thing has been through the mill and back, but still works wonderfully.  I've had it almost 10 years and no problems.
Then again I didn't want to haul my good one to the theater when they had one on site.  It did not have steam. I just got a clean cotton towel and kept it damp and sewed away. Cheap or High class.  As long as it does the job you need it to, that is what matters.

[Luciana]

I used to love ironing back home in Romania. In a cold winter day it was the best way of staying warm, doing something and see a movie at the same time.Also shirts and pants look much better after are ironed.

[DragonWing]

I agree, and iron does wonders when sewing. It's a must have. I even iron my patterns when I first open them. Because they are so wrinkled when they come out. Makes them much easier to work with.