tips on ironing with steam

Tips on ironing with steam covers some of the most important aspects of ironing garments that have been altered.  Ironing is a major part of any clothing alteration, because when you take in the sides, you will want the seam to sit flat, and because you have been handling the garment it can get creased.  Sometimes when you steam a garment the creases don’t come out.  The reason is usually because you are continually steaming.  Try this exercise –

1.  Iron in a forward motion with the steam button pressed so you are steaming the garment.

2.  Stop ironing forward and steaming, and just move the iron back over the area you just steamed.  There must be no steam. Conclusion – The fabric should be crease free.

On the other hand, be careful when ironing a garment.  I always start on the wrong side and if that is okay, I will iron the right side.

When shortening trousers or jeans, I always iron on the wrong side of the hem first.  This is particularly important if the trousers are part of a suit.  You do not want a shine or scorch on the trousers.  Check your iron temperature first on sample fabric or on the off cut from the garment.

Happy altering,
Judith aka genie