The Whimsical Workshop Studio: How to Set Up Your Pressing Area for Quilting

Hi there! It’s Heidi again, here to share with you some tips on how to set up and maximize your pressing area for quilting.

Pressing is an important step in the quilting process as it helps you assemble pieces more easily and gives your overall finished project a more polished and refined look. In larger or more advanced projects you may find yourself needing to press a lot of seams or appliques, so having an area dedicated to pressing will help you work much more efficiently.

The first step is to make sure you have a good iron. While this may seem obvious to point out, a better iron will make your projects much easier to complete. But what qualifies as a “good iron”?

When looking for the right iron, it’s important to check that it’s a good weight for you. You don’t want it to be so heavy that your arm is sore after using it, or so light that you find yourself pressing down too hard. If you can’t test out the weight of an iron in person, just be sure to look at the weight before buying one online.

An iron with a ceramic or Teflon plate will also be easier to clean, which will help keep it in good shape for longer. Looking for tips on how to keep your iron clean? We have a video on YouTube that covers the best ways to clean your iron.

And finally, price. You shouldn’t go out of your budget to purchase an iron. I have had high end irons and inexpensive irons and they both seem to last about the same time. So don't let the price drive your choice.

Quick Tip: I avoid using water in the iron in order to prolong its life. Consider using a spray bottle instead!

The next step in setting up your ironing area is to make sure that the height of your ironing board works for you. We all know that ironing boards can take up a lot of space, but rather than going for a smaller ironing board that will cause you discomfort to use, check out the solution in our video on how to maximize the space under your ironing board so that you can keep one out at the right height.

For your pressing surface, personally I prefer to use wool pressing mats. If wool isn’t for you, I would recommend a 100% cotton cover as next best.

And finally, lighting. As with all other areas in your sewing room, good lighting is essential when it comes to ironing. If you quilt mostly during the day, try positioning your iron near a window. Or if you tend to be more productive in the evening, ensuring you have adequate lighting in your sewing room area is crucial.

Bonus Tip: You’ll be standing at your ironing station a lot. Invest in a gel floor mat to help soothe your feet and legs during those long pressing sessions!

Make sure to check out our video on YouTube for more tips on setting up your Pressing Area for Quilting here, How to set up a pressing area for quilting

Now that your pressing area is all set up and ready to go, there are a couple of tools that I like to keep with my ironing board. A lot of these tools can also be used in different areas, but having them within reach of your pressing station will save you time.

I’ve listed out links to where you can find all of these tools below, as well as gone over each of them in this video on our YouTube channel: