Hello there! It's Heidi from The Whimsical Workshop, here to help you finish setting up you ironing and pressing area so that you can get started on all of your wonderful quilting projects.
Now that we've talked about what to look for in a good iron and how to make sure your surface is at the right height (if you haven't read these blogs yet, I recommend starting there!), we can move on to the next step, your pressing surface.
Having the right surface to press on is very important as it can impact how long it takes you to iron your fabric. My preferred surface to use is a large wool pressing mat from The Gypsy Quilter. Wool is an insulating fiber, which means that it can help absorb more moisture at a faster rate. In some cases, this can help significantly cut down the amount of time you spend pressing.
However if wool isn't your style, a 100% cotton cover makes for an excellent choice as well. Cotton is a good choice for delicate fabrics that require a lot of pressing, but can't withstand too much heat.
The next step in setting up your pressing area is to make sure that you have adequate lighting. Lighting is crucial in all stages of quilting, but especially with pressing. Without good light, it's harder to see whether you're pressing seams fully flat, if you're spraying enough water out of your spray bottle, you know, those kinds of important things!
To start, take into account whether you do most of your work during the day, or at night. If you tend to quilt mostly during the day, then being by a window with lots of natural light would be optimal. If you sew a lot in the evenings after the sun sets, or if you are in a space without windows, then investing in a good overhead lamp might be a good idea.
And finally, now that our stations are set up in a well-lit area, covered in a wool pressing mat, sitting at just the right height, a bonus tip from me to you.
I have had years to get every part of my pressing station set up to exactly how I like it. And the one thing I would absolutely recommend to all quilters for this area, is a gel floor mat. If you're anything like me, you'll be spending many long hours on your feet, pressing away. Having a comfortable, supportive mat will go a long way in helping relieve foot and back pain.
Check out our video on YouTube where Heidi takes you on a tour of her pressing area at The Whimsical Workshop Studio.
Thank you for following along and if you have any questions, you can always reach us at info@thewhimsicalworkshop.com.
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