I have always been a two iron kind of girl which for me makes perfect sense. I have one iron for actually pressing fabric (not clothes! Duh!) I have another iron for preparing my appliqué shapes. A couple of years ago my super fancy iron started leaking like a sieve. I thought I would be economical and replace it with an inexpensive iron. This worked great for a few months but I found that the starch from my appliqué pressing started to build up and then the fabric would start sticking and thing would get really dodgy unless I cleaned it off. Then I noticed that I could see the circles from pressing my circle shapes. These wouldn’t go away no matter how much I tried to clean them off. It finally got so frustrating that I stopped using the evil thing all together. Luckily I still have my trusty Rowenta iron (formerly the fabric pressing iron). NOTHING ever sticks to this thing! The really remarkable thing is that I have actually had it for 17 years and it’s soleplate still looks new. I think I will be a little more carefull with my iron purchases in the future.
I have a little Black & Decker travel iron that I got at a yard sale that is just perfect for working with the applique pieces. Does a great job.
Posted by: Jeanette | 06/29/2011 at 11:33 AM
Rowenta also makes a travel iron that is awesome for small pieces. It comes with its own carrying case. I got mine at Kohls.
Posted by: Karen B | 06/29/2011 at 12:03 PM
Before buying, you might want to check out this Consumer Reports site about steam irons: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/laundry-and-cleaning/steam-irons/index.htm
I have no affiliation, just concern about wisely investing my money in an iron.
Posted by: Linda | 06/29/2011 at 12:13 PM
I love my Rowenta! (I am on my second, but I think my first one was bottom of the line.)
Posted by: Debbie Jacobs | 06/29/2011 at 01:35 PM
Rowentas were much better made a long time ago than they are now. The quilting forums are littered with people who loved their old ones and then bought a newer model only to be very disappointed. I've had good luck with Sunbeam. Black and Decker, Panasonic, Bosch. The only one that ever sucked was a Rowenta.
Posted by: Cindy Lester | 06/29/2011 at 06:12 PM
that exactly what happened to me few years ago!
i dont think we have rowenta here but i stopped using the inexpensive one, and now i am more then happy with the iron that i iron cloths with. the only disadvantage is - it is too heavy.
Posted by: Becky Ezra | 07/01/2011 at 05:00 AM
Ya but the Rowenta's always leak bad. They are known for it so it frustrates me that they won't fix them!! My Rowenta is now my craft iron, and my cheap iron is my good fabric iron.
Posted by: Tonya | 07/01/2011 at 08:01 AM