A long craved for new toy has entered the studio and I AM LOVING IT! Say hello to my new Singer steam press. This is one serious steam maker and presser. It is easy to use and dangerous if not careful. My first pressing date resulted in three different blister burns on my hands. Like Pavlov's dog, I am now wiser and smarter when I use this new toy. It is simple to use and definitely is the ultimate piece of equipment for fusing. I've been working on bags lately and that means a LOT of fusing. Why I waited so long to get one of these, who knows? The price is less than some professional irons and Amazon prime provided the instant gratification.
My sewing studio opens up to the family room with french doors. Right outside those doors is a big empty space whose use is basically traffic flow. After some discussion, husband and I set up this pressing station behind the futon. There is still more than enough space for traffic flow and the family room does not feel crowded at all. I can easily take it down if company is coming. I have the press on the table, lots of space to the left for placing project pieces and my regular iron set up at the end. It all works really well. I'm happy!
************************************************
THANK YOU, all of you, for the warm welcome back. It is so great to be with sewing friends............Bunny
Yay! Welcome back! I have missed you-I have learned a lot from you and look forward to learning more. I, too, coincidentally, have begun making bags. The thrift store idea is fantastic! I buy shirts there and take the buttons, but bag hardware never occurred to me...I learn every day. Wishing you and your family all the best.
ReplyDeleteI love to enable recycling. thrifting, whatever the latest term is! And it's fun! Don't forget to keep the leather if its thin enough to sew on your machine. Thanks for the warm wishes.
DeleteI've seen steam presses around but never quite understood how they work. Do you mainly use it for block fusing?
ReplyDeleteIt's a new toy to me so I haven't explored it's full potential. What I have done so far is lay out numerous pieces at once on the bed and fuse them all at the same time. I'm a bit of stickler about not having interfacing in the seam allowances so I've never been a big block fuser. That could change.
DeleteOh enjoy your new toy! I look forward to learning what you do with it. Glad you've got the knack of it so you don't get anymore burns - ouch!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful new toy! Enjoy! (Just be really, really careful.)
ReplyDeleteOoooo, color me pea green with envy, Bunny!! How nice to be able to get a good, solid HOT press. I tried to buy my elderly aunt's sit down mangle when she died, but one of her girls wanted it. :( It would have been great for pressing big quilt backings.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the new bag you're working on...I followed your link & saw all the examples...very COOL!! Nice to have you back!
Presses are fantastic. I've had mine for 20+ years. Don't fuse much anymore but it folds up to fit in closet and is always ready to set up at a moments notice.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy! And watch those fingers.
So lovely to see you back. That's an ambitious bag. I struggle with the very structured bag. Think about buying a Juki every year, just for heavy duty sewing. My Bernina skips on the thickest parts and I don't feel my top stitching is top notch.
ReplyDeleteThe bag fabric is so bright and cheerful! I've had my steam press for about 10 years and don't know how I've lived without it. I'm one of those who irons kitchen napkins and towels as well as sheets so mine gets a lot of use. I've seen some that have a little sleeve iron on the front that folds away for ironing sleeves and collars of shirts.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing more fun than a new toy in the sewing room. I love the new bag fabric.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy to see you back, and hope all is well with you. Now I may need to get a press, been running that around in my mind for a few years.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your new press. Can you tell me how long it takes to heat up and become functionable? Thank you deedeeskis@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteIt takes about two minutes to heat up the plate and about five minutes to reach full steam. Their are indicator lights to let you know all is ready. Then you simply open the press using the handle. Place your garment or fabric pieces as needed. Real important here: next you bring down the press stopping about 3 inches above the fabric/plate. Now you push the steam button AND AFTER THAT, you close the lid tightly and hold down for two - 3 seconds. Lift and done. If you close the lid and then push the steam button you can get severely burned as the steam blows out from between the plates right at your tummy. I did it once and moved back so fast it wasn't funny. You have to respect this thing.
DeleteThe steam is at 100 pounds pressure so that's why you don't let it out while the lid is totally closed. There are you tube videos that explain, thank goodness.
DeleteHello there and welcome back! So nice to have a new toy. Not just great for bags and block fusing but also those lumbering bits of jacket and coat fusing, trough fronts and shoulders etc.
ReplyDeleteI think I have the first tickling of the bag bug too. We just got in that bag foam stuff to sell, and also a new fusible that is really rigid, and unlike timtex and fast2fuse it won't soften over time. It makes my inner sewing geek get all excited!!
I hear you. That foam stuff is really nice.
DeleteYour BAAAAACK! ahem. I mean welcome back!
ReplyDeleteI got a steam press about 7-8 years ago, and even though I've only occasionally used it, it makes fusing so much easier *and better*, I'd put up a real fight before giving up it's spot in the sewing room.
Can you use it to press men's shirts? Ugh I spend sooooo much time every week pressing 5 shirts for my husband. I "need" an excuse to buy this toy!
ReplyDeleteExcuse given! The first shirts I did were not that great but once I got the knack, I am really pleased with the results. It's learning to work with the shaped area on the left of the press. Just takes practice.
DeleteExcuse given! The first shirts I did were not that great but once I got the knack, I am really pleased with the results. It's learning to work with the shaped area on the left of the press. Just takes practice.
Deleteinformation that can help you setrika uap laundry
ReplyDelete