tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post7087816770520646590..comments2024-03-28T09:14:59.192-04:00Comments on La Sewista!: The Ironing ChroniclesBunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-33432556492988725192013-08-01T12:08:42.552-04:002013-08-01T12:08:42.552-04:00Hi Bunny, I have just recently found your blog. Th...Hi Bunny, I have just recently found your blog. Thanks so much for sharing about the ironing... it made me laugh/cry for the loss of your favorite things. It's really surprising how many people don't know how to iron! I used to iron for people when my kids were growing... people had me iron everything!!! Would you believe boxers! But I do have fond memories of my gramma using her mangle to iron... she was amazing! She could iron shirts and they turned out wonderful! Sure wish I had thought to ask her for the mangle when I was younger. My Aunt long since sold it. From that memory I can't smell the steam from my iron without thinking us those days.<br />Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11744073613012413496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-15213988851431791532013-07-24T17:03:01.176-04:002013-07-24T17:03:01.176-04:00Bunny, I love reading your blog no matter what you...Bunny, I love reading your blog no matter what you're talking about. Just love the way you write. And this post was especially fun as it took me back to 'the good old days'... of ironing day with my dear mother and grandmother and their coke bottle water sprinkers. I love ironing...I love the fragrance that takes me back to kinder, less hectic days. I love to see the magic happen behind my iron and to me nothing says "fresh" quite like a well pressed, cotton shirt. When I complained about a wrinkled dress, Grandma used to say, "you can tell the quality of a fabric by how much it wrinkles (or not)". I get that now ; ).Linda Snyderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16475302158025161202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-77449206449855570942013-07-24T03:18:59.913-04:002013-07-24T03:18:59.913-04:00Oh my goodness what a post! Loved it . I HATE iron...Oh my goodness what a post! Loved it . I HATE ironing I am with your mother on that one . What a culture shock for you in your MIL family . Did you ever consider that your husband might have been attarcted to someone slightly less driven?memhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05520080648914042943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-25369117269473807032013-07-21T17:49:48.708-04:002013-07-21T17:49:48.708-04:00Ohmygoddess Bunny, this has to go up there as one ...Ohmygoddess Bunny, this has to go up there as one of my favorite sewing blog posts ever!!! Love your stories!<br /><br />All of these ironing posts lately are bringing up such memories - for me, and clearly for others as well. I guess there's just something about an iron....Jillybejoyfulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11010866113928621691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-70179202484761300832013-07-14T12:04:20.105-04:002013-07-14T12:04:20.105-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.White Featherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11483244242119593426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-39080462387351896312013-07-14T12:03:50.742-04:002013-07-14T12:03:50.742-04:00I used to enjoy the Zen of it, too, back when I wa...I used to enjoy the Zen of it, too, back when I was a teen. I ironed my dad's khaki's and hankie's back in the sixties and my mom used the pants stretchers, too. Those pants still needed some ironing, though. <br /><br />I didn't enjoy it anymore when I had to iron for my own family and got very used to permanent press. I do, however, still enjoy ironing a new piece of fabric and imagining the finished item :)White Featherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11483244242119593426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-83929489287836344862013-07-13T18:41:46.788-04:002013-07-13T18:41:46.788-04:00What a great story! Your sister must be quite a ga...What a great story! Your sister must be quite a gal! I grew up ironing the school uniforms, no permanent press back then, also dad's boxers only no pay for us! My mom still has the pop bottle (it's also pop in Detroit, where I was born) with the punch top. It was root beer and covered with paint and glitter, made by my younger brother. Only my husband and middle son iron, the younger son and daughter pretty much wear knits. Everyone I know think I'm nuts for ironing sheets, so I don't tell them about the kitchen towels. I have a small steam press that I love, and would love to have a mangle, but at 2 grand I don't think so. I keep the ironing board up in the family room and watch TV while ironing. Cynthia Gilbrethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17124840580430749378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-30345540014967083082013-07-12T16:45:49.370-04:002013-07-12T16:45:49.370-04:00I enjoyed this post, what an interesting peek into...I enjoyed this post, what an interesting peek into two different domestic arrangements.<br />kbencohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00885068563358776147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-73083928563201989332013-07-12T13:32:06.390-04:002013-07-12T13:32:06.390-04:00Yes, definitely, but I haven't seen them in ye...Yes, definitely, but I haven't seen them in years. I love your philosophy. It's clear you really enjoy the zen of it all.Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-66060333150627391672013-07-12T00:15:49.756-04:002013-07-12T00:15:49.756-04:00My mother taught me to iron, and I enjoy it, altho...My mother taught me to iron, and I enjoy it, although I have very few clothes that need ironing. There is instant gratification, the wrinkles smooth out and the item looks crisp. My mother used a pop bottle with a sprinkler head, it's long gone but I got my aunt's when she died and I still use it. My mother used to put sprinkled clothes in the refrigerator, too.<br /><br />My mother used stretchers for my father's khaki work pants, does anyone remember those?Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11619388679515063803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-77033267004735838942013-07-11T18:53:45.931-04:002013-07-11T18:53:45.931-04:00Wow. What a role model.Wow. What a role model.CTpathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06578761836954740915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-20951113364191961882013-07-11T18:10:06.990-04:002013-07-11T18:10:06.990-04:00I would love to have a mangle too, Judith. Sounds ...I would love to have a mangle too, Judith. Sounds like you had it mastered and your pockets were swelling penny by penny. My sister knew she had my brothers by the cojones so the dollar a piece charge. She is so funny. Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-35615217767211520912013-07-11T17:51:36.020-04:002013-07-11T17:51:36.020-04:00My mother hated to iron. She paid me a penny a pi...My mother hated to iron. She paid me a penny a piece to do the family's ironing in the late 50s and 60s, and since my father used 2 handkerchiefs a day and we wore mostly cotton, I was rich! We had a mangle, and I learned to iron men's shirts without a wrinkle. I wish I had one today for fusing interfacing. I always keep my ironing board set up, and this is one of the "chores" that I find relaxing. Sorry for such a long post, but...memories!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11353934623271560735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-54536389705576540522013-07-11T16:54:33.163-04:002013-07-11T16:54:33.163-04:00Oh Bunny! Thank you for sharing. What wonderful m...Oh Bunny! Thank you for sharing. What wonderful memories. I too ironed. At an early age - think standing on the kitchen chair to reach the ironing board. Now, the mangle...that one always scared me. PhxSew-Inhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02101936505508136394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-91984324273666793902013-07-11T11:52:15.173-04:002013-07-11T11:52:15.173-04:00Yes. I never wore shoes back then except for Churc...Yes. I never wore shoes back then except for Church on Sunday. Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-13687452884228441862013-07-11T11:51:02.141-04:002013-07-11T11:51:02.141-04:00Just want to add, for comparison's sake, that ...Just want to add, for comparison's sake, that every Saturday, when my husband was a little boy, he and his brothers could not go play until they waxed and buffed every one of the magnificent hardwood floors in this 12 room colonial. They worked their butts off to go spend time with friends who would be waiting at the door for them to finish. They would usually finish about 1-2 o'clock in the afternoon. Like I said, she ran a tight ship. He does do a mean floor today too!Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-68258049643694668112013-07-11T11:47:39.044-04:002013-07-11T11:47:39.044-04:00It didn't hurt us at all. I think it is a phil...It didn't hurt us at all. I think it is a philosophy worth espousing. I have such marvelous memories of playing, wandering the woods, building all sorts of things, all for hours on end. I am sure this contributed to my desire to have a life today centered on creativity. Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-63991477828253857702013-07-11T11:43:55.995-04:002013-07-11T11:43:55.995-04:00The ironing maching was called a "mangle"...The ironing maching was called a "mangle" and we had one too. My mother taught me how to use it when I was 11 or 12, and it became my job to do a lot of the ironing for the household (I was the oldest of 6 children). Back in those days, the mid 60's, before permanent press fabrics, I ironed my father's shirts, boxer shorts, and handkerchiefs, and all the bedsheets and tablecloths. Using the machine was kind of fun, so I didn't mind. I had totally forgotten about the glass pop bottle with the sprinkling top, and putting the dampened clothes into the spare refrigerator, but we did that too! I wish I still had a mangle, because then I'd iron my sheets. There's no way I'd do it manually. And it's infinitely easier for tablecloths. I HATE doing those. I think there's one somewhere I washed 4 or 5 years ago, still waiting for me to iron it!JosieLCPChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01202339834625299180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-24738368699346736842013-07-11T11:20:43.322-04:002013-07-11T11:20:43.322-04:00I remember helping my grandmother with the ironing...I remember helping my grandmother with the ironing, the little sprinkler bottle, sticking the items in the fridge, you brought it all back. and this was in the pre-air conditioning days - remember those? thanks for a great post.Beth (SunnyGal Studio)https://www.blogger.com/profile/08891740887743925587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-64653962121077326942013-07-11T09:11:54.628-04:002013-07-11T09:11:54.628-04:00You are a great story teller. I really enjoyed re...You are a great story teller. I really enjoyed reading your post. <br />My mother passed away when I was young and I lost too much of my youth keeping up with housework, homework, a part-time job, raising my sister and caring for my alcoholic father. <br />When I finally became a parent, I too decided that my kids would have a childhood free of domestic chores. They are all adults now and cope just fine. Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08656125532788011700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-2360428301016667702013-07-11T08:56:09.866-04:002013-07-11T08:56:09.866-04:00Sounds like your Mom and my MIL are kindred spirit...Sounds like your Mom and my MIL are kindred spirits. I remember helping put laundry away in the drawers. The neatness and order were amazing and so impressed me. All those ironed socks and tee shirts were perfectly folded and lined up. So, so different from my own home. I tried to soak up everything I saw of my MIL's skills. It didn't hurt to have an army of sisters to help pull it all off, however. Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-66278302273862177382013-07-11T08:27:00.549-04:002013-07-11T08:27:00.549-04:00Growing up, we were taught to launder, fold, and i...Growing up, we were taught to launder, fold, and iron our clothes at young ages. There was no ironing closet for us. We washed and folded our clothes. And, those that needed to be hung, were hung right away in our own perspective closets. We ironed as we needed them. We were taught this by my mother who ran a very clean and tidy household...we were taught to keep our house/rooms clean as well. Nothing unkempt. That's just the way my mom was. ans, she still is today. Now, birth father was a different story. Whenever I would go to visit him we were always making a trip to the Laundromat. He never washed or ironed his close. He took them to the cleaners to have them ironed. I have taught everyone in my household to clean and iron there own clothes...much less stress on me.<br />Thanks for sharing your story!Alethiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11058947130553530912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-61263643137825590592013-07-11T07:33:58.065-04:002013-07-11T07:33:58.065-04:00What a great story Bunny!!! My mom had the pop bo...What a great story Bunny!!! My mom had the pop bottle with sprinkler on top as well and would sprinkle, roll in neat hot dogs, stack and pop in the fridge and pull them out and iron the whole lot of things. She was always so neat and tidy. She ironed dad's underwear, sheets, etc. as well. Shocking! <br /><br />Obviously, I iron as well - particularly with all the sewing I do. However, our kids - another story. One daughter has an iron and uses it when absolutely necessary, but brings me the heirloom things to iron. The other daughter - she bought a good steamer and uses it for the "grandma made" garments. LOL! Doubt that our son ever irons anything, though he was taught to iron his shirts. The youngest - well, that's still to be seen once she graduates. :)<br /><br />Thanks for a great story! I think you need to write a book as well - it would be a great read!KathyDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16376905060751881570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-62010145430888457112013-07-11T07:03:51.561-04:002013-07-11T07:03:51.561-04:00I learned to iron at 11 and took over the whole fa...I learned to iron at 11 and took over the whole family's ironing every week. I was paid 5 cents per item so I did earn a nice little allowance. I used a bottle with a sprinkler top,stored the clothes in the fridge and had to have everything on a hanger. Once I asked my mother for a raise and her reply was that I was using HER electricity so the answer was NO. I stopped ironing when I got married at 21, up until then my mother never touched the iron. After I left home, my grandmother was pressed into service and she ironed sitting down watching soap operas. You get really fast and efficient when it is your "business". This week a bride told me that she has never owned an iron and will have to buy one before the wedding as she was raised by her father and he never owned an iron...imagine! Thanks for the stories, Bunny!mrsmolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16329515914613595719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-78162358694580078032013-07-11T00:37:14.317-04:002013-07-11T00:37:14.317-04:00Oh, the starch = that was no spray can. The sister...Oh, the starch = that was no spray can. The sisters made their own mixing up a huge batch at the beginning of the day.Bunnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.com