I'm just getting back into sewing, and doing it without my mom's vast collection of sewing items this time. I don't even have an ironing board! But I needed a ham when pressing princess seams in my latest project, so I had to think of something.
My "ironing board" is actually the end of my small dining table, draped with a doubled-up towel. It works okay although has a little too much give in my opinion, but it definitely helped in this case. I took a skinny tall glass jar -- mine came with some Kalamata olives -- and wrapped it in part of the towel, making a rounded surface like the small, longer hams I've seen for cuffs and things (at least that's what I assume they're for). For those of you with actual ironing boards, wrapping the jar in a hand or dish towel would do the trick. Thicker fabrics need just one layer, while thinner ones might need two or three.
Obviously this isn't a permanent situation, but it does save me from buying yet another sewing "thing" for now, while I have so little space for hobbies. There was no way I was going to do a good job pressing those seams without a curved surface, so it worked. In fact, the surface seems better for pressing than the "board," maybe because I'm using only one layer of towel between the garment and the hard surface.
Another plus: it can double as a storage container! The glass gets hot, so I wouldn't put any meltable things in there, but metal bits like hooks and eyes are probably fine. Note: I wouldn't try this with plastic, as it will probably melt at anything above very low temperatures. |
|Login|Help]
Very clever!
8/20/10 8:47 AM
if you would like a larger round surface a good idea is to cover a toilet paper roll with a pillow case, twist and push excess into hole.
8/21/10 2:58 PM
ggexpansive, that's a great idea and I think that has been a tip here (I read them all before I joined!). Would you believe it -- I didn't even have a toilet paper roll to work with. I'll save them for a larger fake ham next time!
8/22/10 9:53 AM