I need ironing advice... - YouLookFab Forum

This is so embarrassing for me to ask as an adult :\

These blouses (I have decided to keep both) arrived very wrinkled, and I'm a very poor ironer.

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com.....RRWidgetID

I have to admit, the fabric is sort of ghastly. It's 100% rayon but it's woven, so all the magical non-wrinkling properties of rayon do not apply. If I had to pay full price, I probably wouldn't have kept either of them, but since I got them on sale and with a coupon, I can overlook it.

I'm ok at ironing straightforward pieces like my KC tunic blouse, but something like this that has all those little pleats and gathery things at the waistband and shoulder confuse me. I can't tell how they're supposed to go! I'm having a hard time distinguishing wrinkles from pleats and don't know exactly what my plan of attack should be. Somehow I keep ironing even more wrinkles into it! My mom can probably do a fine job but seriously, I'm almost 27 years old. It is ridiculous to keep going back to my mommy, and won't exactly be practical when I move out.

Help!

15 years ago

Kate

Veteran

I am far from an ironing pro, so what I would to is dunk it in water, hang it on a hanger, and let it dry. Maybe adjust it a couple times while it's drying to try to prevent any more wrinkles. I've been doing this with a couple of my harder to iron items, and its saved me a whole lot of time. This also might not work at all, so if someone has better advice by all means ignore mine!

Jenava

(website)

Take it to the cleaners. They'll steam it and it will come out way better than anything you could do on your own! Plus, you have to iron rayon on a really low heat or it'll melt, so that makes getting all the wrinkles out very difficult.

If you just tell them you want it pressed they should charge you a lower fee.

Or, find a friend with a steamer at home! (-;

Megan

Active Member

I just invested ($70) in an iron that has great steaming capabilities including a vertical shot of steam- it works perfectly for getting out wrinkles on things that I'm otherwise incapable of doing. I just hold the iron close to the garment and steam then hang up

marianna

I don't iron at all, so I am thinking of buying an inexpensive steamer. Seems easier than ironing! Something simple like this: http://www.target.com/Conair-C.....ub_2_title

Anonymous

Another vote for a steamer or use Downey Wrinkle release (although spraying on a little water can often be just as good if the rayon doesn't spot.) You might hold the steaming iron above the blouse to steam, then pull on it a bit to straighten out wrinkled areas and hang to finish drying.

Refugee

I am an ironer. I take pride in my ironing skills (that sounds really said now that I see it in print). Looking at the picture of this blouse, I can see why you could be stumped by correct technique. If the photo is correct, this an ironing/geometry story problem. The key in ironing this blouse is you are not dealing with full pleats. You are dealing with off-set pleats. If the blouse is actually full pleats, please let me know.
First, iron the waist band. Next iron the back which should be fairly straight forward. Then iron the bottom pleats about 1/3 of the way up the blouse. Then iron the top pleast about 1/3 the way down. The mid-section (between the pleats on the front) should be flattened out to be ironed. Patience is the key with this one. Good luck moving into the world of advanced ironing.

Kari

Maya, no ironing advice from this quarter, but my grandmother did a lot of my mom's ironing even when my mom had kids, and even though my Nana lived about 2 hours away from us. (Not because my mom couldn't do it - she's much more crafty & domestically skilled than I will ever be - but because my nana actually enjoyed ironing and knew that my mom did not.) So... no shame on going to your mom when you need to with something complicated!

taylor

I have a full sized steamer! Anything too complicated goes to the cleaners because I like things pressed within an inch of their lives.

I iron like I wrap presents...the harder I try, the more wrinkled it gets:(

LeahJanes

If you can get your hands on a dressmakers pressing pad (I don't know the term for it) which you can lay the gathering over, it makes it much easier. They are the kind of gathers that you don't want to iron down like pleats, so if you can drape it over a pad, or over the pointy edge of the ironing and make the fabric flat, you'll be able to press it neatly. It will take time though as you can only do a small bit at a time. If you try to press creases into the blouse it won't billow nicely.

Or just hang it in the bathroom with you when you have a steamy shower

MsMaven

I'm not much of an ironer-presser, but: A tailor's ham is useful for this kind of tricky ironing. I have one from my long ago sewing days and I still use it. I also have some other ironing forms--a seam roller and other forms I can't remember the name of now. These are not expensive and can be bought at a fabric store.

http://www.amazon.com/Dritz-D5.....038;sr=8-1

Steamers are good for taking out certain types of wrinkles, but will not give you that crisp tailored look that certain fabrics require.

Rayon is tricky--proceed with caution and a barely warm iron to start. Sorry I can't be more specific.

A tailors ham! That's what it's called? You learn something new every day...

Ugh...rayon....not an iron's best friend. You might want to rethink this purchase. No matter, how cheap, it does you no good if it's just sitting in your closet because you hate ironing it.

If you decide to keep it, my first suggestion would be to watch how your mom irons it.

Second suggestion, follow Refugee's directions.

Third suggestion, set aside money for the cleaner's to press this for you each time.

RoseandJoan

With my silk blouse with the ruched sleeves I hang it on a hanger and just direct the jet of steam from the iron at the wrinkle. I think this would only work if you have a steam boost button your iron. I have to admit the hassle of washing combined with my fear of destroying the blouse means it is seldom worn.

Lisa

I use a steamer for everything except a cotton button down. I can't iron anything complicated, my steamer is my life saver.

Steph

I am guessing this won't work at Urban Outfitters (where it appears you purchased this), but my favorite ironing tip is to take the item back to the store where you purchased it and ask them to steam it for you. I have done this at Nordstrom, Ann Taylor and Brooks Brothers with great success, and I am sure many other stores do this as well. This has saved me several times, particularly when I am traveling and the item of clothing gets wrinkled in my suitcase and the hotel's iron is not ideal.

MsMary

I don't iron. I send out the few pieces that need pressing, then I wear them several times before sending them out again. It's totally worth the money to me!

catgirl

What about your "chuck it in the dryer with a damp cloth" method? I use that for everything. My husband won't let me near an iron!

Sandi

I am the worlds worst ironer. I can take a barely wrinkled blouse and make it completely unwearable. I recently bought a full size steamer at Costco and swear by it!

Scarlet

Not helping Maya, but Refugee, great ironing skills are a gift! Ask anyone who was ever in a pickle, say, with a fussy silly bridesmaids gown 2 hours to show time. Take pride!

Jonesy

I'm a big ironer, but pleats can be tricky (I am not partial to pleats that have been ironed down, if that makes sense), and so can rayon (make sure your heat setting is not too high, or you can scorch the fabric and ruin it, or make it shiny and sort of ruin it). When in doubt, go a section at a time, and start out ironing on the underside of the fabric, just in case your iron is too hot. Then you can always adjust your setting and iron on the right side.

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