To wonder why I'm so crap at ironing

[clockbuscanada]

Seriously, what am I doing wrong here? 20 minutes on the linen setting and it's still not even nearly flat.

New iron (£50 so should be decent) and new-ish ironing board. It doesn't seem to matter what I use or how long I iron for.

I want to be sewing, not ironing.

This is why I don't do ironing. I'm also not allowed to iron dh work shirts, his skipper 'had a word' last time I tried.

I'm happy being a slovenly wife

Anything hard to iron I just bin.

Life's too short to bother.

I don't do clothes, just fabric for my hobby.

Although I appreciate the solidarity, Kitty.

Best advice I can give is stop ironing. Seriously I stopped a few years ago and no-one noticed. DH still likes his work shirts ironed so I just leave him to it.

This is a 12 inch square piece of cotton. How hard is it supposed to be?

I'm trying the steam squirting thing. It does fuck all.

Your iron can't be hot enough surely. More heat, more steam.
Or spray the fabric with water from a squirmy bottle then iron it

Are you sure the iron's hot enough?

It's on the hottest setting (linen).

It is bloody cold here, right enough.

No use asking on MN, everyone claims to not iron.

Is it worth washing it then ironing before it's quite dry?

Linen and cotton definitely need steam. Lift the iron while horizontal to check it's actually steaming - it should be gusting out. Or iron while fabric is damp.

Or do what DM always does, and put a dampened teatowel on top of the fabric, and iron through that.

I'm one of the MNers who claim not to iron (this is mainly because it's true) - however I used to iron lots and you're steam isn't working properly.

Thank you. My mum used to do that with a damp tea towel. It's coming back to me now.

I'd put it in hot water for a bit, hang flat dripping, then iron. Or squeeze until not dripping and iron while still wet

Hope the tips worked, I only iron sewing too generally, fold or hang straight out of the drier and I'm usually done.

I had to make seven pairs of curtains recently, more ironing than I've done for a year and needed lots of steam, are you making something nice?

Leave the in one place on the fabric for longer. I found that I was moving the iron around too quickly and the creases stayed in. It's been a revelation!

Sorry - should say leave the IRON in one place

I'd bung it in the dryer for 10 minutes with a wet cloth, then try ironing it again.

Yes, it is definitely helping, thank you. We don't have a drier at the moment the cat peed in it but I will iron as soon as I can after the machine finishes spinning from now on.

I make children's clothes but get really frustrated at the finish and DH usually irons for me instead. He has a migraine so not worth waking him to ask .

Try using spray starch

spray starch - this is what you need!