The perfect ironing station
If you sew costumes, you've definitely heard the "press as you go" principle. The idea is that you should press your seam allowances, folds, and edges throughout the project, not just at the very end. It's not just perfectionist sewer advice, it's really what makes the difference between a decent costume and something that looks truly professional.
What that means in practice: during a big sewing project (whether you're making a garment, a cosplay, or a LARP costume), you're going to be ironing dozens and dozens of times. Your iron is a work tool that's practically as important as your sewing machine.
So you might as well have a good one.
In this article, I'll walk you through how to choose a good iron based on your needs. And I'll show you my own setup, including the little DIY rack I built for my gravity-feed iron.
Table of contents
- The home iron (who it's for, what to look for, which brands)
- The gravity-feed iron (what it is, who it's for - and who it's not for)
- The DIY setup for a gravity-feed iron (materials and steps)
The home iron
For most people (even those who sew seriously) a good home iron is perfectly enough. Small confession: I myself worked for a long time with a vintage home iron with pretty limited features, and it did the job just fine. A home iron is affordable, doesn't take up much space, stores easily, and good quality models really last a long time. If you want to pick up a new iron, here's what you should consider.
☆ Psst! Not ready to buy a new iron yet? Or not ready to invest in a full high-end one? I've got a few tips to help make up for certain missing features.
What to look for
✂ The tank size
You need water in your iron. And you probably don't want to refill it every 3 minutes. Make sure your future iron can hold enough water to keep up with your ironing sessions.
☆ If your iron has a small tank, get yourself a good-sized bottle with a narrow spout (or a funnel) that you keep near your ironing area, to quickly refill your iron when needed. That'll save you from having to move around every time you need a refill.
✂ The amount of steam
Make sure there's a good number of holes in the soleplate. The more holes, the better your steam distribution will be. Steam is your ally for relaxing your fabric and pressing your costume's seams.
☆ If your iron doesn't have great steam output, you can equip yourself with a good spray bottle and a pressing cloth to dampen your fabrics.
✂ An anti-scale system
Especially worth having if you have hard water and/or don't want to have to buy demineralized water for your ironing. There are different types of systems: a rod to clean, a collector to empty, a cartridge to swap out. Some irons also have a self-cleaning system.
We all have our own preferences when it comes to maintenance, so make sure the system is simple and effective for you.
☆ If you don't have an anti-scale or self-cleaning system, I'd recommend using demineralized water. You can also do an occasional vinegar cleaning.
✂ The weight
Ideally, you want an iron that's neither too light (you still need some pressure on your fabric) nor too heavy (you don't want to wear yourself out pressing your seams either). But it's also a matter of feel. Personally, I like my iron on the heavier side. That said, if your arms get tired easily, go for something a bit lighter instead. Prioritize your comfort!
✂ The soleplate
There are tons of soleplate material options. I really like Teflon ones, but stainless steel, enamel, and ceramic coating are all excellent options too. Just make sure the surface cleans well.
☆ You can buy a Teflon soleplate cover to add onto your iron. That can be worth considering if your old iron has gotten pretty grimy but still works well enough, for example.
✂ Your budget
It's totally fine not to want to spend a lot. But also think about the fact that this is a tool that's going to follow you through every sewing job you do. For years (if you take good care of it). It's an investment.
Brands I'd recommend
Black & Decker: They offer really good entry-level and mid-range models. Pretty basic, but effective, and genuinely great value for money. Sturdy, reliable, and easy to find anywhere, if you're looking for something affordable to start out with, it's a safe bet.
Oliso: Known for their anti-scorch system (the iron lifts itself up onto little feet as soon as you let go of the handle). A nice feature if you're the distracted type or if you're working on several costume pieces at once.
Rowenta: Known for their more classic style. Good weight, good soleplate, good steam. If you want to invest in something solid that'll last, it's a really great option.
The gravity-feed iron
If sewing is serious business for you. If it's a passion. Or even your business. Then I'll say it: an industrial-type iron, like the ones found in professional sewing workshops, could be worth the investment.
There are different types of industrial irons. The gravity-feed iron is the most affordable and easiest to manage.
It works with a water tank that isn't inside the iron itself, but in a separate container suspended up high. Water flows down to the iron by gravity, which produces steam that's more constant and more powerful.
I went with a Sapporo iron. I'm really, really happy with my choice.
What changes in practice
The steam is really different. More powerful, more continuous, without the little interruptions typical of a home iron that builds up pressure and then releases it. For thick fabrics and big cosplay projects, it's a really great tool.
Who it's for
It's the right choice if:
- You sew very often.
- You have a dedicated space in your workshop.
- You want a sturdy tool that presses like a real pro.
Who it's really not for
Let's be honest here, even though I'm really happy with my gravity-feed iron, it's not necessarily a purchase for everyone.
If you sew occasionally: A gravity-feed iron costs more than a good home iron. If you only pull out your sewing machine a few times a year, a home iron will do an excellent job for a lot less money.
If you have a small space or you put your setup away after every session: A gravity-feed iron comes with a tank that needs to be suspended up high. That requires a whole setup (I explain how I put mine together below). It's really not something you want to install and take down every time you sew.
The DIY setup for a gravity-feed iron
If you're planning to buy a gravity-feed iron, you'll need a place to hang your tank up high. This is really important: the tank needs to be higher than the iron (by about 90 cm minimum) for the water to flow down properly.
The simplest option is to install a hook on the ceiling. But you can also build a rack to hang your tank up high. Personally, I built a rack... and ended up installing a hook higher up anyway. That said, the rack is still really useful for managing the water hose and for hanging costumes while I iron.
Here's the setup I put together to make everything functional, suited to my space and my needs. Let me share what I did.
The base:
I picked up an Ikea Bror cart, but you can choose any sturdy piece of furniture. I'd also recommend something with drawers or shelves, to store your ironing tools (tailor's ham, pressing cloth, etc.)
The rack:
Materials needed:
I built the rack using steel pipes bought at the hardware store*.
Careful! Before buying anything, measure the height you need. If you just want to hang your tank on the rack, it needs to be high enough for gravity to do its job (we're talking a minimum of 90 cm above your ironing surface). Personally, my rack is mainly used to hold the water hose (so height is a bit less critical). But it's also super handy for hanging costumes once they're pressed.
*All the pipe pieces are ½" (internal diameter):
- 3 pipes, 36''
- 4 T-fittings
- 4 elbows
- 2 pipes, 6''
- 4 pipes, 2½''
- 4 pipes, 1½''
- 2 end caps
- 4 flanges (the bases)
Assembly steps
Step 1: Assemble the rack Assemble your pipes and elbows to form your rack's structure. No welding needed, galvanized steel plumbing pipes screw together.
Step 2: Paint the rack This is optional, but it gives it a cleaner look (literally, since those darn pipes stay eternally dirty-looking, even after cleaning).
Step 3: Attach the rack's base to the cart To attach the flanges to my cart, I had to install pieces of wood on each side to have a surface to screw into.
Step 4: Add a holding ring To hold your water hose in place, I'd recommend adding a ring (the kind used for shower curtains). This keeps your hose up high (and out of the way).
The ironing surface:
I finished off my setup with a custom ironing surface (sized to fit my cart).
Handy additions:
Once the base, the rack, and the ironing surface are ready, here are a few really useful little extras I'd recommend:
- Drawers or bins to slide your different ironing tools into
- Smart outlets so your iron shuts off automatically if you forget it.
- Good lighting above your space so you can see what you're doing.
- A power bar to protect your iron from power surges.
And there you go! A sturdy, practical setup suited to intensive sewing. 🤓
For other workshop essentials, check out my article on my 10 favorite sewing tools and on maintaining your sewing machine.
And once your workshop is well equipped and ready to roll, my patterns are waiting for you:
And if you want to stay in the loop on new products, promos, and new articles to help you with your creative projects, join The Harbour!
In the meantime,
Happy sewing! Happy crafting! 🤓✂🐙