Pressing 101 | Gilbert's Sewing Dictionary [CC]

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I've been asked for this entry into the sewing dictionary a few times, and have been meaning to do it since before my unintentional hiatus last year, so here it finally is! The basics of pressing, and what makes it different from ironing, along with the tools of the trade. Also finally putting to use the footage that I took of putting together my own tailor's ham and sleeve roll in a little mini tutorial for anyone who wants to make their own!
For those who wish to see more, you can find me on twitter / dolthalion and Instagram dolthalion...
Sewing dictionary playlist: • Sewing Dictionary
Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
2:15 Method
3:57 Base tools
5:19 Tailors hams and Sleeve Rolls
6:47 Additional tools
7:59 Outro and tips
References:
Making your own pressing equipment: fcs-hes.ca.uky.edu/sites/fcs-...
Fibre identification with Morgan Donner: • Fiber Identification b...
Credits:
Music from filmmusic.io
"Winter Chimes" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
License: CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/b...)
Background Sensible Waltz Piano by MusicLFiles
Link: filmmusic.io/song/7285-backgr...
License: filmmusic.io/standard-license
Images:
Hand photo created by prostooleh - www.freepik.com/photos/hand
House photo created by wayhomestudio - www.freepik.com/photos/house
House photo created by wayhomestudio - www.freepik.com/photos/house
Man photo created by wayhomestudio - www.freepik.com/photos/man

[@mione3690]

A great tip I once heard, was for shoulder seams that lie on top of your shoulder, to press the seamallowance to the front. This seems counter intuitive, but it will make the front stand up more, so your eye falls over the fabric, if you iron the allowance to the back, the fabric at the back might bump up a bit, causing your eye to look into the seam.

[@linr8260]

Literally didn't know the difference despite sewing for years. Thanks for this!

[@rachelboersma-plug9482]

You can make a quick functional sleeve roll by wrapping a towel around a piece of wooden slat. A clean slat makes a good impromptu clapper, too.

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

That's it. I am going to raid my husband's work shed for a wood board. 😄

[@playme129]

As ever, explanation is clear and precise.

[@TheEconWoman]

Great subject! So many of us do it wrong or don’t do it at all.

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

Ooh, great tip on making a hanging loop on a ham!

[@GaraksApprentice]

Love your sewing dictionary. It's so useful to have a quick, easy explanation for common sewing things that I can send to friends when they ask sewing questions I can't easily answer via messages. I confess I bought a travelling ironing board specifically for pressing, because the big ironing board's main purpose in life is a convenient dump space when I'm moving things around the workroom. It pretty much only gets cleaned off properly when I have full yardage to iron after it's been through the wash.

[@gwyn9846]

Well explained. Thank you for the information. 💐

[@canucknancy4257]

Wonderful tips. I learned so many things in this video!

[@RetroClaude]

I am a) short on space and b) short on strength so I've found a quilter's wool pressing mat to be life changing! Not so great for ironing long lengths of fabric, but perfect for pressing fiddly things and seams as you go.

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

Quilters have great tools.

[@Raegrea]

Oh that’s what I do also!! Wool pressing mats are lovely because it helps hold steam/heat which makes ironing linen fantastic. 😍

[@AndersWatches]

I have a pressing mat too as I’m limited to my small bedroom. Having it was a game changer lol

[@Raegrea]

@@AndersWatches Do you have a tailor’s clapper as well? I’m getting one soon. 🤓

[@foulardcollector]

So useful - I actually didn't know the difference! Thank you - your sewing dictionary is the best.

[@BellaEmi1995]

Wonderfully informative video! I found out that if you need an Iron next to you while you sew and or don'thave much space, a wood desk topped with old linen(old bedsheets) in a pillowcase and a small iron can help a lot! Not for ironing big pieces but for seams or small things on the go. One could probably also omitt the desk and buy a wood cutting board instead...

[@theplussizecostumer]

I'm so glad you did this video because I have seen several other CosTubers not press as they go. They wait until they're finished and it makes me a little nuts (as in Very Crazy!).

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

I have a friend who is the same way. She wonders why her projects are difficult to sew and look wonky at the finish.

[@TudorositiesbyMaureen]

Thank for such great instructional videos, learning quite a bit. Pressing was a huge development in the quality of my finished work. Also self taught sewer, understand the struggle.

[@user-mv9tt4st9k]

What a great tutorial, and so well explained. I agree about the long shut-off for an iron--my husband was not happy when he discovered that our new iron had a half-hour shut off (just perfect). In place of a ham or arm roll, I use rolled washcloths or bath towels.

[@elisacoffey5140]

I love the sailor shirt! And I appreciate the tutorial very much. I've been seeing for years but I can always learn more. I'm going to make myself some tailor's hams soon and I appreciate the tips.

[@rd6203]

Are you making Shannon's ham n' sausage?

[@elisacoffey5140]

@@rd6203 I just watched that! It is so cute. But I'm just going to use stuff from my stash.

[@elisacoffey5140]

@@rd6203 I just watched that. It is so stinking cute! But I'm just making mine with stuff from my stash.

[@rd6203]

@@elisacoffey5140 💚

[@PinkLilyGarden]

I wasn’t expecting a sailor moon costume 👍🤣

[@Dolthalion]

Technically not Sailor Moon! But after two years of no conventions I've decided that some of these costumes need to get an airing. All of my fancy clothes might be costumes, but this is a costuming channel!

[@PinkLilyGarden]

@@Dolthalion great idea. I like it ❤️

[@orionova]

I want a gravity fed iron so much, but my $8.00 charity shop iron is fine for now. But someday...

[@rd6203]

💕 I need to get an iron that shuts off...

[@woollyfingers]

Simple but essential, and never too late to learn. Actually I've always been hopeless at ironing, let alone pressing. What helps me is a rock-solid ironing board and a heavy iron. And another easy project is an ironing board cover to keep the dust off. PS love the sailor suit!

[@Dolthalion]

A solid ironing board is a great point! Nothing worse than one that tries to fall over every time you shift your fabric!

[@selkiemorien9006]

Well, I didn't know there was a difference. Now I do - thank you! :D

[@AgentPedestrian]

Catch me "pressing" my linen shift seams with my fingernails because I'm hand sewing it and can't be bothered to clean the ironing board from all the clutter

[@rachelboersma-plug9482]

Linen responds really well to finger pressing, and I find that "proper" pressing as you go isn't strictly necessary, for hand-sewn historical garments at any rate.

[@bunhelsingslegacy3549]

I'm guilty of the same thing, my linen creations don't generally see the iron while I'm working on them... I'll iron the whole piece of fabric when it comes out of the dryer but after that it's not going to see the iron again till I get to any kind of facing. Also the other fabric I work with a lot is flannel, and it darn near takes a gods' blessing to get flannel to hold a crease!

[@ninad205]

I’m so glad that I’m not the only one with a cluttered ironing board. Lol

[@p0etrygh0st]

love the outfit!