Pressing

February 8, 2025 - February 8, 2025
Pressing must not be confused with ironing. The reason for pressing is to make your production process easier as well as making the perfect looking garment.
When pressing, the iron is pressed down applying steam then lifted and moved onto the next section. It is important that each section is presses well and not ironed with a swift movement.
- Always test the temperature of the iron on a spare piece of fabric before steaming your garment. Many fabrics react in different ways to heat therefore it is important to remember this.
- Try and removing any tacking threads before steaming as threads can cause marks on the fabric when steamed. Also remove all pins as they can do the same.
- Always press fabrics on the wrong side along the straight grain. If you need to press on the right side of the fabric always place a cloth on top. The iron can sometimes be dirty and can cause marks on the fabric.
- Do not press over fastenings again this may cause marks onto the fabric.
- Follow these simple steps when steaming these areas of the garment.
Darts
Use a pad over your fingers to press the point of the dart smoothly into the fabric without creasing or pressing the dart to either CF or CB if the dart has to be cud and press open as for a plain seam.
Seams
When pressing a seam open, place over the roll so that the impression of the seam is not shown on the other side.
French seams
When pressing a seam press towards the back of the garment.
Waist seams
Press all of the turnings upwards.
Overlaid seams
Press these in the direction of the overlay.
Sleeve seams
When pressing the sleeve always use the sleeve board.
Armhole seams
Press these towards the sleeve, using the pressing pad over the fingers.
Gathers
Push the point of the iron lightly up into the gathers.