Sewing Tip: Ironing Edges

In some sewing projects, the sewing is tricky.

In others, the ironing or pressing after the sewing is tricky.

This was one of those projects where ironing edges was tricky.

I have often found that when I am making something that requires me to sew a seam then turn the item through and press, it can be difficult to get the seam to lie perfectly flat. It is easy to get a little fold in the edge by accident as you run the iron over the fabric. The perfectionist in me hates this!

Here’s my pretty pink bunting pieces waiting to be pressed after I turned them through. I knew it would be a boring but necessary task.

Before I got started though, my brain started ticking…

How could I get those edges really neat?

I just needed something that I could sit inside the fold to push it out as I was pressing.

Something that was flat, and a little pointy like my triangular bunting.

Something that I could run the hot iron over without bleeding colour or melting it.

I used a piece of thick cardboard. It had been part of the packaging for scrapbooking pages – back when I used to do a little playing with paper and photos!

I simply trimmed the card into a strip, an inch or so wide, then trimmed a point at one end to fit neatly into my triangle.

It worked a treat!

The pressing was easier and quicker when I didn’t have to fiddle so much to get each triangle flat before I could apply the iron.

You have to try this!

See my quick tip for cutting bunting panels: