I don't know if you can see it - but there is a grey smudge on my pink flying geese triangle.
RATS!
And this has been happening more and more with this danged iron.
WHY? Its Teflon coating is wearing off and leaving yuck on my piecing.
Ewwww.
Does your iron look like this? Are you getting grey gunk on your piecing and you are unsure of where it is coming from?
I'm not a "put water IN the iron" girl. I know that is the sure kiss of death for most irons over time.
In fact, I'm not much of a spray presser either unless I am giving a quilt top a final press, or adding borders, etc.
The culprit.
I've had this travel iron at my machine side table for pressing on my wool mat for years. It's been a good one. It gets hot, stays hot, has no auto shut off.
But that Teflon coating?
Bye bye, bad iron!
I pulled out this one to use temporarily.
You can still see the grey spot on the lower right goose. I'm hoping it will wash out in due time, I didn't want to take a wet washcloth to it and make it worse at this point.
I like irons that I can stand up on end. They take up less space in my small area. I don't want to deal with trivets and other things that can fall to the ground while I'm working.
Do not even suggest an Oliso to me - because this is what I'm dealing with at the inn. People who are used to leaving an iron face down because it has little legs that lift it up forget that our irons are NOT Oliso.
There was almost a fire. The iron burned through the freezer paper on top of the ironing board and burned into the canvas and batting beneath.
(Of course - no one fessed up, and I honestly don't blame them.)
All three ironing surfaces have scorches like this which brings me to the conclusion that Oliso irons create bad habits.
This little graphic is about to be printed out times three and laminated so I can post it at all ironing stations.
At any rate, this little iron gets hot, stays hot, has no auto shut off - but there IS a coating on the sole plate. And it's a bit too small.
I have this Conair at home and it has a chrome sole plate - no coating, no Teflon.
I'm taking it to the QPO Studio today to replace the one that replaced the bad travel one.
Back to working on these!
This happened yesterday!! YAY!
Here's to all the hard-working guys who dropped everything to install a new pressure tank in our utility room so we once again have water pressure from the well!
A very fine finish!
I love to see your finishes! I know how much love and effort you pour into them and I love how quilting connects us!
And before we ring out this year, and ring in 2026. Here's yesterday's Starky Barky Update:
Great peace and happiness is found when overlooking the ever-present dust from living on a dirt road in the country.
Not to mention the scrap covered cutting table, dog ears and thread ends on my sewing room floor.
Walk into my house and see how I've spent my life- not just noticing if things are dusted!
Oh my gosh. I just can't!
What are our New Year's Eve plans?
Heading over to our friends for a snacky evening and rounds of Mexican Train dominoes to ring in the new year.
Who am I kidding? We'll likely be home and in bed by 10pm. I am not up at midnight - not for anything!
How about you? Will you be stitching to movies in your comfy spot on the couch? Are you out celebrating with friends and family?
This cracked me up!
2025 Dumpster Fire gingerbread house. HAHAHAHAH!
Even if it was a good year, it had many difficulties and challenges and I'm not sad to let it slip (Or burn!) into the past.
Quiltville Quote of the Day -
Not to mention the scrap covered cutting table, dog ears and thread ends on my sewing room floor.
Walk into my house and see how I've spent my life- not just noticing if things are dusted!
My goal for 2026 is to "should" on myself a lot less. And that means not letting other people "should" on me either.
Happy New Year's Eve, everyone - We'll see you back on Friday for our next Lupine & Laughter part.
Wishing you a happy, healthy new year! Thanks for brightening our days with your blog! Barb in Iowa
ReplyDeleteBonnie, my iron has a chrome sole plate and does the same thing. I think what happens is that over time lint from fabric collects in the holes in the sole plate. The heat burns the lint and, at some point, it comes out and smears on the fabric. I'm not sure what the solution is. Clean the iron by putting distilled water in it and then pushing the steam button til it's empty? Cleaning out the holes with a toothbrush from time to time? I'd be interested to hear what other folks think.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year! If I had a Snarky dog I would be in my chair with him on my lap. Watching the fireworks on TV. As is, I will be asleep most likely. Brenda J.
ReplyDeleteI recently switched to Oliso irons, I am having a tough time leaving them face down. I will catch it in its face down position out of the corner of my eye and have a small panic, and think "it's okay". I am trying to remember that leaving it face down helps conserve its heat and auto shut off is my friend.
ReplyDeleteI too have had to learn to let the dust just settle when we moved to acreage in the middle of Colorado where the wind blows A LOT! Oh well, I will take the trade off any day of the week. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all Happy New Year, here's to all things good and happy and healthy in the new year for you and yours. Second, I buy those old Black and Decker irons with nothing fancy but good solid heat. I go to Goodwill/thrift stores and have no trouble finding them. I do like my little oslio iron by my machine. It was a gift so I do use it. I anchored down the little heat proof thingy with some 2 sided tape. Seems to work for me. Happy sewing and don't worry about the dust bunnies, they take care of themselves!
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