Good Morning, Quilters!
I must confess, ironing is like dusting to me–I rarely see the need–unless I’m quilting, of course! I will throw my clothes away in the dryer for a few minutes if ironing is required.
Whenever I go to a quilt show or market, I scour the shops for exciting new supplies, notions, ideas…
Last month, at Quilt Expo in Wisconsin, this little gem caught my eye. A cordless iron–the Panasonic Freestyle Cordless Iron!
Now that is exciting!!!
Part of my frustration with ironing is the cord. It is always in my way! No more twirling and twisting to get the cord out-of-the-way! And, won’t this be great when you’ve basted a quilt and you see a few spots that need ironing? Or when you just need a little spot pressing and you don’t want to drag your entire quilt over to the ironing board? You won’t need to get an extension cord! Perfect!
The only thing that is different (besides the missing cord)–you have to put the iron in the base every time you set it down-to re-heat. The shop owner was extolling the virtues of the pointy shape–pointy on both ends, not just one. I’m not sure that has helped me in anyway…but it hasn’t hurt either. I have only owned this iron for a few weeks but I love it already! I talked to a friend who has owned hers for more than a year and she is very happy with it!
I guess what’s old is new again!
What about YOU?
Do YOU hate to iron? Do YOU iron outside of quilting?
Or do YOU LOVE to iron–I have several family members that iron for pleasure!
We’d LOVE to hear!
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Happier Pressing!
Lori
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73 comments
Cindy Roosma
I had this iron and loved it until 13 months after I bought it just wouldn’t heat up anymore. I had my electric gadget expert check it out and it was determined that the board had short-circuited because of moisture buildup.Maybe this happened because the water is near the buttons; not sure, but I wouldn’t put water in the iron.
Kristin
My friend has that same iron and loves it! Personally– I like an iron a bit heavier and have loved my Rowenta. I’ve had the same one for 10 years and this last year it has been barely squeaking by. Yesterday, it was time– I ordered a replacement Rowenta and I’m really excited to use it! =)
Pam Hotle
I hate to iron clothing but I don’t mind pressing my seams when quilting. I have tried several irons. I don’t use my drippy Rowenta. Also don’t use the Euro Steam one I got at a quilt show. My “go to” iron is a cheap Proctor Silex. I don’t use water/steam in my iron. Instead I use a spray bottle of water or Best Press.
Gertrude
I am one of those people who quite enjoys ironing. I find it so satisfying to see a wrinkled shirt or wrinkled fabric look all nice and smooth after I’ve ironed it. My husband always wore dress shirts to work and since I rather despise polyester he mostly had cotton shirts, meaning I had a fair bit of ironing to do. The iron we received as a wedding gift lasted 25 years but the ones I bought after that weren’t as good. (One I killed myself- stupid me). Now I never put water in my iron but have a good quality spray bottle beside my iron and use that instead. I find it works better than steam and it saves my iron.
I love the idea of a cordless iron though…..I think I need a new iron. Maybe I should kill my current one 😉
Thanks for sharing this.
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There’s always room for two!
Gertrude
Of course! Even better. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that.
Jill
Most of my friends do very little ironing and my daughter doesn’t iron at all. I like to iron but many of my clothes, like tees and jeans, don’t need it. However I always iron pillow cases and linen tea towels. When I’m quilting, I do lots of ironing.
scrappychris
Two years ago I decided I didn’t like my iron(one of the cordless with a good reputation). It only worked for a few years and then died. My daughter in law and I discuss and trade ideas for Christmas and I requested a good old iron that doesn’t turn off after 10 – 15 minutes. Very difficult to find but she did! I think the family thought I would forget to turn it off. The house is still intact and I love the iron. No more waiting for the iron to heat up to do a little pressing! You can set a timer of some sort that reminds you To turn off the iron.
Gail in Oregon
I had a cordless Iron MANY years ago and LOVED it, then one day it just didn’t heat up and that was it, but I got a lot of years out of it. I think it was Black and Decker but not sure anymore. Then I bought a very expensive Berrnette (Bernina) made in France and it lasted 17 years, it was wonderful too. I will check out this Panasonic, I have had good performance out of our other Panasonic products. I now have a Rowenta that is only okay because it dribbles…of course it always happens when I don’t want dribbles. I was going to try a Reliable next time but this cordless might be my next choice 🙂 Thanks for the review.
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My Rowenta had the dribbles too. I liked the weight and heat of the Rowenta but the dribbling was too frustrating
Deb Mac
Hubby was career Navy so I did a lot of ironing. He may have passed inspection but he couldn’t iron to suit me! I still iron whatever laundry needs it.and I consider ironing fabric after prewashing a perk.
auntiepatch69
My mom gave me a cordless iron about 20 years ago. I loved it. It pooped out and I haven’t replaced it yet. I have a corded iron that I use when I sew. When it dies I may buy another cordless. They are so handy.
Katherine
I have never minded ironing… while I work my mind does other things 🙂 And I do love the look of a crisp, well-ironed shirt. Have heard rave reviews of this iron from friends who have them (both quilters and sewers) so will definitely consider it when my current iron dies.
Joni Keskey
I’ve had the Panasonic cordless for about 2 years and wonder what I’d did before. It will stay hot for as long as you need it and is so light! I had an Oliso but it broke before the first year was done. And that’s with only ironing when I’m quilting. For clothes that are wrinkled, I carry a map with me and try to look like a tourist.
onecreativefamily
I think when my iron bites the dust I will get one of these
Lori
I also iron clothes using the dryer method. And I also hate the cord getting in the way, so, I purchased this iron about a year ago. I told my BFFs, going forward, the only time I’ll ever use an iron with a cord, is while I’m waiting for my new cordless to arrive!!!
The hardest thing to get used to, was NOT standing it up on the ironing board. Pretty sure yours will hit the floor at least once, to remind you it’s pointed on both ends. ha ha ha
Enjoy!!
GrrannyH
I’ve seen the Panasonic iron used by Jenny Doan in MSQC tutorials and Rob Appell in Man Sewing tutorials. They both seem to like it.
I usually buy the cheapest iron I can find (under $10 at Walmart or JoAnn) because the cheap ones are usually light-weight, but work. I NEVER fill the iron with water, but use a spray bottle or dampen/starch the things to be iron beforehand. I have a little travel iron and board next to my sewing machine, but I usually prefer to get up, stretch my legs, and walk down the hall to the kitchen and use the ironing board that I leave up in my kitchen.
Ironing has never bothered me: I clean the floor (so any cloth dragging on it doesn’t get dirty), turn on the radio or put on a tape/CD, iron and sing until the job is done. I used to come home to visit my parents to find a freezer full of tablecloths in plastic bags that my mother had washed, sprinkled, and then set aside for someday when she felt like ironing, which was never; at least in the freezer they didn’t mold or mildew!
I’m retired now so I don’t iron much except for quilting or glue-basting; ironing helps to dry and set School Glue, which is really starch.
Pat
Ironing! What a great topic. I would love to try this iron as the cord – even with the cord minder can be so annoying.
I also have tried many irons but beware— I loved using my Rowenta with all that steam but like some others in this thread, I also like the weight of the old-fashioned metal irons. So I bought one—but forgot (for a couple of days) that it did not have the automatic shut off… never admitted that one to dear old hubby :0.
Also, for clothing which occasionally requires some help, I have one of those steamers and it is awesome. So you can see I love steam – does this iron produce adequate steam? It would be great to use on my tablecloths since I iron them once they are on the table and the holidays are approaching.
terrieannie
I’ve had my Panasonic cordless iron for at least 2 years, and it’s been a real workhorse for me. Glad to see others appreciating it also!
kkfboise
I have had the Panasonic also for over a year. I do have a problem with it that I first thought was with my electrical but now I think it lies in the thermostat or whatever it is that makes it auto turn off and then reheat when you push the button. If I’ve left it idle for enough time for it to shut off – numerous times, it fails to heat yet the red light stays on SAYING it is maintaining the high heat setting. Then I let it rest for a few days and it works again. The Maytag cordless I had previously began to spit a lot and the steam on the Panasonic is much better, or at least it doesn’t leak or spit when I don’t have it on. (most of the time) For rows and quilt tops and large pieces of fabric, a cordless iron is great. For seams in blocks, the Black and Decker travel iron that DOESN”T shut off is a fine replacement when the Panasonic gets contrary. I have an Oliso also but its upstairs and since I turned my dining room into a sewing room, most of the ironing is done in the kitchen. I do like the Oliso.
Knitzombie
I love mine!!!!!! Its so portable and handy to move around the sewing room. Glides like a dream with almost instant steam.
worldpresscom986
The first thing I thought of was how in my mother’s day, they put their heavy iron(s) on the wood stove to heat them up. They used two so one was always hot while the other had cooled from being used. Nothing new under the sun; just electricity has replaced the wood stove!
Mary Stewart
Thanks Lori for the info. I ordered thru you. I can’t wait to get it.
worldpresscom986
Can’t find a space for a new comment. I got my iron free with my Oreck vacuum cleaner. Love it! It can be cordless or with a cord. I just have to move a lever. It is also weighty enough.
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Hope you like it as much as I do! Let me know!
quilter1522
I currently use and love my Oliso iron, a gift from my son, to replace my previous iron that the cat broke (always blame it on the cat!). I would like your input on ironing surfaces – a constant frustration – mine are either too big or too small, or not flat, oddly shaped, too thick, too thin. What do you and your readers use? What is considered the best surface for pressing?
kkfboise
Great question. I need to replace my ironing board with the T legs because when I tried putting one of those big boards on it, I realized it was leaning a lot toward me. Less noticeable and not a problem during normal use with just its own narrow top. Anyway I have this big heavy foldable top that SAYS it fits a standard ironing board but standard isn’t so standard. I’m thiking one with Four legs will be better but don’t look forward to returning it if my big board doesn’t fit securely on it.
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Great question. I will address that as an Open Line Friday
Anne
Wow what great reviews. I have only tried this iron at Retreat and it never seemed to be hot enough. Don’t know which model it was. But everyone loved my Rowenta and we now have several with names attached. I love heat and steam while piecing.Maybe using these for personal use only would make a difference. I must ask the owner of that iron if she is still using it. My ironing board also has a cord holder attached so my cord is never an issue. Also my Rowenta has a very long cord. Love it. I did have a Shark again with long cord loved the weight of it but gave it up when it leaked. Tried two. Love my Rowenta.
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What model Rowenta do you have?
Maureen B. in B.C.
My sweet hubby bought me the older model of cordless Panasonic about 10 years ago, and I just love it in my sewing room. I use it on my long ironing table, which is an old door on two sawhorses, padded with an old blanket and layers of sheets (when one gets beyond cleaning, because of spray starch and such, I add another one … a fresh layer and more padding I figure). It gives me nearly 8′ of ironing space, and I keep a removable cutting board on one end. It’s great for ironing newly washed lengths of fabric, as well as many blocks at the same time, and finished quilt tops. I never use water in my iron, and it has lasted very well. I bought a little Hamilton Beach travel iron with a Teflon sole plate to use by my sewing machine. It has a hugely long cord so doesn’t get in the way much. It’s great for paper piecing, and other quick assembly jobs.
When Costco came out with their never-iron shirts, I bought a raft of them for my hubby, and I’ve never ironed a shirt since (except his one Hawaiian shirt … it’s so colourful it’s kinda like quilting). Other ironing jobs consist mostly of the fancy tablecloth, as dinner guests come through the front door ????
Stitchgirl78
I absolutely LOVE my Panasonic cordless iron, and I will NEVER go back to a corded iron again.
L84quilting
Wow… I can’t believe how many people actually LIKE to iron! I abhor ironing!! When I started quilting and was told that I would have to press my seems and such, I almost didn’t quilt! Growing up, I was the one that had to do ALL the ironing. As I got older and I discovered that you could use the dryer for most things to iron, I never looked back!!! I even taught my kids (so that they wouldn’t hate ironing like I do), to get their clothes out as soon as the dryer went off!
I am sorry to say though, that I am not a fan of that iron. I used one during a quilt retreat, and as I was pressing a long binding, I found that I had to constantly put it on it’s holder to get it hot again. For short spurts, it worked great, but if you have long ironing spurts, like backings and such, it can be a downer! 🙁
Lori Hope
I remember when my mother taught me to iron: she made it sound like such a FUN thing, that I actually asked her to teach me! And after that, of course, it became MY job to iron pillowcases and tablecloths and hankies, etc. Such a clever mom…
Now my favorite method of ironing clothes is to put them in the dryer with a damp towel. 🙂
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I have a fence that needs painting! It will be fun! Lol!
Lori Hope
Exactly!! LOL!!
BJ
I still have the first Panasonic cordless – love it for piecing but not for pressing large backings or just-washed yardage. It doesn’t stay hot enough long enough, so I hope they’ve improved the heat retention property on this new model. My other iron is an Oliso and I love it. I think the only fabric my irons see is quilting cotton ☺. Thanks for the review.
Becky Shaffer
I have had the older model of this iron for many years and I absolutely LOVE it. I use it all the time and it does a great job! If mine died today I would have another one before the sun sets! I don’t think that I love to iron, I just like my clothes to be nice and wrinkle free. My kids laugh out loud when they hear me say that I don’t love to iron! They just don’t understand.
Rosemaryflower
I do iron my husbands shirts, just the wrinkly parts like the collar and the placket mostly.
I try to avoid ironing clothing but I will if it looks sloppy
Right now, I have a Rowenta iron. I do not use steam ever
This iron does look marvelous.
Beverly
Does that iron stay hot?
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Yes! It stays hot long enough. I found by setting it in the base at natural breaks in ironing it stayed hot
debbie
I too have the older edition which replaced an even older cordless, I hated dealing with cords! To address the water filling issue I keep a water bottle, drinking size, we have well water, and use that to fill it.
ssiefkinSue siefkin
Does it have a titanium sole plate so fusible web won’t stick? If so, I am all in.
Laura Nunn
I too have had that iron for nearly a year now. My mom has one and I used hers so I needed one. I love it!
Granny Suzy
Ironing – what’s that? kidding! I don’t much like ironing and do it as little as possible. It’s easier to pull clothes out of the dryer when still slightly damp and hang them up carefully. I’ve had a large corded Sunbeam auto shut-off iron for some years now that functions perfectly (probably ’cause it gets so little use!) and like most of us, the cord can drive me nuts.
When quilting, the big iron is just too much to manage, so I have one of those little-bitty steam irons that needs a water refill every five minutes. But I like it because it’s lightweight and really does produce good heat and steam. Plus it takes up very little room on the DIY mini ironing board I made from a foldable bar stool.
What I really wish is that someone would produce a cordless mini iron. It would be wonderful for pressing strips, seams and such as you go. Just like the big irons, that cord is a nuisance.
Enough writing – now back to quilting!!!!
CJ Green
When I still worked my clothes were usually ironed. Now that I’m retired I’m more likely to throw them on them on the bed & spritz them with Downy Wrinkle Releaser. Pressing fabric for quilting is nother matter altogether. It’s part of the process.
featherstone26
Haha, I tell people I only iron recreationally. I also use my dryer to “iron”.
Kerry
I’m definitely not fond of ironing, but on some things I love to see the results. I have a Bosch which cost an arm and a leg, but it has one thing the others didn’t – weight! It was the heaviest I could find at the time. I don’t use it as a steam iron because I use a little spray if needs must, but because it is heavy it does most of the hard work for me anyway. As far as the cord goes, my ironing board has a stem to fix the cord at the top and it also pegs it in to the bottom so that it doesn’t move around and rub holes in the board cover. It also has a long cord – I bought a cheaper iron but it didn’t have the length to go from the plug to the pointy end of the ironing board (and it only just managed to reach the board from the plug) and the only way I could manage that was to lower the board to about 3 inches above my knees (not an option for me – I like it high) so I had to return it!
But for pressing seams by the machine or travelling I love that little travel iron – I think mine is a Duronic (can’t get the Steamfast over here).
And if things don’t need ironing then they don’t get done – I refuse to do undies and socks for starters! T-shirts only get ironed at the front (usually the iron does it all through from the top anyway. Sheets get ironed only because I trounce them into flatness to put back in the cupboards neatly!
Pat S
I’ve had an older model of this iron for several years. I could never stand fighting with the cord on an iron and finally one day started looking and found the Panasonic. The only thing I do find is that it doesn’t get quite as hot as I would like but I’m willing to make that sacrifice to go cordless. I love this iron so much that I actually bought a second one at a quilt show – they were selling the classroom models at a reduced price and I just decided to go for a backup. Haven’t needed it yet, but I’m prepared!
Jennifer Strauser
This isn’t the iron I have had for a few years. I adore it, but it does throw my quilting friends off a bit. They want to stand it up.
ELIZABETH KUNTZ
I have the Panasonic 360 and have used it solely this past year. I love it because of being cordless and also it’s slightly smaller than an average iron.
brendaintheboro
no comment to make on the iron but I love the unscented Mary Ellens Best press. just wish I could find it more easily here in the UK.
Linda C
When I got married forty years ago my husband ironed everything. From tee shirts to wear under shirts to underwear. You know I iron everything and I like it. I may have to buy that iron.
Cheri Hand
So happy you found the Panasonic cordless. It is my go to iron for most of my pressing, and that’s usually to iron my just sewn quilt pieces as my dryer is my iron.
I’ve gone through two Rowena irons and will not purchase another, but I do find my black and decker iron to be a good one when the cord won’t be an issue (right next to one of my sewing machines).
Sheila Hryclik
I’ve looked at that iron and I thought the water chamber was way too small and the hole for filling it also way too small. How do you find it for these issues? I have a Rowenta. My hubby has had to take it apart to repair the cord because all of the movement wears it out. I like a lotta steam!
Cocoa Quilts
I’m with you. I’ve had this iron for about a year. Bought it on a massdrop offering. Can’t say enough great things about NO CORD.
Julie
I have had my Panasonic cordless iron for about 4 years now. I have the older model so it doesn’t have two pointy ends, but I absolutely love it. You don’t realize how constricting that darn cord is until you get to iron without one. It reminds me of when I got my first phone without a cord. The possibilities were endless.
I love my Panasonic cordless iron and will never iron with a corded iron again. I even take my cordless iron to classes and retreats with me because I DO NOT want to ever iron with a cord again!
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I’m with you!
Kathy Grant
I’ve had my cordless for several years. I love it. My dryer is my iron too.
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Lol!
lswanekamp
I have had my cordless for over 4 years. I use it daily. I never use water in it. I have a Europro steam iron for pressing with steam. I highly recommend the cordless iron.
Kaylene
I love to iron. I do iron our clothes and pillow cases. My kids (grown & moved away) still think I am nuts!! So, ironing when I quilt is really a great pleasure too. I have an Oliso iron & just love it. But, can a person have to many irons? lol lol
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I will admit there is nothing better than a pressed pillow case!
Barb Allen
Yes yes! I have a different model but love it and want it to live forever! No cord in the way, and I move the base all over my sewing room, depending on the size of what needs to be ironed. Near the ironing board for binding work or pressing large blocks or rows…on my sewing desk with a portable iron-board when I am piecing – it’s like sparkly pixie dust, working its magic right where I need it. And I am like you, Lori, with the Avoid Regular Ironing rule. So the iron lives in my sewing room and we are both very happy!
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