I iron a basket load and enjoy it. Very meditative

I have the Panasonic cordless, about a year now. Being left handed, I like not having the cord get in the way. Great for sporadic use while quilting - however, it is not so great if you have a lot of clothes ironing to do.;It doesn't stay hot without sitting on the base for a few minutes between items. Do people still iron a whole basket load like I did as a kid? I remember the moms I babysat for were always thrilled when I did ironing for them - maybe they told their husbands to take them out so the ironing would be done, LOL.

Thank you all who responded about the Reliable iron from Vermont Country Store, or Amazon. I will order another one. I did go out and buy a Rowenta, which I found at a big Lots store, at a good price, but I will return it. I tried it the other day, and it is heavy enough to be bothersome.

I have the Vermont Country Store iron too and I love it. I did forget to turn it off once, but it still worked when I returned to it. I am extra careful to flip the power strips off and turn off all the lights when leaving my sewing room. We are prone to thunderstorms here most of the year and I don't want to risk the lightning ruining my Bernina, or my longarm machine. I just make sure everything is off and safe.

I'm attracted to the cordless irons, but haven't tried one yet.

As for regular irons, I've concluded that the less expensive irons work as well as the pricey ones. I use steam, so I look for one that is self-cleaning, and want an auto shutoff too. I've had my current Black & Decker (which replaced a Rowenta that leaked, and finally didn't work at all) for about 5 years now, with no problems at all.

BTW, though I have the auto shutoff feature, my iron is plugged into an outlet connected to a wall switch. This switch also controls the light, so I KNOW when my light is off, the iron is, too! Very convenient, if you can do this.

I have two of these irons and just love them. One I've had about five years, the other about two. If I need steam, I just spritz the fabric with a water bottle.

I'm on my 2nd of this iron. I don't know about carbon monoxide because I don't have one of those sensors either. Maybe those sensors are available from Home Depot. I'm not worrying and I'm not going to stop using mine, but I do know they go bad. Always unplug this iron when you leave it. I thought I turned my first one off with the heat control, only to find it still warm two weeks later after not using it. I have it attached to a power strip that also has a small Ott light attached. When the light is on, the iron is on, so I have a big reminder.

My 1st one just quit heating after several years. Oh well, they're a helluva lot cheaper that other leaky irons, the brand of which we shant mention. I really like using this iron.

For steam, I have a very inexpensive T-Fal with a Teflon sole plate that works just fine. I use a press cloth if I need more steam.

Have you had any trouble with this iron? A friend of mine bought one, and loved it, so I bought one too. However, about six months later, she sent me an email warning that her iron kept setting the carbon monoxide alarm off, and wanted me to be aware. I do not have a carbon monoxide alarm, and I sew in a spare bedroom, usually with the door closed, so I stopped using it. I did look online, and a number of reviews mentioned trouble with the cord shorting out. Have you had any such problems?

I like this iron because it has the smooth sole plate, and gets hotter than many of the other irons I've tried. I am interested to hear if you still use it.

heartnsoulquilts wrote:
YOU have to remember to shut the dang things off... I burned up two of these irons because I left them on ... they were really hot when I shut them off and once they cooled they would not turn on again I ruined the heat regulator. THEY are not as good as the old BLACK AND DECKER IRONS that lasted forever.

The same dry iron is sold on Amazon for about the same price. I have bought another one because I do like it ... BUT I hope not to abuse it .

NONNIE
.

Beth, that is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks a million!

Beverly - try this for an iron caddy pattern. (I just googled iron caddy pattern.)

http://www.kayewood.com/item/Caddy_Pad_Plus_Iron_Tote_and_Lunch_Bag_Pattern/1287

Speaking of irons . . . . . I enjoy classes offered at my local quilt shops and many times take my iron because the shop-furnished iron is always so busy with class members. Somewhere (probably on Pinterest) I saw a picture of an iron cover that wrapped around the iron and closed with either velcro or a large button. It mentioned that it used the fabric used for ironing board covers on the inside so the iron could be packed up while still warm when the class was over. The iron was the normal sized iron. Can anyone point me in the direction of finding a pattern like this?

Carmen, Vermont Country Store sells a Dry Iron! It has a no holes, smooth, non Teflon metal sole plate and manual controls, and NO auto shutoff! It looks like the irons from 50 years ago. Very reasonable price and it does get hot.

Many quilters love this iron. In fact, Margo has one and mentioned it here a few years back, and so I ordered it. Just google the store for the correct website.

I too have a cordless. Mine's a Maytag. I loved it at first, but now the teflon finish is peeling and it is incontinent. I will replace it with a Panasonic--thanks for the recommendation! But this time, I will keep the water in a spritz bottle. Like Ricky Tims, what I really wish for is a no steam, no holes, smooth bottomed iron.