Best Iron For Quilting Reviews

Every garment worker knows that quilts have to be taken care of and it can’t be performed without the best iron for quilting. It allows making sure that the patterns, measurements, and particularized lines draw up in the right way. You can be steady that each cloth is lying expectedly by ironing and that all of your seams are aligned.

The quilting iron is rather useful, as due to its small size and smooth glide, it is able to reach the smallest crease and straight everything perfectly. Most units have an adjustable temperature for different fabric types. Moreover, they come with a relatively spacious water tank that is enough for the iron to work without intermissions for some time. It’s used any time you have to sew a seam, adjust a pattern, or start a project that has been stored. Check out the best quilting iron reviews to find the model that deserves special attention and complies with your personal standards.

Iron for Quilting Reviews

CHI Steam 13101 – best steam iron for quilting

This model weighs is only 2.9 pounds and the dimensions are relatively compact (4.7 x 11.5 x 9 inches) If you find yourself frequently ironing, this unit might probably be the best steam iron for quilting as it boasts 300 steam holes that make it easy to smooth out even the ridged folds. The temperature control dial is helpful for temperature adjusting and the fabric type choosing. Its 1700W are good for high steam performance. The unit’s titanium-infused ceramic soleplate can be easily cleaned up with a damp cloth; it’s solid but still requires careful exploitation due to its sensitivity (the coating may be slightly scratched due to contact with buttons, zippers, and other metal objects on the quilt). Perhaps, some people refer the CHI Steam 13101 to the most reliable irons for quilting, but I really don’t like the Off button absence. I can’t turn it off with one simple movement. All I can do is wait 30 minutes or simply unplug the iron.

Panasonic NI-L70SRW – best cordless iron for quilting

If you are looking for the best cordless iron for quilting, you should pay attention to the Panasonic NI-L70SRW, which is a decent model (7 x 11.94 x 9.31 inches) that has a vertical steam mode and a handy spray mist button. Its auto shut-off feature makes the unit automatically turn itself after 10 minutes of inactivity. Moreover, this 1500W iron has a stainless-steel soleplate that heats up evenly and quickly (a few minutes). The sole skims along the fabric (it is heavyweight — 5 pounds) and helps cope with serious wrinkles. There’s an electronic temperature controller, which is located on the handle and makes it easy to adjust the required temperature for the type of the specific fabric. Steam settings allow choosing the steam concentration, but sometimes the system doesn’t work properly. The steam level is resistant to changes despite making all the manual adjustments. This cordless unit is good for steam and dry ironing, and perhaps is regarded as the best iron for sewing and quilting, as it’s relatively small and easily performs its basic features.

PurSteam PSSI-01

This PurSteam PSSI-01 isn’t a compact unit (13.1 x 7.1 x 5.5 inches), but it weighs only 2.2 pounds and is comfortable to use even by people with small hands. There are two basic buttons on the top of the unit: the one is for steam bursting and the second one – for spray setting. It has a stainless steel soleplate with a chromium finish that improves the durability and resistibility of the surface. There’s a designed steam distribution (steam holes are placed throughout the soleplate) that is especially useful for crafters and quilters (iron helps get rid of folds on thick fabrics). The Rapid Even Heat Technology allows getting the hard-to-reach places and reduces the ironing time by half (1700W also contribute to this). The device is corded and it comes with an 8ft cord, which isn’t the longest one among the similar models from other brands. It has a vertical steam feature that makes it easy to iron the fabrics in an upright position. It has an automatic 3-way shut-off system for high safety.

Beautural 724NA-0001

The Beautural 724NA-0001 has standard dimensions (11.3 x 4.88 x 5.75 inches) and average weight (2.98 pounds). Its dual plate ceramic design allows heating up in a few minutes and keeping the warmth for following procedures. Moreover, such a surface is non-stick and scratch-resistant; it also saves time on ironing (comparing with single plate design models). Supposedly, the corded unit can belong to the best irons for quilters as it has 9 preset features for 9 different types of fabric. All the data (mode, steam feature, and the temperature) is demonstrated on the LCD screen, which is located on the front part of the unit. An auto shut-off feature has 2 modes and turns the iron off after 30 seconds of lying flat and after 8 minutes of vertical placing. It has 1800W, so it heats up faster and produces 40% more steam, comparing with weaker models. A self-cleaning system is a pleasant bonus, so there’s no need to purge the surface manually. It might be the best iron for quilters, but its cord is only 6ft that’s not enough for some people.

Rowenta DG8520

The device is hard to call the compact one, as its dimensions are 17.71 x 13.58 x 11.02 inches and it weighs 12.21 pounds (it’s the heaviest surveyed unit). Despite this, the Rowenta DG8520 has a stainless steel soleplate and 5 bars of pressure, which are suitable for wrinkles removing and smoothing the quilting projects. The high-powered steam makes it easy to cope with sorely tumbled fabric even on the vertical surfaces. This 1800W unit cuts the water supply off automatically in order to avoid any drips from the soleplate. The steam control panel contains information about the water tank emptiness, the calc away indicator, and the Restart button. Pay attention that the water tank is removable and you can use the tap water (if the water is too hard, it’s recommended to alternate the tap and distilled water). The Rowenta DG8520 review makes it clear that the device isn’t the perfect one due to its dimensions, but its steam output is 80 grams per minute that allows dealing with deep wrinkles on the cloth.

Video Rowenta DG8520

Rowenta DW6080

The corded Rowenta DW6080 (12.6 x 5.7 x 7.08 inches) is comfortable for storage. Moreover, its weight is 3.46 pounds, so the unit is user-friendly due to its relatively low weight. It has a power of 1700W, which means it is able to smooth anything. It gets hot in 30-60 seconds after turning on, that’s really fast. The device is equipped with a stainless steel sole, which allows you to smooth the quilt in seconds while maintaining the integrity of the fabric. There’s a good chance that the unit is probably the best quilting iron as it’s complemented with an ergonomic rotary trigger (suitable for right and left-handed users). The built-in anti-drip and anti-calc systems help extend the life of the iron. The shutoff feature turns the iron off after 8 minutes (if left vertical) of inactivity or 30 seconds (if left horizontal). The cord’s length is 7.9ft that is enough for basic usage. The water tank is a capacious reservoir for liquid (10 oz.), moreover, it comes with a special water cup to successfully fill the iron.

Video Rowenta DW6080

Steamfast SF-717 – mini iron for quilting

The Steamfast SF-717 is the small quilting iron that weighs only 1 pound and has pocket-sized dimensions (5.2 x 3 x 3.1 inches), so it’s easy to operate it and take with yourself. A rather long cord (7.5ft) gives you freedom of action. The wire is conveniently wrapped around the iron. It takes only 15-20 seconds to heat up (its power is 420W). This mini iron for quilting has a dual voltage setting and is able to work with 100V and 240V. Its non-stick soleplate provides perfect glide and is easy to clean. The front part of the handle contains the 3-temperatures knob for different fabrics and 1-touch steam control. Its 1.5 oz. water tank is enough for quick ironing. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have an auto-shutoff feature, so it’s important to control the unit. Moreover, the rubber plug for water filler doesn’t stay in, so I have to push it in (the water tank has a special rubber plug to prevent leakage, but this element does not tightly cover the hole and leakage appears).

Video Steamfast SF-717

Black & Decker D25307

This corded quilting iron isn’t one of the smallest units (11 x 4.6 x 5.58 inches) but is rather lightweight (3.31 pounds). Such a design solution handles rough fabric and tricky folds. Its power is 1500W and such a peculiarity in combination with high steam rate leads to the possibility to be used with all fabric types. The sharp nose of the appliance has been specially designed to smooth out hard-to-reach areas. The temperature control is performed digitally as there’s an LCD screen with the possibility to choose the fabric type (7) and the required temperature. It appears the “READY” sign on the screen when the device is heated up to the max temperature. Stainless steel soleplate is reliable and is heavyweight, so you don’t have to put effort into ironing. The handle contains not only the LCD screen but also the buttons for steam and water spraying. The manufacturer supplemented the unit with a 3-way auto-shutoff for better safety.

Sunbeam GCSBSP-201-FFP

The unit has standard dimensions (14 x 6.2 x 6.3 inches) and comfortable-to-hold weight (2.95 pounds). Its retractable cord (8ft) makes the iron easy to store. Its stainless steel soleplate has macro-sized steam holes for a quick process. It can be used for vertical ironing, so there’s no need to take out the ironing table. You can simply hang the wrinkled quilt and blast it with steam. There’s no need to worry about leaving the Sunbeam GCSBSP-201-FFP unattended, as the unit turns off after 30 seconds of laying on the soleplate or after 15 seconds after staying vertically. The temperature controller is located on the upper part of the handle, so it’s easy to check out the settings. It might be probably the best iron for quilting, but the cord gets stuck (close to the retractable mechanism) a little and has to be guided manually.

Oliso Pro TG1600

The Oliso TG1600 dimensions (12.75 x 5.62 x 7.87 inches) and weight (5 pounds) don’t make the device one of the smallest ones, but such characteristics are good for working with thick cloth quilts. The heavier the unit – the easier and quicker the ironing is. The device has supports the iTouch technology that reacts to the hands. When you take your hands off the handle, the iron reduces the temperature and when you take it, the stainless steel soleplate starts to heat up. The sole is covered with a blast chromium finish that ensures the good gliding. Its 1800W is enough to become hot in 80 seconds. Inbuilt digital controls help maintain temperature. It automatically shuts off while 30 minutes standing or 30 seconds lying without any movements. The anti-drip system is a pleasant bonus as it prevents spitting and leaking when the facility is hot. Its 12.7 oz. tank is refilling-friendly and is spacious for prolonged usage. The spray function helps moisturize dry fabrics and the pointed nose flattens out the fabric between buttons.

Video Oliso Pro TG1600

Buyer’s Guide

What Factors Make an Iron Best for Quilting?

It’s the right decision to find out the factors, which influence the iron productivity and usability for quilting. Especially, when taking into account that the unit has to press out all the wrinkles, set creases, and overlap in texture pieces before cutting. Thereby, the requirements for the quilting iron are much higher than for a conventional universal ironing device.

Power

The iron’s power demonstrates its performance possibilities. This feature manages the iron’s producing and adjustment of the heat. With higher wattage, it becomes hotter much faster, compared with the unit that has a lower wattage level. For example, a 1200W iron is able to reach the highest temperature in 2 minutes, while a 2400W iron takes less time to become heated (to the peak temperature). It differs according to the heating component and the soleplate material (its thickness).
The amount of electricity consumed by iron depends on power. The units are not assigned an energy class unlike other household appliances; the best irons for quilting don’t consume much electricity. Powerful models heat up quickly due to the use of a powerful heating element. They intensively form a cloud of steam and also consume more energy.

Soleplate

The quality and material of the soleplate belong to the key factors that determine the reliability and durability of the iron model.

• Ceramic and cermet materials are used for expensive irons for quilting. Such units glide easily over the fabric and do not jam it. It’s hard to scratch these materials and easy to clean. Ceramics keep warm for a long time.
• Stainless steel is a durable material that does not scratch and has an average heating/cooling rate. This soleplate is complemented with special spraying (for easy cleaning and gliding) and holes (for better steam supply).
• Aluminum is a good heat conductor, so it heats up and cools down quickly. Irons are inexpensive and lightweight but can be quickly deteriorated and easily damaged. The scratches appear on the sole over time. Small burrs lead to puffs or cuts on delicate fabrics appearing. Non-sprayed aluminum soleplate leaves shiny marks on wool-containing fabrics.
• Teflon coating does not stick to the surface and glides well during ironing. It’s easily scratched by metal clothing accessories, resulting in the deformation of the sole.

Steam Power

The higher the steam output, the more useful the unit does its job. It’s better to choose the iron for quilting which has a constant stream function. Such units convert much water into steam in a minute, so it’s easy to smooth thick fabrics and wrinkled items. The burst of steam function allows directing a powerful jet of hot steam to a specific area of the fabric and thereby soften coarse fibers. With the vertical steam outlet option, the iron can be used for working with fabrics in a suspended position. The variable steam output is especially a good choice as it automatically adjusts the steam level to the fabric type. Many models are equipped with a regulator of the steam supply intensity, which is located on the facility handle. It regulates the optimal steam rate according to the fabrics type to be ironed, its thickness, and the wrinkle level.

Heat Settings

It’s important to know about the heat level required for different fabrics in order not to burn the cloth. Some quilting irons are complemented with the computerized temperature setting controls, so it’s easy to adjust the safe temperature for a particular tissue. Some irons propose to select the type of fabric, and the unit itself gives you the required heat level. You can do all the settings manually, but such a procedure can lead to an ironing mistake and the need to get rid of tissue.
Usually, many irons have the automatic adjustment of temperature according to the chosen fabric, but when you have to set the manual heat level, you should know about permissible temperatures. Get acquainted with the ironing temperature settings for widespread fabrics:

• Cotton – 400°F
• Polyester – 300°F
• Viscose – 375°F
• Linen – 445°F
• Silk – 300°F
• Lycra/Spandex – 275°F