If quilting is your passion, you know the importance of having a perfect iron. While the market is rife with all kinds of quilting irons trying to catch your attention, which is really the best iron for quilting? Which quilting iron should you take home? To clear the fog, we’ve rounded up nine so that you have enough to choose from.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Quilting Iron
Here are some leading factors to bear in mind when you’re out choosing among the best irons for quilting:
- Ensure that your choice of quilter’s iron offers a smooth steam flow.
- Check that your iron of choice has computerized temperature controls that you can adjust to the fabric you’re ironing.
- Does your iron have heat settings for the fabric you want to iron?
- Understand how soleplates work and take your pick from stainless steel, Teflon, ceramic and aluminum. Also, good quilting irons will glide over fabric, something that works well with ceramic and stainless steel.
- The best steam irons are built to be robust and durable. Check that it is so.
- Ensure that your iron of choice offers the highest level of safety while it is being used. At no point should it cause you to experience burns, or ruin or burn your fabric or garments. In extreme cases, a bad iron may also cause a fire.
- Also, ensure that your iron does not spill water or hot steam while you use it.
- Ensure that the controls of your iron have a few digital ones, or have circular dials or sliding triggers. This will make it user-friendly for all members of your family.
- Go for a lightweight iron that doesn’t strain your arms or shoulders when lifting it or when ironing with it.
Best Quilting Iron Reviews
Now that you are familiar with what you should be looking for in a good quilting iron, you can confidently enter a store and ask for quilting irons. Meanwhile, here are reviews of nine of the best steam irons for quilters today. Read these reviews before you decide.
Features:
- It has a 9.5″ premium level soleplate made of stainless steel with the extra maneuverability of Smooth Glide technology. The large soleplate helps the iron cover a larger area of material in one go, thereby negating many strokes.
- It works on 1800 watts of electricity. It also heats up faster than its competitors with lower wattage. It maintains the pre-set temperature while ironing. High heat enables faster removal of creases in a shorter timeframe and allows for more steam while ironing.
- This iron is heavy at 2 kg, which allows the user to exert more pressure on the iron. So, it irons heavier fabric better and gets rid of creases faster.
- The anti-calc system inbuilt into this iron ensures that there is no calcium buildup here. So, you can safely use tap water when ironing.
- Temperature is regulated using a simple touch button and a thermostat. LED lights may be used in dimly lit environments.
- The thin tapered tip of the iron is meant for easy maneuverability of fabric and garments.
- Tap a button and choose any fabric from various settings and the iron will adjust temperature and steam to suit the material.
- It also has a very large water tank (300 ml), a self-cleaning system and works on automatic power off.
Pros.
Cons.
For all its features and capabilities, the Shark Professional Steam Iron is by far the best clothes iron today.
Features:
- The stainless steel soleplate is scratch-resistant and durable, enabling gliding over the material. It also does not call for much maintenance. Its steam vents release steam that helps iron out creases.
- The iron works in three temperature settings–low, medium and high, thus enabling the user to set the best temperature that suits the fabric.
- Ultramodern technology is used to control temperature. A microprocessor is used here, which allows for seamless movement from low to high power.
- By integrating an anti-calc feature, the iron does not develop any calcium deposits in its vents.
- One of its stellar features is the anti-drip system that prevents any leakage of water.
- The iron has a charging port attached to a power cable that provides stability and support to the iron in case of accidents.
- It gets heated at 1500 watts of electricity.
- Steam is released here at the press of a button, just like the indicator lights come on at the press of a button to alert the user that the iron is ready for use.
Pros.
Cons.
Features:
- It works equally well with two voltage settings–100 V and 240 V, so you can easily travel with it.
- It has a nonstick soleplate, so it can easily adjust to any type of fabric you iron, not sticking to it.
- On switching on the iron, it heats up within 15 seconds.
- A single touch helps control the amount of steam generated.
- It works on 420 Watts of electricity, enabling you to get rid of stubborn creases easily.
- By selecting the temperature on the dial to suit the fabric, you can iron any kind of fabric at the right temperature. It comes with three different temperature settings.
- The anti-slip handle offers an excellent grip.
- It is sold along with a travel bag.
- It comes with a cord, 7.5 feet long.
Pros.
Cons.
Features:
Here are its salient features:
- It is designed using Flat Iron technology.
- This steam iron is so versatile that with 1700 watts of electricity.
- Its titanium infused ceramic soleplate makes the iron durable and assures low maintenance.
- This iron is made using superior quality materials, such as titanium and ceramic, which help minimize wear and tear. The soleplate is also robust yet scratch-resistant, adding to its durability.
- Temperature control is done by selecting the temperature based on the fabric used.
- A high power level of 1700 W ensures that the steam arising from it will be enough. You needn’t wait long to bring on the steam as the high electricity level ensures you get it fast.
- This iron has 400 steam holes spread out over its surface area, ensuring that you can cover most of the fabric in one stroke.
- The steam release lever helps regulate the amount of steam released by the iron. This makes the iron function efficiently without replenishing water too often.
- You get a textured grip on this iron when using it for a long time.
- You can store the iron easily when not using it, thanks to the eight-foot-long retractable cord. You can also carry it around the house and iron where you please.
Pros.
Cons.
Shop for Chi mini flat irons online and get good deals.
Features:
Its many excellent features render it the best Rowenta iron for quilting.
- It is a German product made entirely of stainless steel. It is scratch-resistant, non-stick and has 400 steam holes that elevate 30% extra steam into clothes under ironing, as compared to steam pumps without pumps.
- It has a vibrant LED display, an ultramodern steam motion sensor and a self-cleaning system that does not allow any calcium build-up.
- The Rowenta Steam Iron comes with an inbuilt and smoothly gliding Teflon-coated soleplate.
- The capacity of its water tank is 350 ml.
- Due to its integrated self-cleaning methodology, it is able to retain its top position in the market.
Pros.
Cons.
This Oliso pro iron review will familiarise you with all its many useful features. It is definitely a smart iron because it is governed by the smart iTouch technology.
So smart is it that in 2006, Time magazine named it as one among the year’s best innovations. Even today, it is considered smart.
Features:
Let’s check out its outstanding features:
- Its exclusive iTouch technology renders it intelligently. So, if you stop ironing for a minute, you don’t need to manually return it to its base. The iron does this itself. When you get back to hold the handle, the iron lowers itself to enable easy ironing.
- Its soleplate is made of the best quality stainless steel and has a bead blast chromium finish to enable a smooth glide on clothes and fabric. It is also scratch-resistant and thick, so that it can iron out creases and is durable.
- It has a high precision detailer tip for easy access over difficult garment parts, such as cuffs and collars. Besides, intricately designed pleats can also be ironed easily.
- It’s smart steam feature cuts off steam when you stop ironing, making it energy- and water-saving. The Triple Play steam feature lets you choose from horizontal, vertical and continuous steaming options for best results.
- It consumes 1800 watts of electricity, so heating up takes less than 80 seconds. At this power, it can also iron very efficiently. Its integrated digital controls ensure that its temperature is maintained.
- It has a shut-off time of 30 minutes, so you needn’t worry if you forget or are preoccupied.
- It has a larger water tank than others, at 0.36 liters. So, a refill will take a very long time.
Pros.
Cons.
Features:
- It has a unique and compact design which enables commercial grade ironing.
- It generates a lot of steam, which helps remove creases from any type of fabric.
- You can get a powerful jet of steam by setting the steamer in burst mode.
Pros.
Cons.
This is a digital iron with an LCD display for temperature, fabric setting, and steam level. It is feature-rich and is therefore rated as the Best Budget Iron in its price band. It is ergonomically designed to have a comfortable grip. This professional iron calls for minimal maintenance.
Features:
- It works at 1500 watts of energy and heats up the iron faster than others. This level of power also helps it generate more steam over a sustained period. High power also helps in removing creases easily.
- Its tough stainless steel soleplate is durable and scratch-resistant. It works well with a variety of fabrics. It is also lightweight.
- With a one-touch button, this iron produces a jet of steam. With vertical ironing, it can be used as a steamer to straighten creases from hanging garments without ironing them on the board.
- It shuts off power in three ways: while left idle, it immediately cuts off electricity; when left on its side, it shuts off in 30 seconds and left on its base, it takes eight minutes to shut off.
- Its vibrant LCD display makes it user-friendly.
- A button on the dial tells the user to set the iron at the best temperature for the fabric to be ironed, thus making it energy, water and power-efficient.
- Its anti-calc system prevents the build-up of calcium deposits inside the iron, while its anti-clean feature helps eliminate all the dirt in the water tank.
- It does not drip water.
Pros.
Cons.
Features:
- Its one-touch steam control and three temperature settings for a variety of fabric types help heat up the water tank within barely 15 seconds.
- It works efficiently on 420 watts of energy to remove the most stubborn wrinkles from all types of fabric.
- It offers greater efficiency to the user with its 7.5-foot power cord for easy portability and its anti-slip handle that affords a comfortable grip for prolonged use.
- It works on 100 and 240 volts, making it the perfect travel companion.
- It comes with a travel bag and a plastic measuring cup.
Pros.
Cons.
Ultimate Guide on The Best Quilting Iron and Common FAQs
When you are buying a quilting accessory (an iron), it is wise to go for the best. But buying the best quilting iron is a matter of thoughtful planning, as you have to make your choice out of many. But before that, let’s first know the advantages of using a quilting iron.
Why do I Need a Quilting Iron?
The use of a quilting iron is advantageous for quilters as it helps users in many ways. No matter if you are an expert quilter or an amateur, at the time of the iron purchase, you must consider the facilities you are likely to get out of it.
If you want to compliment your purchase decision of a quilting iron, you have to weigh between your investment and the output you are getting out of it.
Professional Finishing of The Quilt
The iron will help you in right layering the edges, which is important in professional quilting. Without the use of an iron, it may not be as smooth and even as it is expected in flawless quilting. Professional finishing remains easier with an iron.
Faster Completion of Work
Managing edging is one of the challenges of a quilting job. You cannot do the edge management with your hands or by pressing the edges with manual effort. With the help of a quilt iron, you can press the edges with a faster turnaround time.
It is Helpful for Sewers
Streamlining the job will be easier with the use of a quilting iron, and that makes quilting easier for the sewer. It has been surveyed that with the use of a quilting iron, the efficiency of a quilter may increase by 35-50%.
Your Fabric Handling Will Be Better
The iron can press the fabric layers with robotic efficiency, and the fabrics are managed with advanced efficiency. Quilting nitty-gritty like adding borders, creating a quilting sandwich, and preparing quilt backing becomes easier with the use of a quilting iron.
Easy to Work With Modern Quilting Irons
Modern quilting irons are now available with different safety features, with which you can stay safe from the risk of burning the fabric. An advanced iron comes with facilities like temperature control, vertical steaming, the facility of the steam blast, availability of steam vent, etc.
Different Types of Quilting Irons
Quilting is a professional task, and different sewers perform the task with varying skill levels. To complement their skill levels, a wide variety of quilting irons are available in the market.
Although all quilting irons offer the basic support of ironing, based on their salient features, some specific varieties exist for the specific and wide-ranging choice of quilters.
1. Traditional Steam Irons
Traditional steam iron models permit the emission of small quantities of hot steam, which the users can apply to the fabric at the time of pressing. The pressing and the water together work like magic by eliminating wrinkles at a very fast rate.
2. Steam Ironing System
A steam ironing system is simple to use. It is like traditional electrical irons, which exerts hot pressure even on a dry cloth and makes fabrics creaseless, but with advanced technology. These irons are slightly lighter in weight than traditional dry irons.
Advanced steam irons are a perfect space saver in comparison to other quilting irons. Mostly these irons are built with an automatic shut-off system. These irons offer a water splash system inside.
3. Cordless Irons
As suggested by the name, cordless irons are easy-to-move quilting irons that you can use anywhere on the fabric because it is free from the bondage of plugging obligations.
These are advanced versions of quilting irons, and they come with a stainless steel soleplate, which makes them compatible with all fabric types. Built with an inner water tank for producing water steam, you can use these cordless iron models as a steam iron as well as a dry iron.
Tips for Taking Care and Maintaining Your Quilting Irons
It is important to know the care and maintenance of the quilting iron you will be using. It will help you in keeping the gadget in better working condition for a long.
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Add some white vinegar into the water compartment, turn it on high, and allow it to sit for 3-5 minutes. Now turn it off, unplug the gadget, and take the white vinegar out.
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Let it air dry and cool off completely before you use it.
Always consult your gadget’s user manual to know the model specific care instructions.
Safety Tips That You Need to Follow While Using an Iron
It is always wise to stay safe with the sewing equipment; while quilting, the iron performs as a piece of equipment. Hence, it is safe to use it with some precautions.
Is a Higher Watt Iron Better?
Yes, the higher the wattage, the better the iron. The higher is wattage, the iron will get hot faster. The faster it heats up, it will help you to press the fabric or quilt edges.
If you are using the iron for pressing clothes simply, a higher wattage is an obvious advantage. But for quilting, you should assess first how much heat you may require to press the edges, and you need faster heat-up or consistently heating up support.
For occasional use for quilting, you may not require a higher watt iron. But if you are a professional quilter, definitely a higher wattage model will befit you because you can press many quilts at a time before sewing.
The higher the wattage of the iron, it will be. For a quilting job, generally, you need an iron between 750 watts and 1250 watts. Now, going on the “more the merrier” principle, you can go for higher wattage if you have a higher budget. Also, consider the quilting work volume to justify your investment.
Steam or Dry! Which Iron Is Better For Quilting?
A steam iron is an advanced version of a dry iron, and it works faster and is somehow safer for fabric. The steam iron presses the fabric wrinkles faster, and it can even work on the rougher fabrics like jeans. So buying a steam iron is a wise choice, in comparison to a dry iron.
Steam irons do not work for silk fabrics. If you are specialized in silk quilting, you should go for the dry ironing option. A steam iron usually does not affect the fabric much, as it is often done by the dry iron and its hot soleplate, but silk is the exception.
However, presently, electric irons are available with dual mode, which means you can use them either as a steam iron or as a dry iron. Depending on the fabric you are working with in your quilting project, you can select the ironing mode.
You can understand the nature of fabric by reading its care instructions. Accordingly, you proceed. A dual iron will work as an all-rounder quilting solution for you. You may adjust the temperature of the iron for adjusting the edges of the quilt according to the fabric quality.
- One word of caution for a dry iron buyer: you can use a steam iron as a dry one, but you cannot use a dry iron as a steam model.
- One word of caution for a steam iron buyer: The challenges of steam irons may pose greater risks to your quilting fabrics, such as spills and leaks.
Can I Use a Travel Iron for All of My Quilting Needs?
Yes, if you are an amateur quilter or you work with a limited volume of quilting jobs, you can easily fulfill all your quilting needs with a travel iron.
There are several advantages of using a travel iron for fulfilling quilting needs. For example:
Faster heat-up time: it helps a quilter to get started with their pressing job with a faster turnaround time.
Travel irons are mostly compact in design for the sake of portability, which works as a space-saving gadget in the sewing room. The lightweight is a user-friendly feature and helpful for quilters.
A Travel iron can be used both as a steam iron and a dry iron, which is a definite advantage in quilting.
The travel irons come with adjustable heat range, and it helps a quilter to press different types of fabrics used in quilting.
Travel irons are mostly easy to hold and work, which contributes to the enhanced efficiency of the quilter.
The thermal safety cut-off feature is an advanced safety feature for the quilting job. It can keep you safe from the risk of burn injury to your hand or the fabric you are working with.
Most of the travel irons are built with palm glide technology, which helps in the easy ironing of the quilt edges.
Non-stick (Teflon-coated mostly) soleplate of the travel iron is an absolute advantage for the quilt-maker. There is hardly any chance to get it glued with the quilt fabric.
Mostly, the travel irons come with a travel pouch. The quilter can use the pouch for storing the iron safely when it is not in use.
How do I Stop My Quilting Iron From Leaking?
Water leaking from a steam iron is a common trouble issue for the user-quilters. It is odd for the quilt fabrics because it may spoil the freshness of the fabrics, and that may hamper the quality of sewing. But in most cases, some remedial measure can help you to avoid this dripping water mess.
Use distilled water instead of normal tap water. There will be less or no water plaque in the water chamber, and there will be no problem of leaking water.
If available, you should run the self-cleaning system of the iron on a regular basis. It will help you in stopping the leaking water issue to a large extent, as the cleaning process will control the risk of unwanted accumulation of minerals and scale buildup.
You should not use water from your steam iron that is taken from a whole-house aquatic softener system. The water quality may get compromised, and it may cause unwanted leaking and spitting from the iron.
Setting the iron temperature too low may cause dripping and leakage: unless appropriate for a typical fabric, you should not set the iron temperature at its lowest mode.
Never leave water residue in your steam iron, which later may cause dripping instead of producing steam, especially if you use tap water.
You may buy an iron fitted with the anti-drip system or anti-calcium feature: irons with this feature will not suffer from leakage or dripping problems for the user.
You must keep the soleplate holes clean to stop the water leakage issue. If you work heavily with your quilting iron, you must clean the soleplate every three days.
Honorable Mention
Laura Go + Ironing System:
This iron is designed with the Laurastar brand of exclusive technology so that users get the benefit of having a professional iron with steam and a table that has both a vacuum system and a blower.
It offers perfect ironing and has a soleplate that protects delicate fabrics. It also comes with a heat-resistant mat, a steam cord, a drain tray and a water filling bottle.
Conclusion
By investing in the best iron for quilting, not only will you save a lot of money using an energy-efficient product, but you will also have your garments and fabric, hands and house safe.
As buyers, you will naturally look for the best features, design, functionality and type of iron you need. The best in today’s market have been presented here objectively so that you can pick up the perfect one.
Welcome the coming year with the best iron for quilting 2025 and take your passion for quilting forward.