Tailor's ironing pads

Vera Olkhovskaya

Ironing pads are an indispensable tool for a tailor.

They are used in many wet heat treatment (WHT) operations.

Pillows are especially important in the work of an outerwear tailor who performs specific work on shaping the details of the product.

Beginning tailors ask if it is possible to do an OBE on the front and back of a coat or jacket without using pillows.

Unfortunately, without pillows, only a special ironing press can give shape to these parts.

If you wet-heat treat a shelf or back without a cushion, it will take the shape of a table rather than the shape with the right bulges that the tailor has to create.

The main condition for these ironing devices: the pillows must be streamlined and very densely stuffed.

Stuffing is usually done with small scraps of fabric or small wood shavings.

Overlock scraps are ideal for small scraps. Of course, it is better to use stuffing made from natural materials that can withstand high temperatures and absorb excess moisture during the steaming process.

As a tight material, a bead or calico is used, but any dense and durable fabric can be light-colored fabric that does not shed and does not have a convex weave.

The most widely used are two types of ironing pads - oval and oblong.

The size of the cover of the "large" oval pillow is approximately 30 by 22 cm, and the "small" oblong (sleeve) is 30 by 11 cm.

In addition to the generally recognized "classic" oval and oblong pillows, when sewing outerwear, ironing pillows of other shapes are used, as well as ironing pads.

But they have a narrower purpose and therefore are used mainly in ateliers or factories.

For example, a wooden block for ironing the collar of a man's shirt or a pillow for ironing the bulge of the chest of a ladies' corset is a rarity in a home workshop.

It is worth noting that each master must make his own ironing pads that are comfortable for him to work.

And finally, watch the video master class on sewing a coat on the topic of wet-heat treatment of the shelves and back.

Ready coat patternshown in this video tutorial on sewing for beginners, you can download almost free of charge on the website of Vera Olkhovskaya.

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