28 January, 2014

Pressing Issues


Some people think in the shower, others on a long walk. Some like to talk it out with a friend or partner. Some others like to turtle under and not think about things. Me? I iron.

Truth be told, I don't like to iron my clothes. My sister and I had this as one of our chores when we were growing up. My mom made us iron all the t-shirts too. Our clothes looked great, even if they smelled like smoke. Now I iron clothes only when necessary.

But pressing a quilt top or readying a back for basting is my go-to task when I have something to sort out in my brain. Whether it be bringing swirling ideas together or planning a difficult conversation, the repetitive nature of pressing, with accompanying steam facial is the means by which I can often formulate my thoughts.

I've got a lot to sort through this week, anyone want to bring some blocks over?

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'd happily send you ALL my pressing if it were feasible. I hate it- and just this past weekend I managed to burn myself nastily trying to reach over my iron.

Cheryl said...

Yes, I do! My photos would be so much better if I bothered to press things first. I also did this as a kid- all those catholic school uniforms...

MQG said...
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Nicole said...

Do you read the Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich? Her mom irons as a stress relief - Stephanie knows things are bad when mom's ironing at 9am.

Suzanne said...

I like to wash dishes for that reason. Hope you get all the thoughts ironed out.

Unknown said...
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Elsa said...

I also enjoy ironing ~ even clothing ~ there's something about taking something all wrinkly and making it smooth! Folding things is nice too ~

liniecat said...

Oh Elsa ( above) if only that worked with aged skin too!!

I too was going to say if only I lived closer Id bring you a bag over,
but here,
passes imaginary bag across,
get stuck into that batch and think away lass : )
I myself take tonic (with gin) at times like that............

Leanne said...

I too love pressing fabric and quilting bits but not clothing. I prewash so I get lots of time to contemplate things while I get to know the fabric. But chain piecing fills the same spot too, for me.

Sandy said...

I only wish you liked to bind. I'd have a lot for you to do. You could probably figure out world peace before you were done.

Colleen said...

I'm with you - I almost never iron clothes, but find ironing fabric or quilt pieces quite meditative. I thought I was a strange one, but apparently not!

Victoria said...

My ironing board is always set up, and like you I very much enjoy ironing my fabric and the bits and pieces I am working on, but no,no, no,... how I dread to iron clothes! (I sometimes think that my one daughter doesn't even know that clothes are suppose to be ironed as she so rarely saw me do it!)

Must skip a generation, as I also grew up with a mother that ironed, (and starched) everything. (Luckily that was never one of my chores... I don't think she trusted me not to burn everything!)

Suze said...

I ironed my husband's jeans for work in a factory - he was a line worker. My mom came to visit and found out that he was ironing his jeans again before he went to work. He said I didn't iron them to suit him. He was 6'7" and I didn't stretch the legs enough when I ironed them, so the legs weren't long enough. Guess who went on strike and didn't iron any of his things for a long time? There is also an unfinished quilt from over 25 years ago because of a comment he made about it. And, he is the one who filed for divorce. He couldn't figure out why I didn't want to stay friends. I understand - I think about lots of things when I iron, shower, and drive. I have a quilt back that needs to be ironed, are you game for that? lol Thanks for the post and letting me vent.