Pressing & Ironing Tips for Garments

Here's something experienced sewists know that beginners often don't: two habits separate a garment that looks handmade from one that looks store-bought. The first is snipping threads as you go. The second is knowing how to use your iron properly.

If your finished garments aren't quite hitting that polished, professional look, your pressing technique may be the missing piece.

Pro Tip: Ironing and pressing are often used interchangeably — but they are not the same thing, and in garment sewing the difference matters.

• Ironing — sliding a hot iron back and forth to remove wrinkles
• Pressing — lifting the iron and placing it down on a specific area without moving it

Most of what you do during garment construction is pressing, not ironing.

Press Seams Open

Pressing seams open is standard practice in garment sewing, and for good reason. It prevents seam allowances from bunching up into a ridge under the fabric — which can feel uncomfortable to wear and makes aligning intersecting seams much harder.

To press a seam open, work from the face of the seam and press each seam allowance flat in opposite directions. For heat-sensitive fabrics, always use a pressing cloth between the iron and the fabric to avoid damage.

Topstitching

Before topstitching, press your seam allowance into the direction you want it to sit. This gives you a smooth, even surface to stitch along and produces a much cleaner result.

Topstitching does more than look good — it permanently locks seam allowances in place and adds an extra layer of durability to the seam. This matters for longevity: pressing alone will flatten a seam allowance, but it won't survive repeated machine washing. Without topstitching, you may find yourself re-pressing seams after every wash.

Once your topstitching is complete, give it a final press to sink the stitches into the fabric for a truly polished finish.

Fusing Interfacing

Interfacing adds structure and body to areas that need it — collars, cuffs, button plackets, and facings are the most common. For fusible interfacing, always use steam. The combination of heat and steam activates the adhesive and creates a strong, lasting bond with the fabric.

Before applying interfacing to your actual garment, test your heat and steam settings on a few scraps of the same fabric. This is especially important with delicate fabrics — if in doubt, place a pressing cloth or lightweight towel between the interfacing and the iron to protect the fabric surface.

Pro-Tip: Often used interchangeably, Ironing & Pressing are NOT the same thing. Ironing is the action used to remove wrinkles by sliding a hot iron back and forth. Pressing is the process of lifting and putting the iron down on a specific part of a project.