Mini Iron Warning!

15 years ago

Many of you probably use those mini irons to press seams when sewing. I have mine right beside my sewing machine, carefully secured to an old wooden cutting board that I've covered with ironing board thermal fabric. Safety first, right? I've burned myself on the d@%^ thing a few times but I've never burned up any fabric... until now.

Yup, singed a hole in one block and a big brown spot in another. Two blocks that have to be repaired or tossed! Aaarrrgghhhh! I could shoot myself! How did I do it? Well, I had my 3 January lotto blocks and a couple of the birthday blocks sitting on my sewing table and showed them to a neighbor. I didn't realize as I was folding one back so she could see the one underneath, and then the next and the next, that I was folding them over onto the iron. And I didn't notice that the iron was left on. About 40 minutes later I went back to the sewing room and staightened up the blocks, seeing immediately that one was burned. The next one was too but I think I'm lucky it was just those two. And REALLY lucky I didn't start a fire!!!

I feel pretty dumb about this. I can repair the 2 damaged lotto blocks since it was just one little triangle from each that was burned. But if you use one of these irons, be sure to unplug it when you are done!!! I've been relying on the on/off switch but it's easy to forget that.

Kate

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Comments (13)

bluebars
15 years ago
Oh my, isn't there a light or anything that shows it is ON?
I used to leave for work and forget to turn off a curling iron, then worried about it all day until I got home.
Some regular irons automatically turn off after a time, although usually at the most inconvenient time, when you need it LOL.
Glad your experience was not worse!
BlueBars
solstice98
Original Author
15 years ago
There is an itsy bitsy tiny green light that you have to be directly looking at to see if it's on. From the side you can't see it. And of course if you cover it up with fabric you can't see it at all! LOL
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pixieab
15 years ago
Been there, done that! Kate. So glad you are able to repair the damaged blocks. And that you had no really serious consequences.
My solution to the problem of forgetting to unplug/turn off appliances was to put them on a surge protector/power bar that I have to turn on. My sewing machine is connected to this as well, so "no power, no sewing" lol.

Penny
bluebars
15 years ago
That is a good suggestion Penny. I have my regular iron AND A LAMP plugged into a power bar. If the lamp is on, I always know the iron is on too!
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solstice98
Original Author
15 years ago
Funny you should mention the surge protector... THAT's what lead to this incident! I have everything on the sewing table plugged into one surge protector, including 2 lamps over the table. When I'm done it gets turned off. But in this case I was interupted by the neighbor visiting and intended to come back to it when she left. I had used the iron previously, but not that day and didn't notice it was on. I leave it plugged into the surge protector too so I know it's off at the end of the day but usually only turn the iron on when I'm using it. Now I know to unplug it 'just in case'.
itsmesuzq
15 years ago
Kate, thanks so much for the warning. I'm going to buy one of those small irons at a quilting show this weekend. Having the big ironing board and iron on all the time is such a pain!

I'm also going to plug everything into a surge protector and then I'm taping it to my craft table where I do my cutting ect. That way I can just flip the switch when I leave the table. I used to have my glue gun plugged into it when I was doing my art cards etc., and it worked like a charm.

I really appreciate you mentioning this...being new to quilting I need the all the reminders I can get!

Susan
rosajoe_gw
15 years ago
Kate, I feel like crying for you!!!!!!!!!! But, I am so glad it wasn't worse.
A friend had a kitchenware party at her house and left burning candels in the bathroom. A guest left a towel too close and it caught on fire.
So I started using the flameless battery operated ones!!!!!
I also need to plug everything into a surge protector.
Rosa
love2sew
15 years ago
Thanks for sharing Kate but just sorry for the damage to your blocks. I got one of these tiny irons for Christmas but haven't used it yet. I will get things hooked up to a surge protector too, such a good suggestion.
I knew these irons were extremely hot and I wondered of one of these new silicon oven gloves or hot mats would be good to use as well.
Jean
calliope
15 years ago
Well, I thought I had some difficulty with this month's blocks, but obviously not as much as you did ;-)

I'm paranoid about the iron in the sewing room. I am so paranoid about it, I unplug it and then after I turn the light off, usually turn it back on and check one last time. Interruptions, however, I would have prolly done the same thing you did. I can lose my train of thought pretty easily when somebody appears and derails it.
mary_c_gw
15 years ago
Oh, Kate, sorry for the damage!

I wanted one of those irons, but I looked at my personal work habits, and I concluded I would either burn my studio down, or seriously burn myself, LOL.

My iron is switched off via the power strip controlling the machines. There's no room for the mini iron, and this may save me from myself.
nanajayne
15 years ago
Sad but lucky that there was no more damage. Being interrupted makes it understandable and I am sure you have helped us all to remember to be more careful.
I have a mini that was given to me, the clover one, but don't used it much unless I am paper piecing.
I do keep my lg. iron set up on a table beside my sewing machines and on a serger strip. When I leave the room for any period of time the strip is shut off. The sewing machine is on a different serger line, a good practice for computerize machines I have been told.
TFS Jayne
woodenzoo
15 years ago
So glad that the damage was kept to a minimum! And so glad you shared your experience with the rest of us.
Cathy
sunnycentralfl
15 years ago
I burned myself with one of those little irons years ago. It happened only once, and back to Joann's it went. I use a Monokate Heat Sealing tool my DH got from a craft shop. Love it for Paper Piecing. It's bigger and sturdier.

Thanks, Kate, for warning about those little irons. Sorry it happened to you, but your warning has beneifitted many!
Gwen

Here is a link that might be useful: monokote heating sealing tool

Mini Iron Warning!

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