How to Press an Altered Skirt

You can press some altered skirts exactly as you would if the skirt were not altered. Other altered skirts may need special attention when pressing the altered areas, if the seams have come unpressed or the altered area is especially wrinkled. Depending on the type of fabric your skirt is made from, you may want to use a press cloth. A press cloth protects delicate fabrics from the heat of the iron, and can be moistened to create steam. You can use a large cotton handkerchief or any scrap of plain cotton for a press cloth.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• skirt
• iron
• ironing board
• press cloth (optional)
• spray bottle with water (optional)

Press an Altered Skirt

1. Preheat the iron to the appropriate temperature for the type of fabric your skirt is made from.

2. Unzip or unbutton the skirt. If the seams for the altered areas, such as inserts, need to be pressed, turn the skirt inside out.

3. Slip the skirt over the narrow end of the ironing board.

4. Moisten the press cloth, if you are using one, by dampening it with water and ringing it out or by spraying it with a bottle of water. Lay the press cloth on top of the skirt area you wish to iron, and smooth out any major wrinkles with your hands.

5. Press any seams in the altered areas first. The seam allowance can be pressed open or pressed to one side.

6. Iron the fabric of the skirt, working from top to bottom. For pleated skirts, make sure to press the pleats in the appropriate direction. Make sure to press the waistband and the hem so they lie flat.

7. When you have finished the section of the skirt that’s on top of the ironing board, rotate the skirt to press the next section. Continue until you have pressed the entire skirt.

8. Turn the skirt right side out if needed. Press any areas on the right side that still need ironing.

Tips & Warnings

• Some irons have the settings for different types of fabric marked right on the iron, while others only use numbers. Synthetic fabrics such as rayon and acetate, and delicate fabrics like silk, generally take very low temperature irons. Polyester can take a low to medium iron temperature, while cotton needs a fairly hot iron. Linen generally needs the hottest iron setting. Satin is generally made from polyester, but high quality satins may be made from silk.
• You can use a built-in steam iron or spray the fabric directly with water for fabrics such as cotton or linen. Use a damp press cloth when working with shiny fabrics such as satin, instead of spraying them directly, to prevent the water from staining the fabric.
• Use caution when working with a hot iron and with steam. Unplug the iron after use and leave it in a safe area to cool.