Tuesday 26 February 2019

That is the question

To iron or not to iron.   That is the question I am asking you today.   I can more or less predict who will answer that they never iron anything - modern-thinking women all of them.

Well. sorry to them from me, but I have to iron.   I don't always feel like standing at the ironing board and yes, it does often make my legs and arms ache.   But it is worth it.   Sheets - there is nothing in this world more wonderful than sliding between freshly laundered and ironed sheets when the bed has been changed - it makes the effort involved worthwhile.   Tea towels - opening the drawer to a neat pile of ironed tea towels - not much effort to iron but a great deal of pleasure to behold as you hang a clean, freshly ironed one on the hook.   Shirts - nobody will ever convince me that an ironed shirt doesn't look better on a man than one which has just been hung on a hanger to hang out before being worn.   Yes, I am old fashioned, yes I make work for myself, but the satisfaction I get from the results makes it worth it for me.

Another blissfully warm and sunny day.   I went into town to meet friend C for a hot chocolate in our favourite cafe - I went in just a sweater and trousers - no sign of a jacket.   I understand that it is beginning to go downhill from tomorrow onwards, so let's make the most of it. Now I shall take a gentle stroll round the estate with Madame - she needs the sun on her back too.

35 comments:

the veg artist said...

Shirts and all other clothing apart from undies - yes. Pillow cases - yes. Other bedding and towels - no. And I like ironing!!!
Beautiful day here in West Wales again. I started my onion sets in modules in the greenhouse yesterday. Never done this before, anyone else? One more day of this according to the BBC forecast, then rain returns. Well, it is still February!

Jennyff said...

I really do not like ironing but I'm with you on everything except the bottom sheet, fitted ones get smoothed out sufficiently for me, the duvet and pillows are ironed so the bed looks fine. I've never known how to fold a fitted sheet anyway. Glorious here today, 4th time I've been out without a coat or jacket and the balcony doors are wide open.

HAZEL Dxb said...

I agree with you, unironed clothing is not a good look, in my opinion.
I iron the same items as the veg artist, king size bedding is just too much of an effort to iron.
I know some people hate ironing, i don't mind it and can rattle through it quite quickly

Yellow Shoes said...

A post that made me smile.
I iron hankies and shirts, on a blanket, on the chest freezer.
I iron seams when I’m sewing. Other than that, no.
It’s odd though, why I don’t like ironing much; it’s clean and gentle work yet I’d still rather mop a floor or clean out a fridge.

Shortbread and Ginger said...

Hate ironing! Only do essentials, but you are right, things do look better ironed.

Derek Faulkner said...

Ironing is unfortunately something left over from the dark ages, something that is not necessary and a waste of energy that could be used in other more useful pursuits. My newly laundered bedding feels just as good when I climb in to it, despite a few wrinkles here and there. I rather suspect that people who iron everything from a handkerchief upwards also suffer with an obsession to have every tin in their cupboards turned to face the same way, etc.
Another very warm and sunny day here on Sheppey.

Unknown said...

It's lovely down in south east England so my bedding been on the line outside and I've just finished ironing it. Terry tea towels for me so no ironing but I have one cotton one which does get ironed. Yes to the ironing shirts. I have 3 daughters and one irons. One has a husband who likes to iron and the other they only iron if necessary.

justjill said...

The last time I did any ironing I sat on a stool. Much better than standing!

Sue said...

My daughters think I'm crazy because I like to iron stuff. Recently I have put sheets straight back on the bed without ironing when they have dried quickly outside in the sunshine.

Ruth said...

I know some young people who don't own an iron or ironing board! My mother was meticulous about such things, even starching the pillowslips that were edged with embroidery and crochet, then dampening them to be ironed. When my children were born in 1959, 1961, and 1963 there were no "wash and wear" fabrics. I had learned by watching my mother iron the little puffed sleeves on girls' dresses, so I also took pride in "doing up" my little girl's dresses that had been starched. I could go on and on - life has certainly changed, as it does with each succeeding generation. I iron my husband's shirts and trousers, all my own clothes, and our pillow cases, but not the sheets - I carefully fold the line-dried sheets which pretty much eliminates wrinkles. It makes a bed smell and feel heavenly! I'm proud of my drawers of linens, even though no one sees them but me. It's a joy to know that you are true to your upbringing, Pat, in so many more ways than I am.

Jules said...

I'm an ironer. I find it quite relaxing at times, as long as there's not too much of it. X

Joan (Devon) said...

Ironing is a chore and one I don't like, but I always ironed everything with the exception of tea towels, underwear and night clothes. I don't iron anymore, but if I did I would certainly iron everything as I did before. I'd rather see a crease from an iron than the creases from not being ironed.

Hard up Hester said...

My mother in law used to iron her tights, New w I hat I have never understood.

diana said...

I still iron and I do it for myself and my husband, my daughter and son-in-law and they wear dress clothes to work and for my three grandchildren. I think it just makes you look more together if your clothes are nicely pressed.

Bonnie said...

When I am sewing I iron all the time. The quilt pieces go together much better and the seams lay flat and look better. Most of my clothes are knit and don't need ironing but I do have a few cotton shirts I iron. I don't iron sheets but I do iron some table runners I have made.

I can understand why you do all the ironing you do because it makes you feel good to see and use the pieces you have ironed. I am afraid it is a dying art. My grown sons and my daughter-in-law do not iron.

Mary said...

I thoroughly enjoy ironing! It is my personal time to think about my lovely childhood in Devon when mum and I ironed on Sunday afternoons, snug in the kitchen, while dad snoozed or watched TV after the roast dinner!

I set my board up where I can watch the birds in the garden. I still iron my linen pillow cases - but not the sheets, tablecloths/serviettes, linen tea towels, summer clothes that need an iron, Bob's shirts, mostly from M&S (which we buy when visiting home) - but didn't do his white dress shirts when he was still working - they went to the laundry - "on hangers, no starch".

Yes Derek - I must belong in that 'obsessive' group from the dark ages! That's how mothers, especially British ones, brought up their children. Mine even gave my brother shirt ironing instructions as a boy, and he never allowed his wife to do them, he did a much better job. He now lives in the South of France, retired, and very casual in a small village so doubt he irons much - grows veggies instead!!!

Pat, I'm with you on the tea towels - love that freshly ironed stack of Italian linen lovelies - had them so long but know they will never wear out!

Susan said...

I loved ironing and did it for many years. I suppose full time work and child rearing put an end to it. Reading your post has made me realize how much I miss it.

The Weaver of Grass said...

A joy to read your replies and I have come to the conclusion that the best answer is 'each to his own'. I am not quite a particular as Derek points out but I do like all my cupboards to be clean and tidy always.

Anne Brew - nice to keep hearing from you. I can't find you on line to read anything you write so presume you don't have a blog.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thank you also Joan (Devon) who I can't see any way of contacting.

Gwil W said...

I don't even polish my shoes. Just wipe them over with an old rag. And to think I used to wear starched collars!

But I have a fine collection of ties and I've been wearing my splendid Karl Lagerfeld tie recently (€5 at a Christmas Market).

I confess I hang my shirts on coat hangers in the bathroom when I remove them from the washing machine. The creases fall out all by themselves.

But if you really enjoy ironing that's another thing altogether. A sort of hobby I suppose. Or a moment of meditation. I can see it that way too.

crafty cat corner said...

I must admit that I do not iron as much as I used to. I tend to iron what looks like it needs it now.
ashamed Briony, lol
x

Anonymous said...

I iron everything - sheets, tea towels. dusters, duvet covers, pillowcases, underwear, and most clothing. I don't iron towels, husband's boxers or my bras.

Dahlia88 said...

As part of the post war Baby Boomer generation I was brought up to iron most things. When the weather is sunny, as today, I plug the extension lead into the iron and take the ironing board into a sunny spot in the garden.

Joanne Noragon said...

My mother ironed. I remember those sheets.

Heather said...

I share your delight in freshly laundered and ironed bed linen, but I don't bother to iron fitted sheets or tea towels. I use slightly textured ones but do fold them flat before putting them in the drawer. I also iron blouses and press trousers, though most of mine don't need it if they are hung carefully on hangers. Tee shirts - yes, and some sweaters, but if I choose my clothes carefully it is possible to avoid quite a bit of ironing.

marlane said...

Here in the USA everyone has clothes drier and when you take the Laundry out of the drier promptly they do not need ironing. The exception being rayon clothing.

Anne Brew said...

No blog Weave, just really enjoy reading a few nice ones.

Sharon in Surrey said...

I think ironing is something you love or hate. As the oldest child, I used to iron everything - especially my dad's shirts - which he loved. But everything was cotton or linen then that needed ironing. We line dried it all. I still prefer to hang my laundry outside if I can - no way am I ironing out that glorious smell!!! And most clothing is full of polyester - doesn't like to be ironed! So I tumble everything I must for 10 minutes for the wrinkles & hang on hangers outside to finish. I think the iron only comes out when I'm sewing something!

Librarian said...

I'd put my signature under this post of yours, Pat!
And like Mary, I belong to the group of people Derek mentions - you've found me out :-)
Ironing is a good way for me to ease my mind and see immediate results of what my hands do. As I am not a crafts person (don't even know how to knit, and can't sew) and my work can be very demanding for my mind, I find ironing both relaxing and satisfying. When I am at OK's for the weekend, I iron all his shirts - he never asks me to, but I always offer, and enjoy doing it.
I also iron pillow cases and duvet covers, but not the actual sheets, as I use the kind that have rubber bands around the edges and "snap" on rather smoothly.

Shelly W said...

20% iron ( blouses and work clothes) 80% fold and put away ( everything else !) xx

thelma said...

20% here to. Shape things before you hang them out, and just blouses to iron...

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks to you all - and thanks Anne for letting me know.

Bea said...

Sometimes I am in the mood for it, but, mostly, I am not. If I don't iron a cotton, button-down blouse, then I run the risk of looking like a hobo when I go out.

Poppy Q said...

I don't own an iron. I dry my clothes on the line, and bring them in and hang them up or fold them straight away. I don't own any fussy things that need an iron.

Julie Q

Shawn said...

I wish I ironed.