Nearly every sewn project, from dresses to jackets to quilts, benefits from pressing. This vital step is the difference between a puckered seam and a crisp one. The benefits of pressing go beyond looks: Pressing enables you to place seam allowances properly and shape fabrics. Given the importance of pressing, a high-quality iron can be a sewer’s savior and best friend, whereas a sub-par iron can be a drain on patience and time. With myriad options for this pressing tool, how can you know what features are needed? The following pages detail the options for irons, how those features can be helpful, and how to care for the iron you choose.