Can You Iron Muslin? (How to Iron Muslin Fabric Properly)
It is a tough, tedious job. But someone has to do it. Guess who gets nominated for the task. That is right, you. But since you are the one stuck with the ironing, it pays to know how to iron different fabrics especially those that wrinkle easily.
Can you iron muslin? Yes, you can iron muslin. It is a cotton fabric that is woven loosely creating a lot of wrinkles. To iron this fabric set your iron on cotton or high heat. Make sure the clothing item is still damp and if it isn’t spritzed with water. Use your steam function if you have it.
To learn more about ironing muslin fabrics, just continue to read our article. It has the information you need to keep your family looking great when they wear muslin made clothing. A little ironing goes a long way.
Can You Iron Muslin Fabric?
Yes, you can iron muslin. It is only cotton for the most part and it needs ironing if you were not able to prevent any wrinkles from setting in. Because of the loose weave that muslin is made from, ironing is one of two ways to get rid of wrinkles.
The other way is to hang the muslin clothing items as quickly as you can after the dryer has stopped. Ironing takes more time but it is worth the effort in the long run. When you iron, make sure to not fully dry those muslin fabrics.
To get the wrinkles you need the cloth to be moist as you work. Keep a spray bottle full of water handy just in case and if you do not have a spritz function on your iron. Ironing the fabric properly makes sure your clothes and other muslin materials are looking perfect.
What Temperature to Iron Muslin
Most muslin cloth is made of cotton. Other kinds of fabrics are called muslin but they are not made from cotton and will take non-cotton heat to get the wrinkles out.
When the muslin materials are made from cotton, you want to use a high temperature to make sure the garment presses correctly. If your iron says cotton on it, then use that setting to iron this fabric. There is no need to go cool when ironing this material.
The trick to ironing muslin is to keep it damp and you can use the spray bottle method or place a damp cloth over the garment you are pressing and let that cloth transfer the moisture.
Or if your iron has a steam function, press it from time to time to keep the material nice and damp.
Can You Steam Muslin?
Yes, you can steam muslin. This is one of the top ways to remove wrinkles from the material. If you are ironing and your device has a steam function, use that often and when you see the fabric drying out.
When you do not have a lot of time to iron, you can always use a steamer to get the fabric wrinkle-free. The steamer does not take long to set up and it is easy to use. Instead of your arm doing the work, the steam should relax those fibers and get those wrinkles taken care of.
Or you can always use the shower method and get yourself clean after a hard morning of doing the laundry. The steam from your shower will remove the wrinkles and get your clothes or other muslin items nice and smooth.
Do You Iron Muslin Squares?
There is no reason why you can’t. If the muslin squares are made of cotton then you should have no trouble ironing them. The weave may be loose and the square will get wrinkles and creases in it. So ironing is a good way to keep those squares in top wrinkle-free shape.
Just follow the instructions already given in this article to properly care for your muslin squares. There is no special magical formula for caring for muslin squares than there is for any other muslin fabric.
The smaller size and specific shape may make it easier to iron than muslin made clothing. Just make sure to use high heat and keep the square nice and damp as you work. Your little one may not notice how wrinkle-free the fabric is but you will and that is enough to tell you you take good care of your children.
How to Iron Muslin Cloth
The steps to do this task are not long nor are they complicated. It just takes time to get the task done like all ironing tasks. Here are the simple steps you need to take to iron muslin correctly.
- Step 1. Make sure the muslin material is damp enough to iron.
- Step 2. Place the muslin cloth right side up on your ironing board. Then turn your iron’s setting to cotton or very high heat.
- Step 3. Start ironing on one side of the selvage and move slowly to the other side.
- Step 4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 until the entire clothing item is ironed and wrinkle-free.
One little word of warning, you may find it hard to determine which side of muslin is the right side. Both sides look the same so take your best guess and hope for the best. It really doesn't matter which side you pick if you are only removing wrinkles.
If you have a painted muslin garment then the decision has been made for you and the right side is the painted side.
Can You Iron Muslin Backdrops?
You can iron muslin backdrops but it is not always practical or feasible. If you are using very small backdrops then you can get away with ironing them. The smaller size is easy to maneuver, easier to handle, and doesn’t need a lot of space.
On the other hand, larger backdrops make ironing not only impractical but a waste of time. They are just too large to put the iron too and your time may be limited. If you want to spend your day ironing then by all means. Just make sure you have enough space to do the work in.
Then there is the risk of damaging the larger muslin backdrops when you iron them. Your arms won’t be long enough so you will be crawling all over them, the iron may leave shiny spots and other dangers can occur. It is best to steam backdrops than iron them.
How to Iron Muslin Backdrops
Not to sound sarcastic or superior, you have to iron muslin backdrops very carefully. One of the reasons for this is that the iron can leave shiny spots on the material that you will not be able to remove. The damage is done and those shiny spots may interfere with your photography.
If you have smaller backdrops, the risk is still there, but you have a better chance of avoiding those shiny spots if you keep the backdrop moist, do not linger too long in one spot, and do not use the wrong heat level.
It is best not to iron large backdrops not just because of the risk of shiny spots but also because the section you just finished is getting damaged in some other way like hitting the floor and other problems that can arise.
Steam your muslin backdrops to avoid these problems.
Uses for a Muslin Cloth
This fabric is very versatile and comes with a lot of different uses. Here are only some you can try:
- 1. Make muslin - yes muslin material is used to make muslin to be used for tests for fit and so on.
- 2. Make household items - Kitchen napkins, curtains, handkerchiefs, pillow covers, table covers, bed sheets, bed skirts, and more are just the beginning of a limitless list of household items you can make.
- 3. Make items for your baby - it is a soft cloth to use and easy to transform into needed baby objects. Baby napkins, baby diapers, baby burp cloths, even a baby blanket are just some of the items you can make.
- 4. Make lining and backing - muslin is perfect for those hidden spots in your sewing projects. The material is breathable and soft against the skin.
- 5. Make loungewear, etc. - you can make comfortable pajamas out of muslin. Then you can create a lot of bath accessories as well.
Some Final Words
Muslin is cheap, easy to work with and it is very versatile. That list of 5 is only a partial list for what you can use muslin for. Knowing how to iron muslin is the way to keep using the fabric for all your simple sewing projects.
To keep the cloth wrinkle-free, you can iron or hang the cloth up. Or you can use steam to make sure the fibers remain relaxed and wrinkle-free.
