The Mini Iron by Clover

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Reported by Donna Lannerd

I have owned a Mini-Iron from Clover ever since they came out years ago. It really hasn't changed much in how it looks, but now it has a power switch and you can adjust the temperature. It is one of my favorite little tools. You can also find Mini-Iron II that has a removable iron and other accessories you can purchase such as a hot-knife to replace the iron with. There is also a cooling tote bag that makes it easy to take it it with you even when it's still hot.

If you are not a sewer you may not think you need an iron, especially a big one that may only remind you of the wrinkly clothes you have sitting in the laundry room. If you are a sewer, especially a crafty one you may use your big iron to do such things as press seams or put appliques on with a fusible web of some sort. This is tool is perfect for small spaces and doing small jobs. For this critique I used the products below to show a couple of different ways to use the iron: an iron-on transfer and fusible-backed bias tape.


First, I will show you what it can do for the non-sewer. I made the card below using an iron-on transfer intended for a clothing project. I simply held the transfer steady on a piece of cardstock instead of fabric and then pressed down in a circular motion with the medium-hot iron. After it cooled, I peeled off the backing and trimmed around the design. Then I used it as any other design element. It's a great way to get some different varieties using a source you may not have thought of. I used this method on the altered Ikea magazine file I did last year with flocked iron-on transfers.


The iron is very handy next to the sewing machine. Instead of getting out the big, heavy iron, use it to press seams when you are sewing small items or quilt pieces. For those of you who paper-piece it is excellent for getting those seams in place without distorting the fabric. Below is a small quilt block that I started using the ready-made fusible bias tape. I cut a 4 1/4" piece of batik fabric and then free-formed the design by ironing the fusible strips in place. This technique is used to make stained glass quilts. I originally intended to make a coaster for my desk at work but after completing it I think I might make a few more to put together for a little artsy wall-hanging.

Pros

• Lightweight and portable
• Adjustable heat - it gets really hot on high
• Great for small projects
• Comes with a stand to keep it off your work surface

Cons

• If you want interchangeable tips you will need to buy the Mini Iron II
• Only good for small projects
• Have to have an outlet. Maybe someday they will have a cordless.

The Mini-Iron sells for $24.95 and can be found at Michaels and Joann's. You can also purchase it direct from Clover.

I hope I've shown you a couple of new ways to use this product. Let us know if you have this one and how you use it. Or, do you have a similar product?