The Iron Saga--- a Happy Ending!

It has been an interesting week researching and testing irons. I narrowed my choices down to two brands.

I want to thank all of you for your helpful comments and emails. There were many good suggestions.  The Olisio iron was my first choice.  The pretty yellow model! It arrived on Tuesday. This is Oliso.

Now, there is no pretty Oliso iron in my sewing room. The Olisio has been returned due to the leaking back lifter.

Quote applies: Pretty is as pretty does. (old-fashioned)
something that you say which means that you should judge people by the way they behave, not by their appearance 'She's very pretty.' 'Yes, but pretty is as pretty does. I haven't been terribly impressed by her manners.'

When looking at the first photo. See that wide yellow bar right behind the sole plate? It is one of the "lifting" mechanism that makes the Oliso iron different in a novel-helpful sort of way. I did like that I didn't have to set the iron upright. Clever concept.  I also really liked the 30 min. auto turn off feature. Overall the iron is nice.

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I mentioned I had picked two irons to test. My other choice arrived today. Just as the Oliso was leaving. (Bye-bye Oliso.)

Entering the sewing room---The Hamilton Beach Digital Iron. Model #14875 1500 watt wonder! I read all the reviews I could find on this iron. Far better reviews than I have read in the past for any iron. I was however still skeptical. And having just returned two new irons of another brand that failed,  I approached the Hamilton Beach with an attitude. Like, show me your stuff! --or else you are so out of here!

I would not say this is a "pretty" iron. Rather bland in fact. Don't be deceived by it's appearance!  I read all the directions, plugged in the nice long cord, and adjusted the temp setting to Cotton.

The digital read out is easy to see and read and within an amazing 45 seconds the iron was hot and ready to go. It does make a strange little pop sound just as it finishing heating up and the digital read out quits flashing a few seconds later indicating it's heated and ready to go.

I ironed some of the cotton-linen dishtowels in preparation for machine embroidery. If an iron is going to be good at smoothing out wrinkles and creases on yards of quilters cotton, then how well it irons linen is a worthwhile test in my opinion.

The handle and weight of the Hamilton Beach Digital has a nice comfy feeling. Not overly heavy. 3.5 lbs. Not too light either. I adjusted the steam setting at medium and it made a steady steam from the highly polished stainless steel soleplate.

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The steam indicator slides from no steam to perking out a lot-lotta steam. The iron uses spring water or tap water. Not distilled. Good, because I didn't have distilled water anyway, and our tap water is hard, I would never use it in an iron. (The Oliso irons also required spring water fyi.)

The Hamilton Beach Digital has an auto off feature of 15 mins. in upright position, and if you leave it unattended or it does not sense any movement on the fabric when flat, it will turn off in 30 seconds. Both  settings are good for me. I did not want an iron with no auto off setting as I have in the past (not often, thank goodness)---forgot to turn the iron off.

 While I would like the constant on function. I'm forgetful, and I'm actually willing to deal with jiggling an iron or turning a dial (or with this iron pushing button)--- to have it come back on rather than risk setting something on fire!

And the Hamilton Beach Digital come back to full heat in 45 seconds!  when left flat unattended (oh-yes, I mentioned that) which is amazing to me compared to other irons I have owned that can take 3 mins. or longer to reach full ironing heat.

I'm not going to forget the best part. How does it iron fabric? Really wonderful! The linen dishtowels were very flat and creaseless in minutes. Smooth and dry feeling! No residual dampness left in the fabric which was one of my requirements for a new iron.

Be still my heart!--Could it be I have found thee Perfect Iron! Time will tell.

When I say that I mean will it be perfect weeks, months or even a year from now?
I will keep you posted in the future. In the meantime for me, right now,  this is an Awesome iron!

Edit: As Colleen reminded me; Only a Quilter could get this excited about a new Iron!!!