My non-quilting friends and relatives think I am crazy when I write about the purchase of a new iron. However, a quilter without an iron is like a fisherman without a rod, a carpenter without a hammer, an accountant without a pencil, … you get the picture. A good reliable iron is one of the most important tools a quilter can have.

Tuesday night, I was in the middle of piecing a large backing when my iron quit. The iron I had was not old–it was only purchased April 15, 2006. Many things don’t last like they unused too–but to think that an iron’s useful life is only 4 months is a little ridiculous!

I purchased my new iron at London Drugs. I would highly recommend this iron. It has a detachable water reservoir so you can fill it with water right at the sink–no more puddles on the floor. I have never seen an iron produce more steam than this one. This iron has the longest cord of any iron I have ever owned–I can plug it into a centrally located outlet and go all over the room with it–well almost. The best feature of all is that I can disable the auto shut off! I was so annoyed by my last iron turning itself off every few minutes. They call this the crafter’s setting and it is perfect for piecing. If you are looking for a new iron purchase, have a look at this iron from Conair.