Hitting the Bottle

No, things have not gotten desperate around here! I just wanted to share some of my newly acquired wisdom from the world of pressing. Yes, I've finally crossed over to the "dark side!" I used to call it "ironing," until I was met with enough gasps from my mother-in-law (Hi Carolyn!) and quiltie friends that I've succumbed. I get it. You iron clothes and press fabric (with love and respect . . . snort!).

Anywho, people have been raving for so long about Best Press for helping with pressing and I finally tried it. I like it, but let's face it: I'm cheap! I don't want to spend extra money on things like that when I previously used plain old water! And Best Press, fancy as it may be, is pricey!

I had heard at a recent retreat that vodka works as a substitute for Best Press. I'm not sure how, exactly, as I think the starch from the potatoes in the vodka is cooked out in the distillation process, but apparently it still does some wondrous thing for fabric. So, I did what any self-respecting, price-chopping quilter would do . . .  I googled! There are competing accounts of the ratio of vodka to water, but I've tried it out, and have found that 1 part vodka to 2 parts water (distilled or tap) works like a champ. If you like the scents from Best Press (I don't), you can find scented essential oils at Walmart or Joann's and add them to the mix. Now, I'm still spending money, but cheap vodka is so much cheaper than Best Press! I was literally on my hands and knees in the liquor store looking for the bottom shelf (=worst and cheapest) vodka. A liter of cheap vodka (33.8 fluid ounces) cost $6.42. That, plus a spray bottle from the local Dollar Store, and I'm good to go! But this is truly for pressing purposes only! This "quality" of vodka will rot your gut!