How to iron trousers with arrows: the secrets of sharp and even arrows

Trousers with arrows are a classic, allowing you to look stylish as if brand new. But there is a nuance. This item requires the use of a special ironing technique. You must clearly understand how to iron trousers with creases so that they are even, located strictly in the center, and do not go in waves. Follow the sequence: first iron the pocket area, waistband, then fold the trousers exactly along the middle seam. Iron the pant legs in the center, front and back edges. An arrow will appear that will divide the halves of the trousers into two identical parts.

Preparation

Classic trousers require more careful preparation for ironing than everyday items. Do not neglect the rules so that everything goes smoothly and you do not find any unpleasant surprises at the end of the process. What to do:

1. Read the information on the label. Pants are made from different fabrics and may have different care requirements. First of all, you need to find out at what temperature you can iron.
2. Inspect the trousers for stains and lint. Only clean items can be ironed. At high temperatures, stains eat into the fabric and become even more noticeable.
3. Check your pockets. Do not leave things in them; carefully shake out small debris.
4. Clean or wash the product if necessary.
5. Prepare the place for ironing and the necessary tools: an iron, an ironing iron (a special heat-resistant mesh or a piece of chintz, calico, gauze), ensuring that there is no gloss on the front side of the clothing. You will also need a small container of clean water and a spray bottle to wet the iron.

The iron should be transparent or white to ensure that no paint is imprinted on the fabric of the trousers. Ironing is best done on an ironing board in a bright room or with good artificial lighting.

Advice. If you use a table for ironing, you need to cover it with a thick cloth folded in 3-5 layers.

Important! It is necessary to check that the iron is ready for use.

• Inspect the sole. It should be clean and smooth.
• Turn on the appliance and set the temperature to maximum. After heating, release the steam.
• Flying scale particles, stains and roughness on the soleplate indicate that it is time to clean the iron. You can't iron things with them!

Step-by-step instruction

When the preparatory stages are completed, you can begin the main task. It is recommended to follow the sequence:

Pants with arrows begin to be ironed from the inside out. First, the belt area and pockets are treated. Then iron the trouser legs from the front side, aligning the internal and external seams.

Step-by-step instruction:

1. Take the trousers and iron the waistband with pockets (the entire upper part) from the inside out.
2. Turn it inside out.
3. Fold correctly along the crotch seam. Make sure that the side and middle seams lie on top of each other and that the trouser legs are even.
4. The seams should line up along the entire length, including the waistband.
5. If everything is done correctly, the cut is correct, the beginning of the arrows will be at the end of the darts or front folds. If there are two folds, the arrow should start from the one next to the codpiece.
6. Iron the trouser legs in the area of ​​the seams - side and middle. Use a dampened iron to ensure there are no iron marks left.
7. Iron the front half of the trousers to form the front creases.
8. Iron the back half. Remember that on the back the arrow starts from the edge of the pocket, not from the belt.
9. Fold the top leg to the side and iron the bottom leg in the same way.

This method is ideal for men's classic-style trousers. Women's trousers (and some men's) often have a crease from the hip or knee. You need to look at the model, pay attention to the features of the cut.

Attention! Pants with stitched creases can be ironed in the classic or conventional way without folding along the crotch seam. Do not stretch the fabric when ironing so that the seams do not warp or move out.

Pockets

The pockets on the trousers are the first to be ironed. A small flat and dense pad is placed under the front pockets. The fabric is gently smoothed with the tip of the iron. You can use a steamer. Then comes the turn of the back pockets.

Advice. When not using an ironing board, it is convenient to place the top of the trousers in a single layer using a thick towel. Push it inside, and voluminous details, darts, and pockets will not be imprinted.

Belt

The waistband on classic trousers should be properly ironed with light pressure on the iron. There is no need to move it back and forth. The fabric should lie flat. The folds are straightened by hand so that there are no creases or unnecessary folds.

Pants

Ironing trouser legs, when it comes to dress pants, is not done in the usual way. It is correct to iron them folded along the middle seam.

• The trouser legs are ironed in the center near the seam - first the top, then the bottom.
• The crotch seam is ironed last. Gently stretch the fabric with your hand to avoid creases. It is very good not to iron, but to steam the seams.

Arrows

Iron the arrows correctly at the final stage. Subtleties:

• If the trousers have a lining, it is moved to the side towards the side seams.
• If the fabric is slippery and tends to move to the side, use paper clips or pins to secure it. The seams will not move apart, and the arrows will turn out even.
• For convenience, the edge of the trouser legs is covered with a damp iron, and the line of the front arrow is marked, applying the iron alternately to the lower, middle and upper parts of the product.
• The arrow is drawn along the intended lines. It is correct to slightly stretch the fabric with your hand and move the iron from top to bottom.
• The rear arrows form after the front ones. This time the iron is applied from the bottom up.

Important! Before piercing your pants, check in an inconspicuous place for pin holes.

How to iron trousers made of different materials

Trousers with arrows made of different fabrics require their own approach. The first thing you need to rely on is the information on the label. Study it carefully. It is necessary to find out whether the product can, in principle, be ironed, steamed, and what the maximum possible temperature is.

To decipher the pictograms, use the table:

Advice. The thinner the fabric, the more careful it needs to be treated.Do not press the iron, do not stay in one place for a long time, set the average temperature, and only when ironing the arrows - the maximum permissible.

• Synthetic and mixed trousers (with cotton and synthetic composition). The iron should be heated weakly, as for synthetics, but press the iron harder than usual. Be sure to use an ironing iron. A small amount of dry steam may be used.
• Wool trousers. Iron without any pressure. The fabric should be steamed, barely touching it with an iron, or use an ironing iron.
• Linen and cotton trousers. Correctly iron using a damp iron. The pressure on the iron is medium. In the place of the arrows, the sole should be heated to the maximum permissible temperature. Hold the iron briefly (2-3 seconds) and you will get pronounced, clear arrows.
• Pile fabrics. It is allowed to iron only from the wrong side. The front side is processed only when creating arrows. The sole touches the very edge of the material and moves from top to bottom. Any pressure is excluded.

Advice. If you don’t know what fabric the trousers are made of, turn them inside out and carefully iron them at the hems of the legs (do a test).

What to do if the arrows are not straight

Without sufficient experience, it is difficult to make even creases on trousers the first time. If you “missed”, this is not a reason to be sad, much less give up. The matter is easily fixable. What to do:

1. Moisten the unsuccessful arrow with water. You can put part of the trouser leg directly into the basin, apply a wet cloth to the crease, or wash the trousers altogether.
2. Dry the area until slightly damp.
3. Form the arrows again, this time more carefully.

How to make arrows without an iron

You can make creases on your trousers even in the field.There is nothing complicated about this. For example, in the barracks they are folded along the middle seam and placed under the mattress before going to bed. The next morning, quite noticeable and even arrows form.

If you have a steamer, the arrows can be formed using a special clamp (nozzle).

1. The clip needs to be put on the steamer iron and grab the fabric of the trousers in the crease area.
2. Turn on the steam generator and slowly run it along the crease of the trouser leg.
3. Thanks to the slight pressure under the influence of steam, a beautiful and neat arrow is formed.

A special clip for creating arrows is included in the package of the vertical steamer. If you have a small handheld steamer, you can use a paper clip. It is necessary to steam the fold with a directed stream of steam, and while the fabric is hot, apply pressure with a clamp.

How to make creases on trousers using improvised means:

• With two coins. Pinch the fabric in the arrow area between two coins and draw it down sharply.
• Using a stationery clip. Pinch the fold with a paper clip. Squeeze firmly. Work from the top of the fold downwards.
• Using a comb. Place the fabric between the teeth and squeeze. Pull the trouser leg through.
• About the table. Fold the pants along the middle seam. Pull and rub against the edge of the table with the front edge (for the front arrow).

The methods work especially well together with means that fix the arrow - soap, vinegar, starch.

To make the arrows last longer

Persistent, sharp and clearly visible creases on trousers always catch the eye. They enhance the impression made by a classic suit. To make the arrows last longer than usual and turn out spectacular, housewives use tricks:

• Moisture. Do not allow the iron to dry out.It should be consistently moist when the arrows are created.
• Additional ironing. The pants are cooled and then the creases are ironed again. This way the result is consolidated.
• Vinegar. Add 1 tbsp to a container of clean water. l. clear table vinegar (200 ml). Spray the iron with a vinegar solution and the arrows will turn out stiff. Additionally, adding vinegar helps prevent shiny spots. Don’t worry about the smell; after the pants dry, it will disappear without a trace.
• Laundry soap. To make the arrows last longer, use a remnant or a piece of soap with a sharp side. It is important that there are no foreign additives in it. Use a point to draw a strip from the underside of the arrows when they are already formed.
• Starch. Used to attach creases exclusively to light-colored cotton or linen trousers. Starch leaves white marks on dark fabrics. You need to dissolve 1 tsp. starch in a glass of water, boil for 3 minutes. The crease area on the trousers is moistened with the solution when ironing.

Question answer

Why use an iron if there is a steam mode?

The use of a modern iron equipped with a steam mode cannot 100% guarantee the safety of the fabric. The materials from which trousers are made are, in most cases, prone to scorching. The iron provides additional protection and increases the durability of the arrows.

How to store trousers with creases?

After use, the trousers must be cleaned with a brush, folded so that the arrows are on the side and thrown over the hanger. Make sure that the arrows fold evenly so that you do not have to iron them too often or carefully.

With little experience, it is important to take your time and iron men's or women's trousers consistently and carefully. Make sure that the fabric does not move. Stop and correct her. It is best to start preparing your costume the day before an important event. Do not try to put on your trousers immediately after ironing. They remain wet for 15-30 minutes and wrinkle quickly.