How to iron a dupatta without marks or shine

Heat by dupatta fabric

Sheer fabrics give almost no warning before they mark, so start one setting lower than you think you need. Our comparison of chiffon, georgette and organza explains how the three differ.

• Lawn and cotton: medium to hot, while slightly damp.
• Polyester chiffon and georgette: the lowest setting, through a cloth, with the iron kept moving. Too much heat glazes the surface or melts it.
• Silk chiffon and other silks: low, with a dry iron and a cloth, because drips from a steam iron can leave spots.
• Organza: low and dry through a cloth. It takes a crisp press well, but hard creases need patience, not more heat.
• Net: very low through a cloth, or steam only. Net is usually nylon or polyester and can pucker in a second.
• Crinkled or crushed dupattas: do not iron them at all, or the texture will press out.

Working in sections over the board

A dupatta ironed in a heap picks up new creases as fast as you remove the old ones. For a wide one, press half the width at a time and turn it instead of folding it double: a fold pressed in by accident is the mark people most often regret. Set up like this:

• Clear a landing place. Put a clean sheet over a chair back or a bed beside the board for the finished length to rest on.
• Lay one end across the board, wrong side up, with the rest gathered loosely in a clean basket or on a sheet, never on the floor.
• Press from the middle out to the edges, moving the iron along the length of the fabric. Pushing diagonally stretches fine weaves out of square.
• Slide the pressed part away from you onto the landing place and bring up the next section, overlapping slightly.
• Let it cool flat or over a rail for a few minutes before folding, because warm fabric creases again at once.

Lace, tassels and borders

Edges cause most of the damage, as the iron rides up over the extra thickness and prints its outline into the fabric beside it.

• Lace: press face down on a folded towel, from the reverse, so the pattern is cushioned instead of flattened.
• Narrow rolled or pico hems: a light touch with the tip of the iron; do not stretch the edge as you go.
• Tassels and latkans: never iron them. Comb them straight with your fingers and use a little steam.
• Metallic lace and sequins: iron up to the trim, not over it. Plastic sequins melt and metallic threads can dull.
• Wide fabric borders: press the border and the body separately, each at its own setting, and avoid pressing over the join from the right side.

Marks, shine and when to steam instead

Shine is the surface of the fibre flattened or slightly melted by heat and pressure, and on synthetics it is permanent. Marks usually come from a soleplate that is too hot or dirty, water spitting from the steam vents, or pressing over a seam, hem or peg dent. Clean the soleplate, empty old water from the iron, and use a white pressing cloth, since a coloured one can transfer dye when hot.

Steam is the better choice for chiffon, georgette, net and anything embellished. Hang the dupatta over a smooth rail or the top of a door, hold the steamer a short distance away and work from the top down, then let it dry fully before folding. Test first on silk and organza, which can water spot.

If you are choosing a dupatta for a new outfit and would rather not iron much, mention it when you ask about custom stitching; we confirm what is possible on your fabric and design in the quote. The article on washing a dupatta covers the step before this one, and you can request a quote.