I just finished ironing the week’s shirt rotation.
I do it myself. Better results that way, and more control over the side seams, cuffs, and no need to unbutton the second sleeve button they loosen at the dry cleaner.
Collar inside, outside, the upper yoke, each sleeve front and back, the button holes, around the front, the back, and back to front, and finishing with the button placket last. Easy.
Each shirt takes about 7 minutes or so, using a Rowenta steam iron that drinks a lot. Almost full heat does it, and steam set to max, even though most are a blend of cotton and something stretchy. The ‘athletic’ fit adds two additional panels in the back to keep it trim, but those seams are easy.
When done, I hang them buttoning only the second button from the top, each hanger facing left. That way, when they get hung in the closet each faces the same way, and it’s easy to grab in the morning.
I learned how to iron in 5th or 6th grade… I can’t remember, but it was likely the same class which offered needlepoint, crocheting, and basic knitting.
Later, I sewed a pair of florescent shorts in that class, and I’ve never let go of just how a pair of pants are constructed from a pattern. It’s wild! Shirts, are no different.
Regular, loose, skinny fit, or athletic?
It’s all a preference, and when you find a shirt that fits, it’s worth keeping some around, and learning how to take care of them. Saves money, too. I got a good sale on Labor Day from Banana Republic Factory, and got a variety of blues, whites, stripes, and a pattern.
Some new ties, too. They get the ‘slightly warm’ iron, though, should they need it.
Naturally, I started thinking about how to measure success in ironing, and asked Chat for a rubric between ‘ineffective’ and ‘accomplished’ – the range we use to measure teacher success in Ohio’s K-12 Public Schools.
Accomplished, the most sought after rating, is really something special, and as designed, is really, really difficult to attain. It was designed to be kind of a unicorn measure of someone who’s really well established in their craft. An expert. Someone who can iron any shirt, any time, with the tools provided. Every time.
I’ll save the discussion on that here…
Instead, how do you measure up in your own ironing skills?
ref. Rubric Ironning Men’s Shirts
Narrative: The Accomplished Ironer
An accomplished ironer approaches the task with calm confidence and practiced efficiency. The shirt is prepared with care—collar stays removed, buttons unfastened, and fabric lightly misted for the perfect balance of crispness and smoothness. The iron is set to the precise temperature for the shirt’s material, and additional tools like spray starch or a sleeve board are ready if needed.
The ironing process flows with a natural rhythm: collar first, then cuffs, sleeves, yoke, back, and finally the body panels and button placket. Each stroke is smooth and controlled, aligning with the fabric’s grain to prevent distortion. Steam is used judiciously, and pressure is applied evenly, producing sharp creases where desired and flat, wrinkle-free surfaces everywhere else.
No detail is overlooked—the collar points are crisp, the cuffs are immaculate, the button placket lies flat, and even the often-neglected side seams and underarms are perfectly smooth. The shirt emerges looking as though it came straight from a professional laundry service—polished, elegant, and ready for the most formal setting. Time is used with mastery: the shirt is completed in minutes without haste, every move deliberate, efficient, and flawless.
Of course, if you read between the lines and don’t get burned by the steam iron, you know that this post isn’t about ironing at all. Or is it?