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Review: Why I kicked my Rowenta to the curb

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Panasonic iron

I have to admit, I was not thrilled about receiving a Panasonic iron to review. After all, I own a Rowenta. Even so, I dutifully set up a sewing day with my daughter to try it out. We planned to embellish some onsies and burp rags, yes very quick and easy. Arriving at her house with the thing still in the box, I was not prepared for what I discovered. The Panasonic NI-L70SR Cordless Iron is a dream. It’s pretty and smartly designed.

How clever of it to come with a carrying case – so handy for traveling to and fro. But by far the most appealing feature for me is that it’s cordless (the iron sits on a charging base with a retractable cord) so the cord stays out-of-the-way, plus the base is very stable. If you have a child and/or pet underfoot, you will not worry as much about them knocking the iron off the board and onto their heads.

burp rag resized

Here’s one of the burp rags I made while testing the iron. I embellished a plain diaper with some scraps of fabric. At first I worried the iron would not stay hot enough, but it did so nicely throughout the course of the project. It also reheats quickly after it auto shuts off. The steam feature works fine and is easy to fill with water.

Nothing is perfect and I do have some things I’d like to change. I wish the cord was longer and on the other end of the base. But that’s just me. All in all, I L-O-V-E this iron. I use it exclusively instead of my once cherished Rowenta. Yes, you know you want one of these irons. And I have good news. Panasonic is giving away an iron to a lucky Craft Gossip reader.

Stay tuned for giveaway details in a future post!

Comments

  1. Looking forward to hearing more about this. My iron is dying and I need to find a replacement.

  3. Enjoyed your review – I don’t think I’ve ever had an iron last more than 2 years. Most are not sturdy, can’t handle a lot of work, and leak like a sieve.

  9. Who knew in this day and age that it would be possible to get excited about an iron? But I am! Want this marvelous Panasonic cordless!

  10. I bought one of the Panasonics almost 18 months ago and I LOVE IT! I sew clothing, mostly and this little baby is superb – hot enough, great soleplate and you can use both ends to finish corners. I am so glad I bought this one.

  11. I have a cordless iron I received as a gift from my DH several years ago. I love it! In fact, I haven’t used my corded iron since.

  12. Love the burp cloths. I kicked my Rowenta to the curb a couple of years ago. Like the old grey mare….they ain’t what they used to be. I thought a cordless iron would not stay hot, so I am glad to read this review. Ironing is a chore so it is nice to find an iron that makes the job a bit easier.
    Deb

  14. I also had a Rowenta as I am a quilter and thought this was the end all be all. Well, not.It died and I now look for an iron the is heavy in weight as I think they press better. I would love to try this iron and being cordless is such a great feature.

  16. Do you have info on weight or pricing? Sounds promising, but I have been a Rowenta “lifer”.

  17. Wow, finally a cordless iron. Who wudda thunk! Thanks for a chance to win one. I have 2 of the pricey R irons.

  18. I’d love to hear more about thus iron. I have a Rowenta steam iron, but use my Maytag cordless iron for retreats and other projects. I’m glad to hear that there is a company other than Oreck that is making cordless irons. I bought my last cordless iron used on eBay!

  19. I could use a cordless iron when I go to crafting classes. What I always hate about irons is that they claim to be “dripless” but then my articles are always covered with water drops.

  20. THIS IS MY FAVORITE SEWING ITEM EVER!!! I have this iron and LOVE IT!!! i’ve had mine for a little over 3 years now and it’s still going strong (despite moving around the world 3 times!). It doesn’t drip, it heats up very nicely (not scorching but enough to get a great press!) and cords are so annoying! It’s so annoying to use my mom’s normal iron when I visit her. haha. If you are even remotely considering this iron, buy it!!!

  21. I had two high end Rowenta’s each lasting less than a year. I am one of the few that is so not going to buy a Rowenta ever again.

  22. I have only owned two irons, one when I went to college and my present one that I bought at a garage sale. Probably time to invest in one that will be good for my crafting and quilting that I’m doing now. This one looks perfect. 🙂

  23. This Iron sounds like the answer to nearly all my dreams, I say nearly because I would love it to come with a fairy who does the Ironing for me and then puts it all a way in the wardrobes and drawers for me as well.

  25. Would love to win this. My iron is past it’s use-by date and I would put a cordless model to very, very good use!

  26. New to quilting – need all the help I can get with tools, fabric and HELP! Would love to win this great iron to jump start my collection!

  29. I love my B&D but I go through irons regularly. I burn them up. I am a longarm quilter and so I piece regularly also. I don’t have an iron that turns itself off, because every time I need it it is cold. I am also notorious for leaving the iron on. I do however have it plugged into the same switch as my lights, this means when the lights are off the iron is off. This sounds like an iron worth trying!

  30. Sounds like a dream come true. And to think I used to think that ironing when sewing was not a necessity. Live and learn:) Got my fingers crossed that this cordless wonder might be in my future.

    in VT where irons do turn a gal’s head,
    the Vermonster

  31. I would love to win this iron. My current iron is over 20 years old and should retire. Thanks for the chance to win.

    Janet

  32. Would love to win this iron but, if I don’t this may be the next iron I purchase. Thanks for the chance to win…

  33. I cannot wait to read of the giveaway. Congratulations on the new grandbaby-to-be. Wishing a speedy delivery.

  35. Have always been happy with my Rowenta but it will need to be replaced soon. Thank you so much for the review.

  36. I have an eight year old granddaughter just learning to sew and what a joy to be able to work with her!!! The iron that I use is old and heavy. It would be great to let her use an iron that is easier and cordless to learn with. Thanks for the contest and I hope Q and I win!!!!

  39. Would love the opportunity to try this iron and love the fact it is cordless as my iron always gets tangled up in the telephone cord when I am ironing, yes I still have a phone with a cord! Nice of Panasonic to offer a give away and I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

  40. I have kicked many an iron to the curb and out into the street to be run over and put it out of its misery! I’d love this iron if it is all you say it is.

Have you read?

5 Christmas Ornament Quilt Patterns That Add Instant Holiday Charm

There are some Christmas quilt themes that feel timeless no matter how many holiday seasons roll by, and ornaments are right at the top of that list. They’re cheerful, colourful, easy to recognise, and wonderfully flexible. A quilted ornament can look sweet and traditional in red and green, elegant in metallics and winter whites, or surprisingly modern in brights, ginghams, and low-volume prints. That makes ornament quilt patterns one of the easiest ways to add a festive feel to your sewing without getting boxed into one very specific Christmas look.

What makes this theme especially useful is how many directions it can take. Some patterns turn ornaments into full quilt blocks for throws, pillows, and wall hangings. Others lean into small handmade decorations you can hang on the tree, tuck onto gift wrap, or sew as quick stash-busting projects in the middle of December when your to-do list is already looking a bit rude. So whether you want a full holiday quilt or just a handful of handmade extras, there’s plenty to work with here.

If you enjoy building out a whole holiday sewing theme, this category also pairs beautifully with your own Christmas content on CraftGossip, especially 25+ Christmas Holiday Quilt Block Patterns For Holiday Quilts, Little Quilted Star Ornament Tutorial, and 25 Free Scrap Fabric Christmas Ornament Patterns. They all sit naturally alongside an ornament-focused roundup like this.

Ornament Blocks – Christmas Adventure Quilt

These ornament blocks are such a fun option if you love the look of a themed Christmas quilt but still want something playful and easy to personalise. They’re especially good for showing off festive prints, fussy cuts, and little novelty fabrics that deserve more than hiding in a scrap bin. This kind of block would look lovely in a full quilt, but it would also work beautifully in pillows or a mini wall hanging.

Christmas Candy Ornaments Downloadable PDF Quilt Pattern

This pattern is a nice choice if you want smaller festive projects with a sweet, handmade feel. It includes several ornament-style designs, which makes it ideal for holiday décor, gift tags, or little stitched extras that can be finished fairly quickly. If you like projects that feel cute without being overly fussy, this one has a lot going for it.

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This one is especially appealing if you enjoy making actual hanging ornaments rather than just ornament-themed quilt blocks. The pattern is designed around a set of four sweet Christmas ornaments, which makes it feel perfect for decorating a tree, putting together a handmade gift set, or creating keepsakes that can come out year after year. It’s festive in a very classic, comforting way.

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This is a lovely option if you’re specifically in the mood to make actual fabric ornaments rather than quilt blocks. Multiple sizes make it easier to create a coordinated set, which is perfect for tree trimming, handmade gifts, or holiday market makes. This kind of pattern also tends to be very stash-friendly, which never hurts in December.

Quilted Christmas Ornament Pattern, 5 Patterns PDF

A multi-pattern set like this is ideal if you enjoy variety and don’t want every ornament on the tree looking exactly the same. It gives you more room to mix fabrics, colours, and embellishments while still keeping a cohesive handmade look. This would be especially appealing for quilters who love batch sewing in the lead-up to Christmas.

Christmas ornament quilt patterns are such an easy win because they work at almost every scale. You can make one statement block for a pillow, stitch a whole quilt full of baubles, or spend an afternoon making a handful of small hanging ornaments from scraps. They also give you endless freedom with fabric choice, which means you can make them traditional, sweet, elegant, rustic, or bright and modern depending on what you already have in your stash.

And really, that’s part of the magic of Christmas sewing. The best projects are the ones that feel festive the moment you look at them, but still leave enough room for your own fabrics and style to do the talking. Ornament patterns do that beautifully. They’re quick to recognise, easy to personalise, and cheerful enough to make even a slightly chaotic December sewing session feel worth it.