Compact Sleeve Board on Two-Post Wooden Stand

A sleeve pressing ham on a stand: what it does and why it differs from an ironing board

A sleeve pressing ham on a stand is a padded, rounded ironing surface raised above the work table. You place a narrow area of the garment on it, such as a sleeve end, a cuff or a shoulder seam, and press only the top layer. The other side of the garment hangs around the ham and isn't crushed. On a regular ironing board you press both layers together, so a sharp crease line usually forms along the sleeve.

In this model the ham is about 28 cm long, and two wooden posts connect it to a natural wood base 2 cm thick. The overall height is 15 cm. The posts distribute the iron's pressure along the ham, so it stays stable even when you press on the end. The base is wide on one side (about 17 cm) and narrow on the other (about 10 cm), and sits securely on a sewing table or on an ironing board.

The ham is covered in a quality, pleasant fabric in blue. Its rounded shape, with no corners and no sharp edges, lets you open seams and shape rounded lines. This way no mark from the edge of a flat surface is left on the visible side of the fabric. The ends of the ham protrude beyond the posts, so you can thread around them a sleeve end, a cuff or a narrow opening in a garment.

How this model differs from our other pressing hams

• The compact ham on two posts (the model on this page): a length of about 28 cm and a height of 15 cm. It is the most stable of the models, and is intended for short areas that require precision: cuffs, sleeve ends, shoulders, collars and children's clothing.

• Long sleeve pressing ham on a wooden stand: a length of about 56 cm, for pressing a whole sleeve or a hem along its entire length.

• Lengthwise pressing ham on a single post: a ham of about 31 cm on one wooden post and a rounded base, with an overall height of about 22.5 cm. It's taller for working.

• Sleeve ham on a tall stand: for working when the whole garment hangs in the air.

Common uses

• Pressing and opening seams in sleeves, with no crease line along the sleeve

• Cuffs, hems of short sleeves and sleeve openings

• Shoulder seams and sleeve caps, after sewing and after repairs

• Collars, flaps and button plackets

• Children's and baby clothing, where the sleeves and trouser legs are too narrow for a regular board

• Hems of narrow trousers and narrow skirts, pressing in sections

• Finishing garments after alterations and repairs, before returning them to the client

Who the ham is for

• Home seamstresses and tailors who want a clean finish without buying large ironing equipment

• Fashion designers and tailors who work on tailored garments, evening dresses and wedding dresses

• Garment alterers and fitting studios who need to quickly press an area that has been repaired

• Schools and fashion design programs equipping student work stations

• Sewing supply stores and studios, in quantity orders through our wholesale

Professional tips for pressing on a sleeve ham

• Press, don't slide: place the iron, press for a few seconds, lift and move to the next spot. Moving the iron back and forth stretches the fabric, especially in diagonal seams.

• One layer at a time: thread the sleeve around the end of the ham and rotate it gradually. This way each area is pressed separately and the other side doesn't get a crease line.

• Open the seam with your fingers before pressing: separate the two seam allowances, aim the seam line at the center of the ham and only then place the iron.

• A pressing cloth for delicate fabrics: with wool, silk, dark fabrics and fabrics with sheen, place a thin pressing cloth between the iron and the garment, so that no shine or mark is left.

• Let the fabric cool: fabric that's still hot is still taking shape. Leave the area on the ham for a few seconds after pressing and only then move the garment.

• Protect the wood from direct steam: aim the steam at the ham and not the base, and wipe water drops off the wood at the end of the work.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Pressing a flat sleeve on a regular board: this creates a crease line along the sleeve, because both layers are pressed together. On the ham you place only the top layer, and rotate the sleeve after each strip.

• Pressing hard on the end of the ham: the force should go toward the posts. When pressing at the end, press gently and hold the base with the other hand.

• An iron left in one place: on a small, padded surface the heat concentrates and may leave shine or a mark. Keep moving the iron.

• A short ham for a whole long sleeve: you can work in sections, but for a long sleeve in a continuous run, a long sleeve pressing ham of about 56 cm is more comfortable.

• Pressing delicate fabric from the visible side: with delicate and dark fabrics, press from the inside of the garment or through a pressing cloth.

Images are for illustration only; slight color differences may occur between different screens.

Product type: sleeve pressing ham on a wooden stand

Model: 10363

Brand: HaBayit LaBubot

Ham length: about 28 cm

Overall height: 15 cm

Base width: about 10 cm on the narrow side, about 17 cm on the wide side

Base thickness: 2 cm

Structure: padded ham on two wooden posts

Base and posts material: natural wood

Cover: quality fabric

Cover color: blue

Sales unit: per piece