pinking irons were very popular in the beginning of the industrial revolution.. as new techniquies evolved for casting iron, there were a many

they constisted of 2 blocks of iron (6 to 10 inches long, 4 to 6 inches wide)a base and a top (sometimes hinged, sometimes seperate) the 'sandwich layer', was corrigated. and the fabric was layed in there. the top layer was lowered and fabric was ironed into ruffles or pinks.

Think of a 'waffle iron' (only the design was different.)

the Blocks were heated on a stove (an other early industrial revolution device!). you can sometimes see pinking irons in restoration villages. Shelburne Museum (VT) village has a collection.


my other obsession