Another Friday, another installment of the Production Diaries. We're really finding our flow and settling into a good rhythm. BUT definitely feeling the pull of the calendar and slipping a little behind. This week we built some new tools to use to get better at estimating and predicting our timing so we can build more accurate calendars and stay on track. 

But what I'm here to talk to you about today are other tools. And not sewing tools! We are learning to love the often overlooked, but oh-so-necessary tools of the trade (and the inspection table) - the steam iron and the steamer. 

To be honest, I didn't really know we needed these things. I just thought product came off the sewing line looking super perfect and professional and went right into a bag. Nope!

Thanks to Sarah's experience in design school and Vicky's experience at tailoring shops, we're now set up with a great little steaming station. I call it the Youer Surgery Center because it looks very clinical with its latex tubing, metal table and implements. We've got this super cool Jiffy steamer that's very legit and doubles as a wonderful microphone for jamming out when the team has left for the day.

And a steam iron that has a giant water tank that hangs above it. This this is super fun and super hot. AND, we forgot to unplug it one night last week so now we have a really good closing checklist before we leave.

We have a variety of little pressing tools and boards that fit inside collars and sleeves - the latest addition is Hammie: a pressing 'ham', aka a fat little thing for pressing rounded seams. Here's Olivia pressing a collar with Hammie in it. 

Pressing is a necessary step to make sure everything looks professional and legit when it gets to you - it flattens seams, gets rid of wrinkles and makes collars and hems lay flat. So when you rip open your compostable bag and take out your shirt and are impressed by how well everything drapes on your body and how the tiny collar is perfectly creased, it's because we pressed the sh*t out of it to make it look nice.