An ironing apparatus used for making gather lines in a skirt, making creases in a garment such as a blouse, a shirt, or a pair of trousers, and smoothing out wrinkles in the trousers comprises an ironing table disposed horizontally on the working surface of a main body thereof, a pressing plate disposed opposite to and above the ironing table, and a lifting device for moving the pressing plate vertically to and from the ironing table. It further includes forward and backward and rightward and leftward moving apparatus so that the pressing plate can perform ironing through pressing in a vertical direction without disturbing the shape of the garment. Advantageously, the apparatus can thus be handled with ease and additionally, can protect an operator from receiving a blast of hot air emanating the pressing plate. The pressing plate is defined by a C-shaped support arm, the top end of which is located above the ironing table.