Originally Posted by Central Ohio Quilter
Originally Posted by IndyQuilter
I bought a wool blanket at a yard sale a few years ago. It had been washed and shrunk. I thought they wanted too much for it, but I wanted it for my ironing table. It makes a great padding, better than batting because it doesn't compress like batting does, but yet it gives just enough cusion to press your pieced blocks without the chance of stretching them out of shape like batting can. I got this tip from a professional quilter. Sorry I can't remember who.
IndyQuilter - What a great idea! I haven't heard of this before!
After you put the wool padding on your ironing table, do you then cover it with muslin (or other fabric), or do you iron right on the wool surface, without another cover over it?
I am going to have to try this! Thanks!
The wool blanket had already been washed and shrunk so it was thicker than a regular wool blanket. It was the perfect size for my table. I first put the blanket on the table and had just enough to bring it to the underside and used my husbands heavy duty stapler to attach it. Then I covered the wool with a light color heavy canvas, or you can use denim, and again I stapled it. Lastly I made a muslin cover with a drawstring and put that over the canvas top. When the muslin gets dirty, I just take it off and wash it and then put it back on. My husband made the table for me from and old bathroom vanity. He put it on a base and added open shelves to each end to get the length I wanted. Then he put casters on it so I can roll it around. It measures 28x64, perfect for ironing large pieces of fabric. Another benefit is that it has lots of extra storage.