I just did this very same thing with one of my TV tables. I covered it with 3 layers of warm and natural batting then I took a rectangle of fabric measuring 4 inches longer that the table on all sides, rounded off the corners slightly, put a small hem in all seams, leaving a small opening to put a strong string through and put a string through the hem, pulled the string really tightly, with help, tied it in a knot and Voila!.....a small ironing surface to keep by my work area. I just started an applique class, my first ever, real quilting project and I don't have a sewing room or area yet. I made a little sewing area near my favorite chair where I do all of my applique and when I need to make new pieces to applique to my background fabric, I don't have to keep running to the basement where my washroom and ironing board is in order to press my applique seems. When I'm finished, I fold it up and place it back onto the rack with the other tables, out of the way. It's a great little 'quilters helper'..
Originally Posted by dforesee
I saw an adorable tutorial on a blog where a lady had taken a wooden TV tray table she found on clearance. Cut several pieces of batting the size of the top and stacked them. She cut a rectangle of her choice of cover fabric 4 inches larger than the table top all the way around. She laid the cover fabric on a work surface right side down, centered the stack of batting pieces on top of that and then put the tv table upside down on top of that, folded the fabric tightly around to the bottom side of table and secured with a staple gun. Due to the wood's hardness, staples didn't go all the way in, but she finished driving them in with a small hammer. She said it made a perfect foldable ironing table to sit by her sewing machine and use while piecing quilt tops. You couldn't use this to iron your clothes of course, but I thought it sounded perfect for pressing seams as you piece.