I bought a small table-top ironing board at Wal-Mart. I set it up next to my sewing machine. It folds up when I don't need it.

I use a microwave cart--on wheels. pad the top for ironing
board, shelves hold cans of sprays, etc. pull next to your
machine when you are doing a lot of piecing,in corner when
you don't need it.

YOu gals just gave me an idea. a sleeve board would suffice too I believe. Gee I have one in my garage for the next yard sale. Guess it will stay here.

Yep, I used to do that too. When that happened I just chain pieced and then chain ironed. That way I would have to get up to go to the iron and get some exercise.

Then last nite at a guild meeting our chief teacher guru told us that the most recent thinking is to lightly finger press or use a wooden press gently on all seams and NOT iron til each block is done. She said that ironing can distort the fabr

go figure.

I just lower the height setting on my ironing board and pull it over to the left of my machine, such that I can merely turn to the left and press my pieces, withou getting up at all. Also handy for holding up larger peices as I sew.

I also chain piece all of one step, then get up and iron. It's good to get up and move around. I don't care for the ironing board with the cutting board on the back. I had one, but the cutting board warped something awful.

Great idea. That's all it takes to make an ironing board!

As for finger pressing - that came to be fingernail pressing and my fingernails aren't all that thick or long. I saw a grouping of 4-5 clay tools made of nicely smoothed wood and use a couple for finger pressing tools and one for laying fabric flat just before it hits the sewing machine needle.

After buying a bunch of sand box sand I set aside a few coffee cans full for experiments (who knows?) and made a 4-5" rectangle "pin cushion" with a quilted cover. This is now what I plop down on sewn seams and plies of sewn squares. Flattens things nicely.

these are great

Because I don't have a sewing room, I have taken over the dining table. It is one of those high tables, so my machine is at one end and I have my ironing board part way under the table by my side so all I have to do is turn on my chair and press. I also have a small table top ironing board that I sometimes use.

i have a cut & press made by june taylor,love it ! also have a clover mini-iron that i just started using after 12 yrs ! why did i wait so long ? it woks great,esp,to press seams open ! try it,you'll like it !