I have a Fons and Porter's Portable Ironing Pad that I use, plus a counter top ironing board.

I have one of these, but I made a wood board and covered it with a piece of cotton batting and then a piece of duck or canvas. Best board ever. The Pressing sheet slides too much for me when trying to press blocks or pieces of fabric. The board keeps things from slipping and sliding. There are some you tube videos on line that give good tuts on this subject.

Suzy

The owner of our LQS just made an iron carrier. It folds around the iron for transporting and the liner can be used for ironing at class. Really neat!!!

I haven't read all the threads but I have a portable ironing mat. I used it on a machine with a big thick towel underneath - bummer - made a white spot on my sewing machine!!!!! Now I only use a portable ironing surface made from an old square of plywood and covered like an ironing board with shelf liner on the back to prevent slipping.

I have a mini iron board next to my machine with my oliso iron on it and I like it. I don't have to get up if I just want to press some seams in a square. I have my machine and iron and laptop all plugged into a electric strip so when I press the button on the strip everything comes on at once.
I did buy the silver pad at Joann's and I have never used it.
I like my set up so well. Guess I could take it to sewing class sometime but its been in the closet a year or so.
Use a coupon at Joann's if you have one close. If you don't use it for sewing, take it to the ball game and sit on it. I wish you well my friend

We use a potholder by our machines with our mini irons when we paper piece.

This solution worked for me. When my kids were in college I bought them one of those little 3ft. ironingboards that have the four short legs underneath. They used in top of their bed or dresser when they wanted to iron something. (It came back home looking pretty unused, but whatever.) They also had this little cheep end table that was nothing but a 18" top with four little spindle legs. I set the table next to my sewing machine and straddled the ironing board over it. Perfect!!!Six years later, I am finally feeling as if I got my money's worth out of some of the things I got them to go off to school! I am going to have to look around and see what else they brought home and left here for me to "store"!!

I put a thick towel under mine and works great.....did any of you see the one on here while back ...made a iornning table out of a TV wood table and I am going to make me one of those

I have 2 of them - one is 11 x 11
http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/p...PRODID=prd2765

The other is 12x 18 I think

Never press a quilt block on a soft surface. If the surface is soft the block will sink in and get distorted when pressed. A very hard surface is best for pressing blocks and cut fabric pieces. i use a Steady Betty and it is the best ironing surface I've ever used for pressing blocks.

Wish I'd seen this before I ordered something else. Sounds like a great product.

I found an old shelf laying around, the ironing mat fits around it and this lays by my machine for ironing, nice and flat, easy to put away, functional, cheap....

Kim, I got a empty fabric cardboard from the yardage shop and covered it with warm and natural and muslin scraps, you can even cut it shorter to fit your space....most yardage shops are very glad to give you one....works great...and free.....

Kim, I got a empty fabric cardboard from the yardage shop and covered it with warm and natural and muslin scraps, you can even cut it shorter to fit your space....most yardage shops are very glad to give you one....works great...and free.....

i have one from joann's (1/2 price) that has a cutting mat on one side and ironning one on the other side. i have a small pull out of one side of my sewing desk (also 1/2 price from joann's) it works great. just make sure what ever you get holds up to steam not all of them can handle that

I have a June Tailor that I use for projects at school. Works great for me.

I made one using the same materials for potholders. Works great.

I think I'd feel more comfortable using the cutting board with the ironing mat on the opposite side - don't see mine right now:>). Think it measures about 15"x20". I love mine, wherever it is - Anyone know the manufacturer???, They're sold everywhere Walmart, Joann, Hancock, etc.

I love the Steady Betty, too. I'm dying to get one, but have decided to wait until stores that have coupons start carrying them. So far, I've only found them in LQS's.

Lay a piece of flannel or other fabric over the varnished surface, cover that with a large piece of aluminum foil or two, then put the mat on that to do the ironing.
Saves the furniture underneath, in case of a too hot iron, or a scorch left by a forgotten set down iron. The aluminum foil works to reflect the heat back up, away from the surface underneath. Works well inside the ironing board covers too. JP

Lay a piece of flannel or other fabric over the varnished surface, cover that with a large piece of aluminum foil or two, then put the mat on that to do the ironing.
Saves the furniture underneath, in case of a too hot iron, or a scorch left by a forgotten set down iron. The aluminum foil works to reflect the heat back up, away from the surface underneath. Works well inside the ironing board covers too. JP

Oops. sorry two copies! It is my stupid fingers going astray again.

I have that mat.... use it on my kitchen table which is wood. The first quilt I made I used it on top of my omni grid (it warped the grid!) Next time I double folded a towel...... worked well, but I like the idea of setting it on a plywood base or attaching it to an old tv tray!! You CAN RUIN the surface below if you do a lot of ironing without "cooling" time in between!!

I have used a wooden fold up TV table, stapled some batting and muslin on it and put elastic in some cotton pillowcases as washable ironing covers, works a treat for me.

Thanks and great idea! :thumbup:

mine is 12 x 18 and it is a June Tailor; I got it at Joanns for 50% off but I think even walmarts have it but I like the 50% off coupons from Joanns and Hancock fabics; but it is a great thing to have

I made a small ironing pad to put on the table next to my sewing machine. Used cardboard covered with tin foil and then 2 layers of batting and then a covering of muslin. Cheap, easy, works fine, very portable. All good things!

I bought mine online at Joanns and used a coupon.

I made my portable iron surface from a Wal-Mart $9.00 TV tray, the silver ironing board fabric, insulbrite, leftover batting pieces and a muslin back. Sewed pieces of elastic to each side and slid it over the tray. I take it to quilt camp, etc.

Jennie at Missouri Star Quilt Company has a super video tutorial on making a portable ironing pad like the one she uses. I just watched it yesterday and intend to make myself one.

Go to http://tutorials.missouriquiltco.com/ and select "See All Tutorials". It's the 2nd from the left, ninth row down.

Or go to YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uGVYK-VeNs

I worry that the heat from the iron will warp the wood, so I made my own. Here's a link that might help.

Also, if the pad has a lot of "give", it can warp your pressing. A flat board really helps with this.

http://www.daystyledesigns.com/quiltingironingboard.htm

Here's another one that might be a tad easier to make:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uGVYK-VeNs

I found the cardboard centre from a roll of fabric and covered that with an old blanket and then sewed a fancy cover on it. A fabric handle on one long side makes it easy to carry to workshops, and a long pocket on one flat side just takes my rotary cutting ruler which protects it when travelling. And in my workroom, it drops down alongside my worktable ready to use. Cheap and handy!.