Do any of you use the portable ironing mats? I want to get something like this to put on one of the fold outs on my cabinet so it's right there when I need to iron small pieces but I don't want to ruin the top of my cabinet either. Found this at Amazon.com for $4.99 so it's not a bad price.

No, I have the smaller reversible cutting/ironing mat that I love. I am going to check this out as well, thanks.

I have one I bought years ago at Joann Fabrics. Love it. Mine has a thin foam on the bottom and silver cloth on the top.

Kat

So I take it these are safe to use on the top of sewing cabinets?

I have one and only use when I don't have room for my other one. Believe it is omnigrid and it has the cutting surface on one side and ironing on the other and it folds up and velcro's closed. Comes in several sizes. Just like more protection for wood surfaces.

I would still put something in between just to be safe.

Is this it?

Like what? I don't mean to sound dense but don't want to damage anything.

It really depends on what surface you are trying to protect. Others will have other ideas but here is what my sister did. She used a thin piece of plywood or hardboard covered with some of that non skid fabric that you can buy at walmart. Holds down the ironing surface so it doesn't slip and slide. Than set her portable ironing surface on that. She was using an antique dresser so wanted to be sure she wasn't damaging the finish.

The product that Katydid2 has up above sounds good.

I have the small omnigrid one. Works great for travel or for small pieces. I use flexable trivet to set my iron on. Got it at Hobby Lobby with 40% off coupon. Works great to press seams and trim blocks. Let cool before closing to avoid damaging the cutting mat.

I made one using a board to fit my space. I stapled one layer of cotton batting and then cotton duck canvas over that. I then wet it and let it dry. The canvas shrunk and it's very smooth and tight.

Missouri Star Co has a tutorial on making an ironing surface. Take a look.

Thanks for all the suggestions. You guys are the best! :thumbup: :-D

I bought several of these for gifts when I was in Paducah. At QIAD sale barn they were $5 each. You can slip them over any padded surface, easy to take off and wash. They are very thick and well made. The ones there were bigger and squarer then the ones on the website but made the same.


There will be a 30% off sale at QIAD on everything during the July 4th weekend.

http://www.quiltinaday.com/shoponlin...lay.asp?i=2610

I went back and read the reviews for this so just a word of caution.....moisture seems to collect underneath when using steam or in a moist/humid climant. This would be a problem for me.

I have one and yes it's thin and not good on wood or plastic...It was Fons & Porter...I made one with insul brite, and same problem...
So I went to Joann's and bought the June Taylor ironing pad/bd...nice and thick and no problems with heat going thru that since it has wood and a thick padding...You can find it in the ruler section

I simply use a piece of white flannel, folded several times so it's about 8 layers thick. It sits right next to my sewing machine on the table. I don't use steam, and this system works great for me. If I need steam, starch, or am pressing large pieces, I use the ironing board.

I purchased a 24" x 24" piece of luan board at Home Depot and had my DH cut it up in smaller pieces. One is of the sizes he cut is 12" x 12". Others will be smaller for use with my tiny travel iron.

I am planning to cover it with two layers of warm and natural and then a layer of heavy muslin. I will staple each layer on the back after wrapping it tightly over the top.

Luan is underlayment and will not let steam through, or so I have been told. I actually will be using this ironing mat on top of a TV tray (not attached to the TV tray like some do) that I bought at Walmart for under $16. It is black and very sturdy. It is usually located in the furniture section.

I have the mat that comes with an Omnigrid cutting mat and an ironing section but I have to think~~as though I want to rub my tummy and pat my head at the same time with different hands~~ in order not to ruin my cutting mat!!! I will have a rotary cutting mat on another tray. The convenience of multiple uses for the TV trays is what interests me the most. Plus, I will not be able to accidently lay my iron on my cutting mat like I have done several times with the other set up.

If you have an office type chair that turns from side to side it is more convenient to turn and cut/iron than to slide to the side to do so. For pp and log cabin blocks it is wonderful to have this at your side.

:-D :-D

Thank you! :D

Why don't you make one out of a wooden TV table? I went to Walmart and got one for $10, put a couple of layers of aluminum foil on it, some batting, then put muslin on it, pulled it tight and stapled it on the back. You can't roll it up like the ones above, but it's cheap, easy to store by your sewing machine and you don't have to worry about damaging any good furniture.

I have one of those small tabletop ironing boards, elevates the ironing surface off the cabinet/tabletop surface. I use the shelf liner foam under the fold down legs to keep it from moving. It has a metal slide out shelf at the back end to hold the hot iron.

I take it to Guild Meetings, UFO's, and Retreats. Several other quilters besides me use it. I find it very handy.

I took one of the sections of my ruined dining room table pads, put several layers of cotton batting on the felt side and made a cover in a fabric to coordinate with the room I sew in. It's a tri'fold so doesn't take up much space when not in use.

my husband made me one by covering a 15x15 piece of plywood with batting and fabric. It works great and is right next to my machine.

Ok, help me understand the importance.....I made a irioning mat, just a mini Quilt fabric,batting, batting, fabric serged all 4 layers and I use it everyday. Size like 20X20. I have one at every table. and a Skid drawer liner under it. Am I suppose to use something special to make it?

I have one I used on my dining room table I now have cloudy spots in the finish on the table. I would not put it on anything wood or a laminate wood. I'm very sorry I did. I finally bought a table top ironing board from wal mart. The legs do't work very well but I don't unfold the legs. I just place the board on a thick towel. It keeps it from shifting when I iron and protects the table top.

I sandwiched Insul-Bright between two layers of Warm & Natural with drill fabric from Jo-Ann's as the top and bottom layers. Drill is what I use to cover the big ironing board. I straight stitched around the edge and then zigzagged.

I bought an ironing mat from Joanns with a coupon. I wish I hadn't. It has a layer of foam on the bottom and the shiny silver stuff, like ironing board covers, on the top. I use it on the end of my cutting table at my vacation home. I really hate it. It 's too puffy so it can be hard to get a crisp flattened seam. It also slides around. The silver part is ok, I don't mind that. I wish that I'd bought batting or something else with my coupon and made a big board instead. Making one is on my list of things to do.

I have taken mine and stapled to a piece of plywood. I can move it wherever I need to iron - including putting on a TV tray beside me when traveling.

Doesn't the puffiness of the pad concern you? Is it thinner when stapled to plywood? It never occurred to me to try that! Thanks!

This pad is not too puffy...works great.

Just make sure you don't confuse the cutting mat and the ironing surface...mine has a rotary cut in it!!

I ordered the Omnigrid yesterday and I was wondering how long it would take me to do the same thing.

I use one when I go to retreats or classes. At home my ironing board is right next to my sewing machine.

Here's a tutorial on how to make your own. It's from Missouri Star Quilting Company:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uGVY...embedded#at=25

I have this too and love it, but guess what I did. I had the wrong side up and I used my rotary cutter on it, so now I have a big slit in it. Any suggestions on how to fix it?

Peel off a section of the glue layer from Pellon's Wonder Under. It should be bigger than the size of the slit. Place the glue layer under the slit. Cover it with the release paper (the Wonder Under paper to which the glue was attached). Hold the slit together as tightly together as possible and iron following the directions of the Wonder Under.

I don't know how easy it will be to iron while holding the slit together! :lol:

Although I have a couple (different sizes) reversible cutting board/ironing mat when I am sewing I find it easier to use a heavy towel which I cut up to size to iron pieces as I stitch. I place it in front of my sewing machine on my DR table with the iron to the left or right of me and sew away and iron.

I bought one of the small ones from JoAnns. I also found quilted ironing mat fabric at JoAnns and was going to make one (Still a UFO).

I have a "June Taylor" cutting mat on one side and ironing mat on the other-nice.
since it fits on my regular ironing board, I use the cutting side for cutting small pieces there and put it next to the sewing machine for quick press when piecing-
got it at hobby lobby-

I used a 2' by 4' 3/8 inch piece of plywood. To protect the wood from steam, I covered it with foil (also reflects the heat), then used a double layer of cotton batting and stapled a muslin cover over that. It makes a nice size for ironing pieces of fabric, and is nice and firm for pressing blocks. I tried one of the commercial mats but it wasn't firm enough for my taste. This is place on whatever table, picnic or otherwise, I am using for a work surface.