This might be a dumb question, but......
 

For those of you who have made your own pressing board, or pressing mat, have any of you ever used insulbrite? I was just thinking--we use them on potholders to reflect heat away, so....? Just curious.

I didn't, I just used 2 layers of cotton batting with a cotton cover. I wasn't concerned about the heat since it doesn't stay localized in one spot for a long period of time.

there are lots of tutorials for making your own pressing surfaces- big ironing boards, portables, mini's...and some people do use insulbrite- you can purchase the teflon (silver ironing board cover fabric) from joannes- you can also purchase canvas with a 1" grid on it---lots of options- warm & natural is sometimes used along with a layer of insulbrite- check out the tutorials to see more tips & hints. :)

Yes, I used 2 layers of Insul-Bright, topped with a layer of cotton duck.

I use batting and duck cloth for my large pressing board. I have a smaller one that I have put the ironing board fabric on. It is silver and helps hold the shape of my fabric.

Yea I used it for mine, perfect.

Yes, I used Insulbrite and Warm & Natural in my pressing mat and it works wonderfully!! I love it!

OK. now you have all inspired me to make a pressing board to use when I travel.

I just used several layers of muslin I wasn't going to use for anything else. I have worn out many coverings over the years. This is for my tabletop wooden ironing board. I have discovered Connecting Threads sales the insulbrite and will buy some when I get an order together.

A hard non sinkable surface is better for pressing blocks. Too soft surface and your blocks will sink in when pressing and can make the block distorted. I used one layer of thin cotton batting and one layer of cotton canvas. I wet the canvas after stapling it to the board and let it dry. It shrank to a very tight firm fit. This is Sharon Schamber's recommended way to make a pressing board.

Thank you for the responses everyone, and makes me feel like it wasn't such a dumb question after all lol.

Yep, I put a layer on the board then a layer of batting. Works great!

I second Bellaboo's suggestion. I followed Sharon's instructions but used a $10. Oak TV tray from Wal-mart. It sits at an angle to wherever I am working so I can just turn and press. Then I fold it up and it goes with me to sewing group or guild meetings.

That is such a good idea! Thank you!

Very smart idea! Thanks! I've been needing something like this!

I've been wanting to make a large ironing board for pressing quilt tops. You all have inspired me, too. First up, find a board big enough! Guess I could enlist hubby's help....

There are a couple of threads with instructions for these here on the board.

I like to wrap insulbrite around an old fabric bolt & cover it all with a layer of cheap, heavy muslin for a portable board. I learned that in a quilting class once & it really works! Light & easy to tote!

I agree with BellaBoo. A harder surface works great when pressing blocks. I loved Sharon Schamber's pressing board so much when I made one, I now have three large ones and one small 14" square one to use as a portable pressing surface when just pressing parts of a block. They all work great.

This is what I did

It would not hurt to use insulbrite..but it would be fairly expensive. I use cheap batting covered by "why did I buy that " fabric, which I then cover with the silvery ironing board fabric that Joanns sells on bolts. It has gotten pricy too and I'm due to recover mine. Thinking about doing it in muslin this time. What do you all cover yours with?

No ,I just wrapped cotton batting around a piece of plywood-works great.

...just wondering if instead of buying insulbrite would a layer of aluminum foil work as well???????

I just want to tell you, The only dumb question is, The one you don't ask.

Two layers of Insul-brite and outside cover of silver ironing board material.

Yes, I covered a large board my husband made with a layer of insulbrite and then a layer of cotton batting. I like a firm pressing surface. Works out great!

You can also get insulated batting that doesn't have the silver coating on it. That's what I used in my holiday tablecloth.

It's not a dumb question at all, it's a very good one. Look at all the replies its generated. Lots of ideas for us to try.

I did use insulbrite and I love it!

I just use a plain ole ironing board, buy a new cover every now and then.

Jenny on Missouri Star Quilt Co has a tutorial of how to make one

My husband makes the ironing boards out of the wooden folding tv trays. He has used insulbrite on some of them and then place a piece of batting under it then the silvery stuff you get a Joannes. They are really neat and work great for small projects or traveling as they fold up.

There are no dumb questions, only dumb answers. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I wrapped a yard bag around a 2x4 piece of plywood. Then I covered it with cotton batting and then canvas and pulled it all tight before I stapled and then sprayed the canvas with water several times until it shrunk really tight. I also made some smaller boards from the scraps from the 1/2 sheet of plyboard. I made a muslin pillow case type cover so I could take it off and wash it to keep my canvas clean. Because it does not have much padding, it keeps the fabrics from stretching when you press. I love it and have given several of the smaller boards away. You don't need insulbright. The reason I used the heavy duty yard bags was to keep the moisture out of the wood in case I steamed.

Nope no insulbrite - 2 layers of warm and natural under muslin. Ironing surface is 2x6 office furniture type table, not real wood, just laminate over some pressboard composite junk. No problems, works great - but for serious cutting I have to unhook it and put the cutting mat directly on the table

Mine is an old army blanket (wool) wrapped tightly around the cutting table and stapled underneath, topped with cotton duck. Works great!

No question is too dumb to ask - and besides, the rest of us want to know the answer, too!

I've got a dumber Q - does insulbrite have a right/wrong side? I've got a large piece but no instructions re it's use.