My LQS sells little kits containing insulbright for batting and a piece of heavier fabric to make a cover for a Walmart tv table. The tables are wooden and very sturdy--sell for around $6 at my last check and then you make a drawstring cover for over it or you can even use heavy staples and staple it on. Mine sits right by my machine and I just press as I go. They really are wonderful. When they get a bit scorched, I just let the cover on and put a new one over top. Best thing ever.

I wrote a nice reply and an idea, and it hasn't shown up yet. What did I do wrong?

Now it appeared. Oh, well, not good at this so par for course I guess.

I wanted to have a larger ironing surface that I could move around. I used scrap plywood about 3' X 4', some felted wool yardage (sale fabric too heavy for a coat), and a remnant of 100% cotton decorator fabric. It took very little time to staple gun the fabrics on there. I move it to several different surfaces, usually to a 36" high counter next to the kitchen. I like having a larger rectangle to iron rows of blocks and yardage for garment sewing. Before I got a dedicated cutting table, I would flip it over and put my largest Olfa mat on the bare wood. I remember reading that a wool underlayer is recommended for tailoring and fusing interfacing because of the way it holds the steam and then evaporates.

Missouri Star has a tute for making a portable pressing board from a thin plywood scrap, an old towel and cotton fabric or your choice. I like mine. Use it for travel.

Here is the link to M* ironing tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uGVYK-VeNs

I use one of my two June Tailor press pads. They have a moisture-blocking inner liner which prevents steam from penetrating to the wood below. They come in various sizes and one is permanently mounted on a TV tray beside my machine. I have used these on the washing machine (no enamel damage), the kitchen counter, a table on my back porch. . . . You get the picture.

I have an extended dining room table for ironing. I have a thin blanket on it first, then a mattress cover (with the elastic to hold it in place) and then a clean sheet. It works wonders. Diana

I have often used a folded towel on top of any available flat surface. I have also used a small portable table top ironing board - usually available around back to school time for dorm use.

Please be cautious when using a matress cover, some of them are polyester and will melt onto the blanket and or sheet.