Monday, December 10, 2012

Tableside Pressing Pad

Let's make a customized mini pressing pad to keep next to the sewing machine!

plus a little Avignon by Emily Taylor for Riley Blake Designs.

Supplies: 
  • 1 Fat Quarter
  • Two  8" squares (optional)
  • Stapler with staples, or hammer and upholstery tacks
  • 3/8" plywood, cut into a 14" x 18" rectangle
  • (see if the lumberyard will cut it for you!)
  •  2 pieces @ 18" x 21" 100% cotton batting
  •  1 piece @ 18" x 21" Insulbright or other heat-reflective batting


Instructions: 
1)  Piece the outer cover 
 Now, this step is OPTIONAL, but since I had these blocks lying around 
 from this recent VIDEO (Sewing Triangles) I thought we could use them!
 

Watch the video, or follow this TUTORIAL
to make EIGHT Quarter-Square (Hourglass) blocks at the same time!  
 Square up the blocks to 3"
Next, alternate each unit and stitch them together in a row.
Slice your fat quarter at about 14" over from one edge.
STITCH to insert the pieced strip between the cuts,
using 1/4" seam allowances.  Trim to 18" x 22" rectangle.  
You may want to finish the raw edges by serging, zig-zag 
or turn under 1/4 inch and stitch.


2) Stack the cover and batting as follows:
Fat Quarter (finished/right side down)
Heat-reflective batting
2 layers of cotton batting
Plywood


 Trim off batting corners, about 3/8" from the corner of the wood.


3)  Staple cover to plywood
 Bring a corner of the fabric up over the plywood
and staple or tack to the wood. 


 Form miters on the corners by folding the fabric around the batting,
then staple to secure.

 

Pull tightly and staple your fabric to the back of the plywood.  
I finished the corners first, then anchored each side at the centers,
and filled in with staples all the way around to secure.

 

Here are some of my tools... plus the phone to call my husband
to have him pick up more staples at the hardware store...


 My dear husband suggested that I put something on the back to
 cover the staples and prevent scratches or splinters. (Thanks, honey!)
I used a light piece of fusible interfacing and just ironed it on! 

 

Ready for any "pressing" matter...


This is just another fun "Snippet" from my sewing room to yours.  Great for classes or retreats, too!   
This little pressing pad could be made with a coordinating strip of fabric, or even without blocks.  I thought it was a fun way to use up these extras.  Plus, they coordinate with a sewing kit ensemble I'm putting together... Shhhh, don't tell, it's a surprise!

See more simple project tutorials, gift ideas and handmade doo-dads for the sewing room on my Snippets page!
 
http://gifgifs.com

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