quilting

In a Pinch Pressing Mat

Remember that Spin Class with Amanda Jean of Crazy Mom Quilts that I was going to take? It was rescheduled due to the boatload of snow we had that weekend. It’s coming up soon, and one of the things I need to bring for the class is a small pressing mat. So today, I’ll show you my In a Pinch Pressing Mat that I made.

In a Pinch Pressing Board - the finished pressing mat - piecefulthoughts.com

The Pressing Mat Supplies
  • Board or Shelf. I used a shelf from a little cupboard we are no longer using. The shelf measures 10 x 13 inches and is about 3/8″ thick.
  • Leftover batting. I layered some old polyester batting (3 layers) with one remnant piece of Hobbs batting. I cut all of the pieces 10 x 13 inches
  • Fabric Covering. The fabric is a piece of canvas weight fabric I had on hand.
  • Duct Tape. For securing the fabric to the back of the board.

In a Pinch Pressing Mat - Supplies needed to make the mat - piecefulthoughts.com

The Process

I cut the fabric 16 x 20 inches so that I had enough overlap to secure it to the board.

In a Pinch Pressing Mat - Centering the board on the fabric - piecefulthoughts.com

Here is a close up so you can see the thickness of the batting.

In a Pinch Pressing Mat - All layered and ready to tape - piecefulthoughts.com

Starting on one long side, gently pull the fabric over the mat and secure with a piece of duct tape. Then do the same on the other side, pulling the fabric snug.

In a Pinch Pressing Mat - tape the long sides first - piecefulthoughts.com

For the sides, I folded the fabric like I do when wrapping a gift.

In a Pinch Pressing Mat - Folding the sides - piecefulthoughts.com

Repeat for the other side. Be sure to check the top for any folds or puckers.

In a Pinch Pressing Mat - All taped and ready to use - piecefulthoughts.com

At this point, the back could be covered with another piece of fabric to hide the tape, but I’m leaving it as is.

All done and ready to use.

In a Pinch Pressing Mat - The Finished Pressing Mat - piecefulthoughts.com

It’s a little puffy, but I think it will work just fine in a pinch!

Phyllis the Binding Baby Makes Her Debut

Since a few of you mentioned in the comments of my last post that you hadn’t seen a Binding Baby, I thought I’d have Phyllis model for you today. (By the way, I’m not an affiliate. I’m just sharing this because I like them.)

Here she is, getting her binding put on.

In a Pinch Pressing Mat - Phyllis the Binding Baby makes her debut, getting her binding on - piecefulthoughts.com

She slips her binding into the slit, and then she twirls round and round. Okay, she doesn’t really twirl, but I wrap the binding around her. Twirling sounds more fun though, doesn’t it?

In a Pinch Pressing Mat - Phyllis the Binding Baby, all wrapped up - piecefulthoughts.com

When I’m ready to use the binding, Phyllis can sit next to my machine or, if your machine has one, she can sit on the vertical thread holder on your machine. My machine doesn’t have a vertical thread holder, so I just set her up there so you can get the idea.

In a Pinch Pressing Mat - Phyllis the Binding Baby modeling atop my sewing machine - piecefulthoughts.com

She’s so much cuter than my old binding baby, a bottle of Synthrapol. Haha!

How about you? Have you made any cool tool in a pinch? Tell me about it!

Have a great weekend, all!

Wendy

 

19 Comments

  • rl2b2017

    Hi Wendy,
    You did not make that yourself. Well, I can SEE you did since you share all the steps, but it is too darn cute! SO much better than what you can buy in the stores, and the cheap small one we have from Target. Geez, another project I NEED to make. Thanks. (jk) And Phyllis is so darn cute with her pretty new binding dress! She looks quite happy in her new home on your sewing machine. What kind of machine do you have? Those stitches look like my Elna choices! Happy Mother’s Day, dear. ~smile~ Roseanne

  • Vicki in MN

    You really don’t have a vertical holder on that machine? I love how you think of funny little things to say in your post-her twirling:) I never feel witty. Great idea of a quick mat. I made a portable one on a TV tray, love that for paper piecing or small blocks, then it sits right beside my machine.

  • Karen

    I don’t have a vertical spool holder on my new machine either but I’ve always just tossed my binding on the floor on my right side and place it as I sew. The little thing is cute though! Love your ironing pad – I have made a similar one – they come in handy

  • smilesfromkate

    How clever to make a pressing mat out of bits and pieces. I wouldn’t worry about the top being thick, better thick than too thin and much better than the commercial one I have with a cutting board on the reverse which has warped with time. Did you purchase your binding baby? I certainly haven’t seen one before, it’s lovely, what a great idea.

  • somethingrosemade14

    Love the pressing mat and of course I have the supplies to make one. But you know, I’m going to have to buy pretty duct tape for the back, wink! Phyllis is too cute.

  • Kathleen McCormick

    Great tutorial and love meeting Phyllis. Definitely an upgrade from my toilet roll insert!

  • Gray Barn Designs

    What a great way to make an ironing mat! I’ve held off buying one because I’d rather spend my $$ on fabric! Now I can make a really cut one with some of my stash…thank you for sharing this great tip with us. Looks like Phyllis is going to stay busy!

  • Sherry @ PoweredByQuilting

    that’s a really cute way to do the pressing mat! I ended up taking the gray utility cloth from joanns and stapling it on to a TV tray directly! nice and hard pressing surface. Also Phyllis is adorable. I love the binding babies!

    • piecefulwendy

      It worked pretty well, except that the poly batting made it a bit too poofy. I’d go with cotton batting layers next time.

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