Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Getting ready

This weekend is Quilt Retreat Weekend for our quilt guild. I've never been and I'm SO excited!

I'm planning to finish both my Geese in the Forest quilt tops. I think I can do it.
If I have time I'll finish the scrappy quilt top too.

They provide three meals a day, sewing tables, ironing boards, warm beds...
We won't have anything to do but quilt all day every day.

We're allowed to have a small travel iron with us while quilting. I figured if I'm going to be foundation piecing, jumping up and walking to the big ironing boards after every seam could be a little time consuming. Our sewing tables will be 3' x 5' and having a sewing machine, cutting board AND ironing pad on there could get a little crowded. We are, however, allowed a small side table.

I started thinking and here's what I came up with.

Take one $16 TV tray table and cover it in one layer of batting and two layers of Insul-Bright. (I found out that The Warm Company is a local company!) A staple gun comes in very useful here.

Make a little cover for it. The table top is 17" x 17" so I cut a 25" x 25" square, made a channel around the edge for elastic and threaded some 1/2" elastic through it.

How do you like my little Rowenta travel iron?

The best thing of all: it folds flat for easy transport.

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40 comments:

  1. HeidiMarch 18, 2009 at 12:20 PM

    What a great idea! I have been trying to come up with a system in my own studio for this type of thing. Hmmmm... I wonder if I could find some second-hand tables at my GoodWill store.

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  2. dutchcomfortMarch 18, 2009 at 12:31 PM

    Great idea Anina! I hope you have a wonderful weekend. You’re planning to stitch a lot! It all sounds very tempting!

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  3. AnonymousMarch 18, 2009 at 1:00 PM

    Your retreat sounds perfect! Have fun!

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  4. AnonymousMarch 18, 2009 at 1:34 PM

    Oh my goodness - how fun! Wish I could go with you :-)
    Maybe I need to clear my schedule and tell my family I'm having my own quilt weekend!
    Hope you get lots done and have a wonderful time!

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  5. greetingartsMarch 18, 2009 at 1:53 PM

    Brilliant! I've got 4 of them sitting right next to the junk area where I end up dumping my quilt mat and rulers when I've got to clear off the dining room table for mealtime. Why didn't it ever occur to me to do that?! Well, clearly, I'm just not as clever as you! :0) Question: do you put the batting down first, or the Insul-Bright?

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  6. Jackie RussellMarch 18, 2009 at 2:21 PM

    Cute idea! Have fun at the retreat.

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  7. SaraMarch 18, 2009 at 2:26 PM

    Terrific idea! I need to make one for my sewing room.

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  8. RobinMarch 18, 2009 at 2:35 PM

    Awesome! That would be so handy even at home. I may have to try it. :) Thanks so much for sharing!

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  9. AnnieofbluegablesMarch 18, 2009 at 2:57 PM

    That's so cute! And I LOVE the appropriate fabric! You can even measure with that stuff!
    have fun on your retreat!
    ~a

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  10. SarahMarch 18, 2009 at 3:14 PM

    This is a ridiculously clever idea. So cool!

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  11. Mary on Lake PulaskiMarch 18, 2009 at 3:44 PM

    I think I need to copy you TODAY on this idea. I was making the rest of my March Geese in the Forrest blocks last night and I wore a path between the machine and the ironing board. Have a great weekend retreat. Wow - finishing both Geese quilts is an amazing goal - don't overdo it.

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  12. JanetMarch 18, 2009 at 4:08 PM

    I love retreats and you have come up with one fantastic idea, it saves standing and waiting for the iron so thanks for sharing.

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  13. AimeeMarch 18, 2009 at 4:19 PM

    Wonderful idea - thank for sharing! Have fun on your retreat!

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  14. UnknownMarch 18, 2009 at 4:34 PM

    That is a terrific idea! I hope you have a wonderful time at the retreat and I am looking forward to seeing your finishes!!

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  15. AnonymousMarch 18, 2009 at 5:30 PM

    so nifty! have fun!

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  16. AndiMarch 18, 2009 at 5:40 PM

    Clever lady!!
    I dream of a quilting retreat! Maybe some day!

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  17. ThimbleannaMarch 18, 2009 at 7:01 PM

    Wow Anina -- that's very cool! Have a great time at your retreat -- I hope you get all your quilting done!

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  18. KatieMarch 18, 2009 at 7:42 PM

    Very clever!!! I'll have to remember that. :-)

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  19. The Demanding DollMarch 18, 2009 at 8:45 PM

    Great portable table. Thanks for sharing.

    Quilt retreat...sigh...I wish.

    Have fun!

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  20. Mama SparkMarch 18, 2009 at 9:20 PM

    Totally cool!! Some women had something like this at the quilt class I went to recently and I think it is fantastic!!

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  21. MichelleBMarch 18, 2009 at 9:47 PM

    What a great little traveling ironing board! I might be able to use that in my sewing room. After all, I DO have that same iron.

    Have a wonderful time and I hope you get all of your stuff finished.

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  22. Tina CraigMarch 19, 2009 at 7:47 AM

    Have a great weekend! I've been going to a weekend quilting retreat every March for 15 years, and next year, I'll be taking over the organizing. The "regulars" have become a family, even though there are some we only see once a year.
    Love your ironing table. The cover is perfect. I always bring my own adjustable desk chair.

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  23. AnonymousMarch 19, 2009 at 7:59 AM

    I LOVE your little ironing board!! I hope you have a GREAT time on your weekend. I'm sure you will! It's quilting all weekend how can you go wrong???? Good for you!! Have fun.

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  24. MagicaldamselflyMarch 19, 2009 at 8:24 AM

    Great idea and how handy to have right there beside you. I'm feeling a weekend project coming on.

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  25. jacquieMarch 19, 2009 at 10:47 AM

    this is going to work so well. i do envy days of non stop sewing. i can't wait to see the finished geese quilts. i'm hoping for a goosey filled weekend as well!

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  26. SamMarch 19, 2009 at 12:01 PM

    That is awesome. I might have to do that. Right now I use a card table in my living room to cut on, to sew on and then I move my sewing machine and put a mini ironing board on it when I need it. Sort of a hassle but this would be the perfect size so I think I might do it. Thanks for the creative idea!

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  27. MushyhedMarch 19, 2009 at 4:53 PM

    1. Great travel ironing board. you're so smart! 2. I can't believe you've finished BOTH quilt tops. AMAZING!

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  28. UnknownMarch 19, 2009 at 6:23 PM

    You are so mart! great side table!! have fun ;)

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  29. MelindaMarch 19, 2009 at 9:19 PM

    I have one of those tables in my garage waiting for me to do something with it. Thanks to you I plan to find it tomorrow and make a cover for it. Thanks!

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  30. Peddlecar QuiltsMarch 20, 2009 at 12:52 AM

    I always have that problem at retreat!!! Thanks for such a great idea!!

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  31. DallasMarch 20, 2009 at 6:15 AM

    That's a great idea. I've got a tiny little ironing board, but it has to go on a table since it doesn't have any legs - this is a great solution.

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  32. AnonymousMarch 20, 2009 at 10:18 AM

    A quilting retreat sounds like great fun! Enjoy!

    The little table is a perfect idea. How handy!

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  33. JustDuckItMarch 20, 2009 at 6:03 PM

    It's nice to see this idea here. My mom actually just made us each one of these. I have absolutely no idea how she came up with the idea, but they work great! I'm not sure I could funtction without mine :) Hope you are having a wonderful time on your retreat!!

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  34. SandraMarch 20, 2009 at 11:10 PM

    Great idea! Thanks for taking the time to share it with us :)

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  35. SolidiaMarch 21, 2009 at 10:45 AM

    I LOVE this idea!! Thanks. I sure could have used it last weekend when I spent the weekend crafting with my girlfriends. I'll have it for the next time. :)

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  36. Staci K.March 22, 2009 at 4:02 PM

    What a great idea! I hope you had a nice time at your retreat and finished the projects you had hoped to. Let us know how your little ironing table worked out for you.

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  37. Amanda JeanMarch 25, 2009 at 3:08 PM

    that's a perfect solution! you are clever!!!

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  38. AnneMarch 26, 2009 at 6:18 PM

    I think you should check out this tutorial : (it would be really portable!) http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2009/01/tabletop-ironing-pad-tutorial.html

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  39. Mary Grace McNamaraApril 3, 2009 at 12:50 PM

    How very clever! Love the fabric you used too! And what a cute little iron!

    If you like handmade cotton dish/wash cloths, come on over and enter my 300th post giveaway!

    MGM

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  40. MinkaMay 28, 2011 at 5:13 PM

    Very nice. I'm thinking of making a pressing board, but I don't have someone to cut the board and round the corners. this might be a good alternative.

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