Iron Caddy Jr. in Batik

After I sold the first Iron Caddy Jr. bag for holding a small travel size iron, I made myself one in batik fabrics. The pattern is from Sisters Common Thread and they also sell the original Iron Caddy size pattern too, which holds most regular size irons and was the very first one that I made many years ago. I really LOVE this small junior size. It's so cute! But so functional as well. It is designed to fit 6"-8 1/4" travel irons. You can also do a Google search for the pattern as many places do sell the pattern as well. (Not an affiliate, but I do love this iron bag)!

Love how the batik fabric worked for making this bag.

Open the bag and it reveals the little travel iron I put inside. It can hold larger travel irons up to 8 1/4" as you can see by the extra space here.

Fully open reveals the HRM (heat resistant material, which comes with a piece of this HRM with the pattern.

The batik side fully opened.

Next to my Big Giant Buddha Head in the garden.

This is also a large Buddha. You can see the scale of the Iron Caddy Jr. here too.

Happy Pressing!

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Ironing Caddy Pad Jr. Iron Bag & Ironing Surface All-in-One

This Ironing Caddy Jr. (by Sisters Common Thread), is the smaller version of the original Ironing Caddy. Jr. fits a small travel size iron, whereas the original fits most larger regular size irons. I made the original size years ago, but I hadn't made this Jr. size yet. So when a women in one of my groups was asking about an iron bag for her travel iron, I thought I would make this one (it matches a large bag I made) to show her. I expected her to order one in a color she might like, but she said she would buy this one. Well okay, I can make myself one too (which I did and will share soon).

I used a material I had for the inside lining that was very similar in feel to the silver heat resistant (HRM) material. Since I thought she would order one in her colors, I didn't use the HRM that came with the pattern, because I thought it would be better to use for her bag. Well, she was fine with this bag and so I ended up using the HRM in the one I made for myself later. I couldn't find the HRM yardage I had. Did I use it all? Well wouldn't you know it I found it the other day after I had made this one and the one for myself. LOL!

I think I like the Jr. size caddy even better than the larger size. It's so cute and this is the size iron I would take with me when I sew away from home anyhow.

I used a double stacked button and fold-over elastic instead of regular elastic or hair ties. I used hair tie elastic the first time I made one of these larger bags and the elastic rotted rather quickly. I like the stretchy fold-over elastic, so I hope it lasts longer.

This opens to a 15.5" x 20" ironing surface. This is the material I used instead of the HRM. Looks like "pick up sticks" game.

I like this cute little Dritz iron. So lightweight and works great.

Half folded and half unfolded, so you can see how the iron sits inside the bag.

Looking down before I adjusted it closed so you can see the iron inside.

Next time I will share the one I made for myself in beautiful batik fabric. 

Happy pressing!

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Tip of the Morning Tuesday~Ironing Board

I have a tip to share with you after recovering my ironing board recently. I have a large rectangle board (29" x 35") that sits on top of a table and my last cover was looking rather scorched, so it needed a pretty new cover. I had used a home dec fabric last time with batting and InsulBright under the fabric and it lasted a few years, but with all the pressing/ironing that I do with making quilts and handbags, all the layers underneath felt rather flat. I really didn't want to add a lot more layers of batting and InsulBright again, ugh!

So I got this idea to use a foam stabilizer under the silver ironing surface that I wanted to use. I had a 36" x 58" package of double-sided fusible foam stabilizer called In-R-Form by Bosal, so I used that underneath. I left all the old stuff on the board and just stapled the foam stabilizer onto the back of the board, then covered it with the silver ironing board fabric and stapled it into place on the back of the board too. Once I started to iron, the fusible part adhered to the silver fabric. I love how the foam is firm bit adds a bit of cushioning to the ironing surface. You really don't need the foam stabilizer to have any fusible on it at all though. I used a fusible foam because I already had it on hand. You can use any brand you like: Soft and Stable byAnnie, In-R-Form by Bosal, Foam Flex by Pellon (although Pellon brand is only 20" wide, so depending on your board size, you may have to whip-stitch pieces together to make it the correct size to fit your board).

I love my new ironing surface now! I hope it stays pretty looking for a long, long time. Time will tell how the foam holds up underneath, but so far after over a month of ironing on it, it looks and feels great!

My ironing surface re-do. 

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Iron Caddy

I made this iron caddy during a class at my quilt guild. It looks like a cute little bag that holds my iron when folded up.

When it's all opened up, it converts to an ironing surface.

When it's time to go home. You place your iron on the caddy and fold it up. See the first photo above.

The pattern for this is from Sisters' Common Thread and is called the Caddy Pad Pattern Plus.

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