Wool Pressing Mat Carrier

If you have a Wool Pressing Mat from MadamSew, you know how wonderful it is to press quilting block units using it. It holds the fabrics in place, reducing distortion while pressing, and the heat radiates up from the below the fabric as the wool holds in the heat from the iron. Creases are sharper, and seams are easier to press open or to one side with less effort. I know I am totally addicted to mine, and I wanted to be able to carry it with me to sewing days and retreats.

I made a carrier for it, that includes a sleeve on the back to slip over the handle of your rolling cart or suitcase.

Here is what you need to get started
Basic list of essentials for projects -
Sewing machine, with a 1/4-inch quilting foot and a walking foot
Thread, Needles, Straight Pins (Glass head pins preferred)
Rotary Cutter 45mm, 6x24-inch ruler and mat, safety gloves, optional ruler grip
Iron and ironing board
Thread snips and a seam ripper, and sewing clips

Fabric Cutting

Base focus fabric - cut one rectangle 34-inches x 22-inches

Lining and accent fabric -
lining - one rectangle 34-inches x 22-inches
handles - two rectangles 3-inches x 14-inches
sleeve - one rectangle 20-inches x 22-inches

Batting - one piece 34 x 22 inches, plus a bit extra to stuff handles if desired
Velcro for closure - 10 inch strip of hook and loop tape, optional for closure

Begin by sewing the sleeve. Take the accent sleeve piece 20 x 22 inches, and fold in half lengthwise to create a 10 x 22 inch unit. Sew the long raw edge, leaving the ends open. Press the seam open.

Turn and press, centering the seam on one side.

Lay the focus fabric on your table right side up. Place the sleeve 5-inches down from one short side, with the seam facing the focus fabric.

Lay the lining fabric right side down on top, then lay the batting on top of the stack.

Sew all around the sides, leaving an opening for turning somewhere away from the sleeve. Clip the corners. Turn, making sure the sleeve is on the focus fabric side, pushing the corners out to a nice point. Press. Topstitch all around the edge, closing the opening as you go.

Measure in 6-inches on the sleeve from the long side of the bag, and mark a line on the sleeve. Repeat on the other end of the sleeve. In this picture, the bag is folded.

Sew on these lines to create a channel on the sleeve.

If you’d like to do some quilting, to your bag, now is the time to add that, just be sure to leave the channel area unquilted.

Next, add velcro to the lining side, putting the strips on the shorter ends. Place the velcro just inside your topstitching, centered on the edge. Stitch in place.

Make handles next. Take the 3x14 rectangles, and fold in half lengthwise to form 1-1/2 x 14 inch handles.

Sew one end, stopping about 1/3 of the way down the long side. Leave an opening, then sew the other end.

Clip corners and turn right side out, pushing out corners to nice points. Optional, add some batting inside if desired to make the handles a bit bulkier. Press. Topstitch all the way around, closing the opening as you go.

Place the handles 7-inches from each long edge of the base on the focus fabric side of the base. My tape measure has a bit extra for the tab, so I adjusted it after this pic was taken.

Place the handle end about 2-1/2-inches down from the short edge. This will ensure that you clear the velcro.

Sew about a one-inch square on the end of the handle, attaching it to the bag. Then, add an 'X' inside the square for extra strength.

Fold the bag in half, matching the handles, using sewing clips to hold the edges. (Note this picture doesn’t show the channel on the sleeve. I went back and did that before sewing the side seams but didn’t get an updated picture.)

Topstitch the sides together. When you have thicker edges to hold, these clips work better than pins.

All done!! Now your bag will slip over your luggage or rolling crate handle, keeping it in place as you travel. I will be using mine a lot!!

Now your wool mat will stay clean and easy to transport. Slip in your small cutting mat, and your rulers, too!

Have fun quilting, and stop by my blog for more easy projects. If you are new to the Madam Sew blog, be sure to check out my complete Beginning Quilting series - Basics, Tools and A Simple Block, Making Half Square Triangles, Sewing Flying Geese, Choosing Colors and Prints, Choosing Batting, Adding Borders, Finishing Quilts with Binding, and Choosing Threads. I’ll be doing more articles to advance your quilting skills on Madam Sew. Subscribe to the Madam Sew blog so you don’t miss a thing!