Jennifer23

I'm working on a McKenna Ryan wall hanging today, too. Mine has chickadees; I am assembling them separately in layers, so I'm just fusing a couple pieces at a time. Then I will transfer the fused groups to the main background. I definitely find the piecewise approach easier than trying to get it all laid out at once.

Boston1954

Thanks for the helpful suggestions. The table is (I think) a wood veneer, one of those six foot deals with the legs that bend down like the big white plastic ones they make now. Since this is a one time thing, I am hoping to avoid going out to buy a special setup. Maybe I will have to go over the instructions of what goes first, again. I appreciate your input. I just do not want to mess this up as the kit was pricey.

cathyvv

That's why I suggested putting fabric on the back of the ironing surface, too.

cashs_mom

That's the type of table I have. If you aren't using much steam, a double layer of blanket or thick batting should be okay. Those tables a really pretty durable.

petthefabric

I have 3 stacked towels folded up in my traveling quilter tote. They help with padding my machine and extension cords. I don't use steam. As far as a wood table, I'd put a plastic table cloth on it then the towels on top.

KLO

I have made several McKenna Ryan tops. If you are using Steam-A-Seam Lite II (or similar) then you should be able to hand press the pieces on and they should stay until ready to iron. If something is in the wrong place, you can lift it off (assuming you have ironed the pattern to the fabric for that piece and not to the main background yet) and move it where it needs to be. I have found also that walking away from the quilt top and coming back to look at it later before the final fusing helps to pick up any mistakes you may have made in placement. As previously mentioned, you should be pressing not ironing. Press down for 15 or so seconds then lift the iron, move it to the next area, and press down again with the iron. So, which Ryan design are you working on? I seem to love most of what she designs.

NJ Quilter

No help with the kit part of your question but I just use folded towels on top of my cutting table to iron all the time. I have one of the tables with the legs that fold under and the sides fold down. It is made of (I believe) masonite. It came with a (very) thin piece of foam and the silver ironing cover. Had more damage from that set up than my towels (none).

maviskw

This is what I think is correct. I heard of one person putting multiple layers of batt on an ironing board. One layer is enough. You want it firm and flat.

thimblebug6000

When I was working on her owl quilt I fused the owls etc. on an appliqué sheet into a unit, but for the branches and grasses, they were built directly on the background. I have a big board so can't really add anymore to others comments about your pressing area. (although... if you had a large wooden dresser drawer, maybe you could pull it out and use the bottom of it, if it doesn't have any hardware on it, just put a towel over it? )

maviskw

Now that's being innovative. Use what you have, and some things are in unlikely places.