Sunday, July 7, 2013

Easy-Peasy Travel Iron Caddy

At a recent guild meeting, one of the gals happened to bring up the subject of travel iron caddies.  Since she planted the bug in my ear, I've had a compulsion to make one and just a few days ago, found a free pattern on line which seemed to suit my needs to a tee.

My interest was peaked immediately because I've been doing a lot of sewing at my friend Debra's house (no blog) while she minds her home-based quilt shop over the summer months during our prime tourist season.  I lug my machine and all my supplies with me...including my iron...so my new caddy will come in handy on our sewing days. 

After a quick trip to my LQS yesterday morning to pick up the two different types of heat resistant fabric that the pattern calls for, I was able to get down to business.  Three hours later, it was all done!

Funky fabric, huh?  Sooooo out of my comfort zone and I even found it in my stash!



A perfect fit with lots of room to spare.



One of the added bonuses is that it doubles as a pressing cloth when open.  

How cool is that!



Now I won't have to hang around waiting for my iron to cool off before packing it up and taking it home.  With the double layer of heat resistant lining, it'll be pack-up-and-go!

Here's the link if you'd like to make one yourself.  

I did make the following changes which you might want to consider when making yours...

1. I cut the binding on the bias making it so much easier to apply.
2. I eliminated one of the layers of batting because one of the heat resistant fabrics had a batting kind of fabric already attached to it.
3. I spray basted between the layers to prevent them from shifting when sewing.
4. I used colored wrapped elastics for the closures ..the ones used for gathering hair into pony tails...rather than the plain 1/4" white elastic that the pattern calls for.  Looks sooooo much better.

Have fun!


Happy stitching!

51 comments:

  1. i'm wondering where you found the instructions for the iron caddy? the pdf tutorial looks great and i think i will be making one soon! i would love to be able to let the maker know how i go (and to say thanks)

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  2. and i LOVE the fabrics you used to make yours

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  3. Thank you for the link Kaaren as I have wanted to make one of these for quite a while. Yours looks great. Hugs.....

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  4. Wow, thank you Karen. It's a good idea and useful too.
    Great!
    Lidia

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  5. It looks great Kaaren, I like the idea of using the heat resistant fabric with the batting like backing on it.

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  6. I love your caddy. I, too, have been wanting to make one of these for a long while. Thanks for sharing the link.

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  7. Love your caddy! I have one like it that someone made for me as a gift, and I absolutely love it! The link to Debra worked for me, and you are right...her quilts are beautiful!

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  8. The iron caddy looks wonderful! Love those fabrics even though I usually use earth tones and civil war print in my quilts. I do think the funky brights are well used in accessory projects. The link to your friends quilts worked good for me. She really does have some beautiful offerings!

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  9. Spiffy. I don't think any LQS around here carry heat resistant fabric. Wonder if JoAnns does? Thanks for the info.

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  10. Thank you for the caddy pattern! This is on my to-do list for use in my travel classes

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  11. Very cute, and practical, too!

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  12. That is an awesome iron caddy. I don't often take my iron, but the caddy is so cute and I might have to make one just for fun. lol

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  13. Love the fabby you chose for your iron caddy. Very nice and TFS the link.
    BTW, how is Safe Harbour coming along?

    Have a wonderful day.

    Jackie :)

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  14. Very cute and what a great idea if one goes to a lot of retreats and classes!! Thanks for the idea and the tutorial!!

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  15. Gosh that's cute! My iron doesn't travel, but might need one anyway--it's so cute!

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  16. How sweet is this!!! Thanks for the pattern...and the changes!!
    P

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  17. Perfect, Kaaren. Great idea! I likw the fabrics you picked out. They are not my "go to" fabrics but I do like them for other things. (Looks like a Vera Bradley!)

    Susannah

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  18. Thanks for the link. This is very useful.

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  19. Thank you, Kaaren. The iron caddy looks wonderful. I like the tips you suggested.
    Yours friends quilts are beautiful! It sounds like a fun summer sewing along with her :-)

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  20. I've seen a commercial pattern while travelling lately, and they had a sample made up. When I unfolded it I thought it would be easy to figure out and make my own pattern.

    You made it even easier with the link, thanks.

    I think most general fabric shop will have the heat resistant fabrics, I've also seen it at Joann's and Hobby Lobby in the U.S.

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  21. Wow! What a great idea. You did an awesome job. isn't it fun to use bright fabrics for a quick project like this? Thanks for the link!

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  22. Thanks for the link. I bought an iron tote that somebody recommended on their blog and it's a piece of JUNK! At least I got a refund and they didn't even want the product back. Go figure! Now I can make one that I know won't break and it will be way prettier too! I love your fabric choices. Thanks again.

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  23. So cute! Love the out-of-your-comfort-zone fabric... perfect for this project! Great tips from you as well for those of us who just have to make one! Thanks for the link!

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  24. I need one NOW! lol Great idea!!

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  25. At a quilting workshop in Tuscany a few years ago, one of the ladies simply slid her hot iron into an oven mitt which she had brought with her, and so that is what I do. It works just fine, but of course, your carrier is much prettier. ;-)

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  26. This is very useful. I liked very much.
    Thanks for the link.

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  27. Excelent idea!!
    Must be nice for a handbag too!!:)

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  28. Great idea, I was just going to look online for one to make! Thanks for posting and I really like the hints.

    LauraT

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  29. I love this idea, thanks for sharing the link. I could use this to take my iron with me to Sit and Sews.

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  30. This really is such a neat little pattern - I have seen it on-line too somewhere!!! You did a great job with it, and I've taken note of your hints/preferences!! Thanks for sharing your completed caddy, somehow this project calls for fabric that is colourful and bright!!!!

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  31. Your travel iron caddy is so cute and so practical! What a perfect idea!!

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  32. I made one of these a year ago! I LOVE mine!

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  33. Wow--I would not have guessed you would have that fabric in your stash! LOL
    This is such a clever idea--caddy/ironing pad. Brilliant!
    Thanks for sharing what you learned in the making.

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  34. Thanks for a great instruction 8-)

    Karin på Ösäter

    http://karinpaosater.blogg.se/

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  35. Es una bossa molt pràctica per la planxa de viatge. Una molt bon idea.
    Bona setmana

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  36. So darn cute! I have wanted to make one also...thanks for the link and extra tips.

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  37. Just perfect, Kaaren! No more waiting in line for the iron when you take a quilt class! And the that great fabric will always identify it as yours!
    Cheers!

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  38. Kareen,your caddy is so beautiful! Please congratulate your friend Debra, her work is amazing! Beautiful and fantastic! And thank you so much for sharing with us the pattern! I like so much and y try one to me! Have a nice day! A hug!

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  39. Thanks for finding such a nice "Travel Iron Caddy" pattern. Your caddy is so cute, a very happy choice of material. :D

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  40. Awesome caddy, Kaaren! Thanks for the link! Tell Ollie hello!!

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  41. How perfect is that?? How sweet of you to share the link!!

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  42. Kaaren, that is SO cute. Wouldn't that make a perfect gift for the quilter on your list!
    Is it big enough for a full-size iron or just a travel iron?
    LOVE love that fabric, that would hide it'self very nicely in my stash! Hope you're having a great summer!

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  43. How clever! I never take my iron anywhere -- well, cuz I never go anywhere, lol, but I would definitely use this if I did. Thanks for sharing!

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  44. Aren't these caddies great? I made one about a year ago and showed it to my small quilt group and they all wanted one. It's fantastic for taking to a class or another quilter's house for a sew-a-thon. Yours looks wonderful and I like your added change ideas. Thanks for posting them too.

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  45. I love the caddy, just the perfect need for a quilter! thanks for posting this. have a beautiful day my friend! Hugs,Marie

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  46. I'm going to bookmark the link, thanks for sharing it. I just need the travel iron first. Love your funky fabrics, you did a great job.

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  47. Here's a copy of instructions: http://tricountyquilters.weebly.com/uploads/3/0/2/4/3024945/iron_caddytote.pdf

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  48. I made one today, and hope to enjoy it very much. Thank you for the info on it.

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  49. Thanks Kaaren, wanted one of these for awhile now. So nice of you to share with us.

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  50. THANK YOU I'VE WANTED ONE OF THESE.. SO CUTE.. THANKS AGAIN

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  51. Thank you...I can't wait to try one for myself :-)

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